Ethnobotanical ecology in Afro-diasporic medicine magic

The purpose of this study is to explore the extent to which women identified African American healers understand land and nature based medicine as a conduit to physical and spiritual health. This study explores the relationship between African American women and land through a historical analysis of African spiritual systems, colonialism, enslavement, and an exploration of contemporary agency in the world of medicinal herbs. This thesis includes a series of semi-structured interviews consisting of 3-4 case studies with participants who identify as African American women practitioners of ethnobotanical health remedies. This work serves as a contribution to the field of Ethnic Studies by exploring this topic through an intersectional Ethnic Studies lens, which contributes to past research conducted via a anthropological, archeological and geographical discourse. This work provides more discussion about botanicals to the discipline of Ethnic Studies and can be used to contribute to discourse around culture, healing, and agency for Black women.