Welcome to "Unfit to Be Bound: Black History Unchained" on the NBG Podcast Network, where host Professor Freedom X Justice delves into the extraordinary stories of Black resistance, resilience, and triumph. In this episode, we uncover the inspiring life of Bridget "Biddy" Mason, an enslaved woman who defied the odds to become one of the wealthiest and most influential landowners in Los Angeles.
Biddy Mason's journey from slavery to entrepreneurship and philanthropy showcases her remarkable courage, determination, and vision. Despite the challenges she faced, she refused to be bound by societal limitations. We explore her early years of enslavement, her fight for freedom, and her enduring legacy as a community leader and philanthropist who helped shape the city of Los Angeles.
Discover how Mason leveraged her skills in midwifery and nursing to build a better life for herself and her daughters. Her rise as a landowner and her commitment to philanthropy, including founding Los Angeles' first African Methodist Episcopal Church, illustrates her dedication to uplifting her community.
Biddy Mason's story is a testament to resilience and compassion, reminding us that the fight for freedom and justice extends beyond personal liberation. Join us as we honor her legacy and celebrate the impact of lesser-known figures in Black history who defied limitations and helped shape a better world.
00:00:02 --> 00:00:09 Welcome to Unfit to be Bound, Black History Unchained on the NVG Podcast Network,
00:00:09 --> 00:00:12 where we uncover the stories of Black resistance, resilience,
00:00:12 --> 00:00:14 and triumph throughout history.
00:00:14 --> 00:00:18 I'm your host, Professor Freedom X Justice, and today we're shining a light
00:00:18 --> 00:00:22 on the extraordinary life of Bridget Biddy Mason,
00:00:22 --> 00:00:27 an enslaved woman who rose to become one of the wealthiest and The most influential
00:00:27 --> 00:00:29 landowners in Los Angeles,
00:00:29 --> 00:00:34 Biddy Mason's journey from slavery to entrepreneurship and philanthropy is a
00:00:34 --> 00:00:38 story of remarkable courage, determination, and vision.
00:00:38 --> 00:00:42 Despite the immense challenges she faced, Biddy Mason never allowed herself
00:00:42 --> 00:00:46 to be bound by the limitations imposed upon her by society.
00:00:46 --> 00:00:51 In today's episode, we'll explore her life, from her early years of enslavement
00:00:51 --> 00:00:55 to her fight for freedom, and finally, to her legacy as a community leader and
00:00:55 --> 00:00:59 philanthropist who helped shape the city of Los Angeles.
00:00:59 --> 00:01:04 Let's begin by exploring her early life and the circumstances that brought her to California.
00:01:05 --> 00:01:10 Bridget B.D. Mason was born into slavery on August 15, 1818,
00:01:10 --> 00:01:13 most likely in Hancock County, Georgia.
00:01:13 --> 00:01:18 Her exact birthplace remains uncertain, but what is clear is that she was born
00:01:18 --> 00:01:23 into a system designed to strip her of her rights, humanity, and freedom.
00:01:23 --> 00:01:28 Like many enslaved children, Mason was denied formal education and was forced
00:01:28 --> 00:01:35 to work from a young age, exposed to the brutality and dehumanization that defined plantation life.
00:01:35 --> 00:01:40 Despite the oppressive circumstances of slavery, Biddy Mason developed skills
00:01:40 --> 00:01:44 that would later serve her well in life. She became proficient in midwifery,
00:01:45 --> 00:01:48 nursing, and herbal medicine, gaining a reputation as a skilled healer.
00:01:49 --> 00:01:55 These abilities were not just a means of survival. They would become a pathway to her independence.
00:01:55 --> 00:02:02 In the 1840s, Biddy was purchased by Robert Smith, a wealthy plantation owner and Mormon convert.
00:02:02 --> 00:02:07 Smith was part of a large Mormon community that eventually moved west,
00:02:07 --> 00:02:11 first to the Utah Territory and later to California.
00:02:11 --> 00:02:15 During this time, Biddy gave birth to three daughters, Ellen and Anne Harriet,
00:02:16 --> 00:02:21 whose futures were inextricably tied to her own status as an enslaved woman.
00:02:21 --> 00:02:26 In 1847, Robert Smith made the fateful decision to move his household,
00:02:26 --> 00:02:29 including Mason and her children, to California.
00:02:29 --> 00:02:34 Unbeknownst to Smith, this move was set in motion a chain of events that would
00:02:34 --> 00:02:39 forever change Biddy's life. California, which had just been seed to the United
00:02:39 --> 00:02:44 States following the Mexican-American War, was on the verge of becoming a free state.
