ABSTRACT
In the narratives and oral histories of African peoples of the old South, the narrators state matter-of-factly that they received medical care from the slaveowner. Often, the African commented upon the status and good intentions of the slaveowner by his or her action in providing medical care. Post enslavement documents, mythology and folklore of Americans of African descent does suggest that at some point in the institution of enslavement in North America, enslaved Africans were suspicious of at least some of the medical practices of Whites. Enslaved Africans in Louisiana gave insight and made critical comments about enslavement and medicine. Enslaved Africans in other parts of the slaveocracy also speak to enslavement and medicine, confirming the use of folk medicine such as asafetida and the motivation of slaveowners in acquiring medical doctors for slaves. Tines Kendricks, enslaved in Georgia, provided an example of how the accusation of feigning illness figured in medical care.
