In 1781, an enslaved woman named Elizabeth Freeman heard the words “all men are created equal” read aloud from the Declaration of Independence and resolved to claim that promise for herself and other enslaved people. Known as Mum Bett, Freeman had been enslaved in Sheffield, Massachusetts. She sought the help of Stockbridge attorney Theodore Sedgwick, who filed a freedom suit on her behalf. The Great Barrington court ruled in her favor. Brom and Bett v. Ashley established a legal precedent that contributed to the abolition of slavery in Massachusetts. To this day, Freeman’s story stands as one of the most consequential acts of self-liberation in American history; however, her victory in that courtroom was not the end. It was a provocation—a call that echoes forward to a nation still measuring the distance between its founding ideals and the lives of its people.
Join us for a discussion moderated by Marcus P. Smith, History and Interpretive Fellow of the W.E.B. Du Bois Freedom Center, bringing together scholars, historians, and practitioners to interpret Freeman’s life and legacy, examine the growing movement to honor her memory, and ask what her courage demands of our understanding of liberty and equality in the present.
Before the program, The Mount invites you to a special open house for our new exhibition, A Wealth of Stories: Building Edith Wharton’s New York, which uses the lens of Wharton’s family history to explore the flow of wealth and resources in New York City from the Revolutionary-era through the Gilded Age. Curators will be available in the exhibition gallery (located on the third floor of the Mansion) from 4:00–5:00 PM to answer questions and share insights. Feel free to stop by at any time during the hour!
IMPORTANT EVENT INFORMATION:
- This 90-minute conversation takes place in The Mount’s Stable Auditorium, a 140-seat, climate-controlled, indoor venue adjacent to the parking lot.
- Seating for all programs at The Mount is first-come, first-served. If you have seating preferences, we recommend arriving fifteen minutes early.
- Accessible seating is available. To discuss arrangements, please contact us by phone: 413-551-5111 x5; or email: programs@edithwharton.org. For more information about accessibility, review The Mount’s accessibility webpage.
- Questions? Email: programs@edithwharton.org; or phone: 413-551-5111 x2
