Final answer:
The distinction between African and European healers in 'The Coming' is rooted in African healers maintaining traditional spiritual and herbal practices to care for their communities amid racial discrimination.
Step-by-step explanation:
The distinction between the role of healers in African and European societies, as outlined by the author in 'The Coming', lies in the maintenance of African healing traditions and the reliance on spiritual and herbal treatments by African communities, particularly enslaved individuals in the American South. In the face of injustice and healthcare disparities, African healers played a crucial role in sustaining the community's health by employing knowledge passed down from their African roots, hybridized with practices developed in the New World. Due to widespread racial discrimination, many African Americans, especially enslaved people, did not have access to proper medical care from White physicians, and as a result, they depended heavily on their own forms of medical care.
These African healers used a holistic approach that included not only plant-based and herbal remedies but also spiritual practices such as prayers, charms, songs, and conjuring, which were remnants of African healing rituals. Despite the prohibitions and skepticism from White society, African healers and midwives were at times relied upon by Southern plantation owners to provide medical care for both Black and White individuals. Their healing practices signified a strong connection to their African heritage and a critical source of identity and community within an oppressive environment.