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Mother of Freedom: Mumbet and the Roots of Abolition
![Mother of Freedom: Mumbet and the Roots of Abolition by [Ben Z. Rose]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41bIvGpVi4L.jpg)
Mother of Freedom is a quick and informative read that explores the life of the first enslaved African American woman to file, and win, a freedom lawsuit in Massachusetts. Mumbet was a spirited woman who was born into slavery. How can an illiterate slave win her freedom in a court of law?
I definitely don’t recall ever hearing the name Mumbet in history class or what people believed was her true name, Elizabeth Freeman. Even when Black History Month comes around I can’t say that I recall her being mentioned. That might just be because people think of it as more of a footnote in history than some world-altering event, but I think it’s more than a footnote because she was the first woman to successfully sue for her freedom which is a huge accomplishment, especially during the 1700’s, when being a slave was rarely challenged. Mother of Freedom does an exceptional job of piecing together this heartrending account of one woman’s life and trial.
I found Mumbet to be absolutely fascinating. The friendship that forms between her and her white-skinned lawyer was endearing. Their friendship was formed under stress and it’s no wonder they were friends for a lifetime. Mumbet was hired and helped to care for his wife and she also cared for his child. Mumbet didn’t know how to read or write, which I am shocked that the family she cared for didn’t try to teach her (although I am shocked at the entire institution of slavery), but even without those abilities, she was a bold, loyal, brave, and caring. Her story reminds me of Dred Scott’s story. Although Dred lost his case for freedom, Mumbet and her lawyer succeeded.
While I did find the history interesting, the book as a whole didn’t feel complete. That is in no way the fault of the author, there just isn’t very much information on this particular event. I honestly find it odd that more information isn’t written about this fiery woman and her landmark case, or that it isn’t taught about in school. But this is a minor point in an otherwise exceptional story told with a straightforward tone. Author Ben Z. Rose shed’s light on a little known historical figure, and the roots of the abolition movement, that any reader will enjoy.
Pages: 98 | ASIN: B086HR78BJ
Mother of Freedom: Mumbet and the Roots of Abolition – Trailer
Mumbet was the Rosa Parks of her day. Her venue was a small-town court, rather than a crowded bus. But her bravery in defying the largest landowner in her community is inspiring.
Two months before the last battle of the American Revolution, a black slave known as Mumbet summoned the courage to sue her master, in a bid for her freedom. Though slavery had been ingrained in Massachusetts for well over a century, Mumbet was inspired by the public reading of the state’s ground-breaking Constitution, and its words, “all men are born free and equal.” Her case against the largest landowner in the region attracted the support of two up-and-coming attorneys: Theodore Sedgwick, a friend, and aspiring politician, and Tapping Reeve, the founder of the first law school in America.
In this fast-paced story of racial justice in early America, author Ben Z. Rose paints a portrait of Mumbet against the backdrop of the rise and fall of slavery in New England.
As we search for insight into those who planted the first seeds of abolition, Mumbet reminds us of the courage and sheer grit required to topple an established way of life. She also reminds us that before slavery could be abolished in the South, it needed to be uprooted in the North.
LITERARY TITAN 