00:02:44 --> 00:02:50 The state's new constitution established in 1850 explicitly prohibited slavery,
00:02:50 --> 00:02:54 a fact that would soon prove pivotal in Mason's quest for freedom.
00:02:55 --> 00:03:00 While California's status as a free state offered hope, the road to freedom
00:03:00 --> 00:03:02 was not without obstacles.
00:03:02 --> 00:03:07 Despite the state's anti-slavery laws, many enslaved people were illegally held
00:03:07 --> 00:03:11 in bondage by slaveholders who defied the law.
00:03:11 --> 00:03:14 Robert Smith, Mason's owner, was one such individual.
00:03:15 --> 00:03:20 After settling in California, Smith quickly realized that his legal hold over
00:03:20 --> 00:03:23 his enslaved laborers was tenuous at best.
00:03:23 --> 00:03:26 And he planned to relocate again this
00:03:26 --> 00:03:29 time to texas a slave state it
00:03:29 --> 00:03:32 was during this move that biddy mason with the
00:03:32 --> 00:03:37 support of free black residents in los angeles made her bold stand for freedom
00:03:37 --> 00:03:42 mason had befriended several members of los angeles small but growing black
00:03:42 --> 00:03:47 community including robert owens a free black rancher who would later become
00:03:47 --> 00:03:50 a key figure in her legal fight Through these relationships.
00:03:50 --> 00:03:56 Mason learned about California's laws and realized she had a legal right to be free.
00:03:56 --> 00:04:02 In January 1856, Mason, with the help of Owens and other local abolitionists,
00:04:03 --> 00:04:06 petitioned the Los Angeles courts for her freedom.
00:04:06 --> 00:04:11 The case was heard by Judge Benjamin Hayes, who ultimately ruled in favor of
00:04:11 --> 00:04:14 Mason and her daughters, officially declaring them free.
00:04:14 --> 00:04:19 This decision not only marked the end of their enslavement, but also a new beginning
00:04:19 --> 00:04:25 for Biddy Mason, a beginning defied by hard work, resilience and a deep sense
00:04:25 --> 00:04:26 of community responsibility.
00:04:28 --> 00:04:34 Now free, Beatty Mason chose to remain in Los Angeles, a city that was still
00:04:34 --> 00:04:36 in its infancy, but rapidly growing.
00:04:36 --> 00:04:41 For many formerly enslaved individuals, freedom meant starting from scratch,
00:04:41 --> 00:04:44 often with little more than the clothes on their backs.
00:04:44 --> 00:04:49 But Mason was determined to build a better life for herself and her daughters.
00:04:49 --> 00:04:53 Initially, she returned to the skills she had honed in slavery,
00:04:53 --> 00:04:58 working as a midwife and nurse. Her reputation as a healer quickly spread,
00:04:58 --> 00:05:02 and she became one of the most sought-after healthcare providers in the region.
00:05:02 --> 00:05:07 Mason's work ethic and commitment to caring for others endeared her to the growing
00:05:07 --> 00:05:13 population of Los Angeles, and she soon earned enough money to invest in real estate.
00:05:13 --> 00:05:17 In 1866, Beatty Mason made a historic move.
00:05:17 --> 00:05:21 She purchased her first piece of property in what is now downtown Los Angeles
00:05:21 --> 00:05:27 for $250. This purchase made her one of the first black women to own land in the city.
00:05:27 --> 00:05:33 At the time, this was a remarkable achievement, especially considering the societal
00:05:33 --> 00:05:36 constraints placed on black women in post-slavery America.
00:05:37 --> 00:05:40 But Betty Mason didn't stop there. Over the next several decades,
00:05:41 --> 00:05:45 she continued to acquire and develop land in Los Angeles, building a fortune
00:05:45 --> 00:05:49 that would eventually make her one of the wealthiest women in the city.
00:05:49 --> 00:05:52 Yet, her success was not simply about personal gain.
00:05:53 --> 00:05:56 Mason saw her wealth as a tool for improving the lives of others.
00:05:58 --> 00:06:02 Biddy Mason's rise as a landowner and entrepreneur was impressive,
00:06:02 --> 00:06:08 but it was her deep commitment to philanthropy and community leadership that cemented her legacy.
00:06:08 --> 00:06:13 She believed in using her resources to uplift others, particularly within Los Angeles.
00:06:13 --> 00:06:19 Growing black community at a time when racial segregation and discrimination
00:06:19 --> 00:06:25 were widespread, Mason worked tirelessly to support those in need, regardless of race.
00:06:25 --> 00:06:30 One of her most significant contributions was her role in founding the first
00:06:30 --> 00:06:37 African Methodist Apostle AME Church in 1872, the first black church in Los Angeles.
