Sitting with the sick: African American women's philanthropy

This article traces the historical development of informal and, to a lesser extent,formal health caregiving among African American women from slavery to the Great Depression. "Sitting with the sick," a metaphor for myriad services, including preparing meals for, housekeeping for,feeding, bathing, and generally visiting with people who are mentally or physically ill, injured, or grieving, has been an important aspect of social support among African American women for centuries. Implications are presented for practice and ways to enhance the health caregiving role using the historical record as a guide.