Point of View

Strong Horse Tea is told in the third person. The point of view at the beginning of the story is that of the baby's mother, Rannie Toomer, a young black woman placing all of her trust in the benevolence of the white mailman and white doctor and her faith in white medicine. The point of view then shifts to the white mailman and the reader can see that his prejudice and disgust over Rannie's ignorance keeps him from the understanding the direness of the situation. The perspective once again shifts back to Rannie, who is still waiting for the doctor. Rannie realizes the doctor is not coming and finally follows Sarah's instructions for a home remedy. While Rannie is out collecting horse urine, Sarah sees that the baby has died. The point of view switches back to Rannie, who not knowing the fate of her child...