Before Harriet Tubman or Rosa Parks, there was Mum Bett, later known as Elizabeth Freeman — the first Black woman to sue for her freedom and win in Massachusetts. 🙌🏾
In 1781, under the state’s new constitution declaring that “all men are born free and equal,” Freeman took a bold stand and filed a “freedom suit” against her enslaver. The court ruled in her favor, marking a historic precedent that helped bring an end to slavery in Massachusetts.
Her courage not only secured her freedom but also inspired future cases, including Quock Walker’s, which cemented the state’s anti-slavery stance. Freeman’s victory remains a cornerstone of America’s early fight for justice and equality. 🕊️
Source: @africanarchives