00:06:38 --> 00:06:42 Mason donated the land on which the church was built and provided financial
00:06:42 --> 00:06:44 support to ensure its success.
00:06:44 --> 00:06:48 The AME Church became a vital center of spiritual, political,
00:06:48 --> 00:06:53 and social life for the black community in Los Angeles, playing a key role in
00:06:53 --> 00:06:59 community organizing and activism. But Betty Mason's generosity extended beyond the church.
00:06:59 --> 00:07:03 She was known for her willingness to provide food, shelter, and medical care
00:07:03 --> 00:07:08 to the poor and homeless, often opening her home to those who had nowhere else to go.
00:07:09 --> 00:07:14 Her home became a sanctuary for many, and she earned the nickname Grandmama
00:07:14 --> 00:07:15 Mason for her nurturing spirit.
00:07:15 --> 00:07:20 In addition to her charitable work, Mason supported local schools,
00:07:20 --> 00:07:25 hospitals, and jails advocating for the improvement of services for black and
00:07:25 --> 00:07:26 marginalized residents.
00:07:26 --> 00:07:31 Her dedication to helping others was not limited to any single cause.
00:07:31 --> 00:07:36 She saw the needs of her community and worked to meet them in any way she could.
00:07:37 --> 00:07:41 Biddy mason passed away on january 15 1891
00:07:41 --> 00:07:44 at the age of 72 leaving behind a
00:07:44 --> 00:07:48 legacy of resilience compassion and philanthropy
00:07:48 --> 00:07:54 by the time of her death mason had amassed a fortune estimated at over 300 000
00:07:54 --> 00:08:00 an extraordinary sum for a formerly enslaved woman but her true wealth was in
00:08:00 --> 00:08:04 the lives she touched the community she built and the institutions she helped
00:08:04 --> 00:08:07 establish for much of the 20th century,
00:08:07 --> 00:08:10 Biddy Mason's story was largely forgotten.
00:08:10 --> 00:08:13 Overshadowed by other historical narratives.
00:08:13 --> 00:08:18 However, recent efforts have helped bring her remarkable life back into the spotlight.
00:08:18 --> 00:08:23 In 1988, the Biddy Mason Memorial was unveiled in downtown Los Angeles,
00:08:23 --> 00:08:26 honoring her contributions to the city's history.
00:08:26 --> 00:08:29 The memorial includes a timeline of her life and
00:08:29 --> 00:08:32 service as a lasting tribute to her role
00:08:32 --> 00:08:36 in shaping los angeles the first ame church
00:08:36 --> 00:08:39 which mason helped found remains an important institution
00:08:39 --> 00:08:42 in los angeles today continuing her legacy
00:08:42 --> 00:08:47 of community leadership and activism bitty mason's story is one of extraordinary
00:08:47 --> 00:08:52 resilience she overcame the horrors of slavery fought for her freedom and rose
00:08:52 --> 00:08:56 to become a successful businesswoman and philanthropist but her legacy goes
00:08:56 --> 00:09:00 beyond personal success she embodied the spirit of community,
00:09:00 --> 00:09:03 using her wealth and influence to uplift others.
00:09:03 --> 00:09:07 Her life reminds us that the fight for freedom and justice isn't just about
00:09:07 --> 00:09:12 personal liberation. It's about creating opportunities for others to thrive.
00:09:13 --> 00:09:18 Biddy Mason was truly unfit to be bound by the chains of slavery,
00:09:18 --> 00:09:20 poverty, or discrimination.
00:09:20 --> 00:09:26 Her life story serves as an inspiration to us all, a reminder that with determination,
00:09:26 --> 00:09:32 compassion, and resilience, we can break through the barriers that society places before us.
00:09:33 --> 00:09:39 Thank you for joining me as we explore the life and legacy of Biddy Mason on
00:09:39 --> 00:09:47 this episode of Unfit to Be Bound, Black History Unchained on the NBG Podcast Network.
00:09:47 --> 00:09:50 Her story reminds us that history is full of individuals
00:09:50 --> 00:09:53 whose contributions have been overlooked but
00:09:53 --> 00:09:56 whose impact is unmeasurable if you enjoyed
00:09:56 --> 00:09:59 this episode don't forget to subscribe to the
00:09:59 --> 00:10:02 podcast and share it with others who are
00:10:02 --> 00:10:05 eager to learn about the lesser known figures in
00:10:05 --> 00:10:10 black history who refuse to accept the limitations imposed on them as always
00:10:10 --> 00:10:15 i'm professor freedom x justice reminding you to keep questioning keep learning
00:10:15 --> 00:10:22 and keep fighting for a world that truly reflects justice for all stay unbound.
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