Academically, in the Unites States there are key figures in African American History to whom great attention is given such as Martin Luther King, Nat Turner, Rosa Parks, Sojourner Truth, W. E. B DuBios, Malcom X, and a handful of others. However, even when being educated about these individuals the lessons are diminutive and only shed a small light on the many accomplishments and contributions that African Americans have made to this great nation. Even more noticeable is the lack of attention that has been given to some of the African American women in history who have influenced change for the African American people such as Elizabeth Freeman and Maria W. Stewart, just to name a couple. Freeman and Steward are only two of many women who…show more content… At the tender age of 6 months she and her sister, Lizzie, were sold and separated from their parents. Later, they became the property of John and Hannah Ashley a wealthy couple of Sheffield, Massachusetts. John Ashley was a stout enthusiast of the American Revolution. Although Mumm Bett was illiterate, she possessed enough intelligence to understand the importance of the role that the American Revolution was playing at the time. While serving the Massachusetts’ elites working in the Ashley home she was attentive to the conversations held by the gentlemen that gathered. It is believed that she learned of the natural rights through a doctrine that was being created during one of the meetings that the men held at the Ashley home to protest the British policies in the American Colonies in 1773. The doctrine that they drafted declared “Mankind … have a right to the undisturbed Enjoyment of their lives, their Liberty and…show more content… Senator, who resided in Stockbridge, Massachusetts in neighboring town. Sedwick agreed to represent Mumm Bett and another gentleman slave, Brom, in a suit for freedom based on Massachusetts’ new Bill of Rights (Brom and Bett v. Ashley). On August 21, 1781, Brom and Bett V. Ashley went before the Massachusetts Court of Common Pleas. After a day of deliberations, the jury found in favor of Brom and Bett and granted them their freedom and 30 shillings each due payable by the Ashley family. In light of her new freedom, Mumm Bett chose to change her name to Elizabeth Freeman. Additionally, based on her new relationship with Theodore Sedgwick she began to work as a paid domestic servant in the Sedgwick home and essentially became a surrogate mother to the couple’s children due to Mrs. Sedgwick’s emotional instability. Elizabeth Freeman earned enough money to purchase her own home for herself and her daughter she was also able to retire off of her earnings. Notably, the Massachusetts Supreme Court declared slavery unconstitutional throughout the state, shortly thereafter. Upon her death on December 28, 1829 she left a small estate to her daughter, grandchildren, and great grandchildren but more importantly she left behind her strength, courage, and integrity. When she passed the Sedgwick children’s love and devotion to her led them to bury her in the Sedgwick family
