Traditional Medicine in Harlem

The use of traditional medicine in Harlem was not as widespread as it had been in Charleston. Upon moving to Harlem, southern blacks gained easy and affordable access to hospital care. In many ways, it was far more convenient for Harlemites to utilize area hospitals and doctors. However, the use of traditional medicine was not completely abandoned by Harlemites. Herbs regularly used by southern blacks could be purchased in markets in the city, and some Harlemites went out into the rural areas surrounding New York to find and pick herbs. Some people relied on friends and family still located in South Carolina for regular packages containing the herbs necessary to combat illness in Harlem.

Although traditional medicine was not an integral part of Harlem community life, its importance in the black community at large could not be ignored. Upon the completion of the new Harlem Hospital building, two murals were commissioned by the hospital. The first mural (on the right) is representative of traditional medicine and its historic role in the history of African Americans. The second mural (on the left) is a representation of modern medicine and its present importance in the Black community. The murals are located facing one another in foyer of the Harlem Hospital. These murals were painted by Charles Alston and completed in 1940. The murals are titled "Magic and Medicine".