02/04/2025
Fun fact:
Mary Eliza Mahoney β First Black licensed nurse in the U.S.
Rebecca Lee Crumpler β First Black woman to earn a medical degree.
The Black Cross Nurses β A group that provided home healthcare to Black communities.
Home healthcare has a significant connection to Black history, particularly in the areas of caregiving, community health, and advocacy for medical equity. Hereβs how:
1. Black Women as Caregivers in History
During slavery, Black women often served as caregivers, midwives, and healers, using African herbal medicine and holistic practices to care for both enslaved people and plantation owners.
After emancipation, many Black women became nurses and domestic caregivers, playing a critical role in home healthcare before formal medical systems were widely available to Black communities.
2. The Role of Midwives and Herbalists
Traditional Black midwives, often called "Granny Midwives," were essential in providing home-based maternal care in rural and underserved Black communities, particularly in the South.
3. Racism and Healthcare Inequality
Due to segregation and discrimination, Black families historically had limited access to hospitals, forcing them to rely on home healthcare and community-based medical care.
Organizations like the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses (founded in 1908) and the Black Cross Nurses (founded in the 1920s) helped improve healthcare for Black communities, laying the foundation for home healthcare services.
4. The Civil Rights Movement and Healthcare Activism
Black medical professionals and activists, including the Black Panther Party, launched community health programs in the 1960s to provide free medical services, home visits, and health screenings for underserved Black families.
Medicare and Medicaid expansion in the 1960s helped increase access to home healthcare, benefiting elderly and disabled Black individuals.
5. Modern-Day Black Home Healthcare Entrepreneurs
Today, many Black-owned home healthcare agencies focus on providing culturally competent care, addressing health disparities, and supporting elderly and disabled individuals in Black communities.
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