Bridget "Biddy" Mason: Destiny Fulfilled
By: K.D. Perry
qualexcel@gmail.com
We've all heard about the great African American men and women who've helped
shape our nation we call the "Sweet Land of Liberty" or the "Land of the Free".
But there is more to our history than the ones we’ve always acknowledged
year
after year. As a California native, I am honored to introduce to some and
re-introduce to others a noble woman to not only California, but to the U.S. as
a whole. This woman goes by the name Bridget "Biddy" Mason. Biddy was born in a
time like no other. Destiny pulled on the cloak of her soul to win, to succeed,
to be called blessed, and to empower others. This woman was who I consider the
Moses of the West.
On August 15, 1818, Bridget was born a slave on the plantation of Robert Marion Smith and Rebecca Crosby Smith. As a slave, Bridget had no formal education but she did indeed learn the craft of midwifery and she learned about herbal medicines from the other women and healers on the plantation. Little did she know that her crafts or gifts would be the key to her destined fortune. In 1847 the Smiths adopted the Mormon belief and moved their household and slaves to Utah Territory. The move was an arduous 2,000 mile journey across the country. Bridget's responsibilities during the journey were to prepare meals, act as a midwife, and take care of her three daughters: Ellen, Ann, and Harriet, whose father was reputedly Robert Smith. Again the Smiths moved in 1851 to San Bernardino, California, Where Bringham Young was starting another Mormon Community.
Destiny spoke loud and clear when Bridget learned through friends in the Los Angeles Community that just a year before her arrival, California had been admitted to the union in 1850 as a free state and slavery was prohibited. In the winter of 1855, the Smiths decided to move again. This move wasn’t because of an evangelistic branching of their Mormon faith, but it was to move to Texas; a non free state. Just before the family made it out of town, the local officials served Mr. Smith a writ of habeas corpus on behalf of Bridget.
“If you hold your hand closed, nothing good can come in. The open hand is blessed (empowered to prosper), for it gives in abundance (more than enough), even as it receives.” - Bridget Mason
All this had come about due to Bridget’s daughter Ellen dating a young man by
the name of Charles Owens. Charles was the son of an esteemed business owner in
the African American community. At the time that the writ of habeas corpus was
served to Mr. Smith, California law prohibited blacks, mulattos, and Native
Americans from testifying in courts. This meant Bridget as a black woman could
not speak on her own behalf. But even in horrible moments great things tend to
follow great people on the path to their victories. The judge in Bridget’s case
decided to meet with her privately to hear her story. Robert Smith did not
appear in court, so on January 19, 1856, the judge granted Bridget her freedom,
as well as her three daughters and the other slaves belonging to Smith.
Later, Charles married Ellen and accepting an invitation to move to Los Angeles, Bridget moved in with the Owens family. Immediately after trial Bridget was offered a job by Dr. John S. Griffin, a Los Angeles doctor who became very interested in her case. Bridget soon became well regarded as a nurse and midwife, assisting in hundreds of births to mothers of all races and social classes. Mason was also good for being frugal in how she spent. With Mason living with the Owens, She soon became financially independent and ten years later, in 1866, she bought a house and sizable property on what is now 331 S. Spring Street in downtown Los Angeles for $250. She became the first black woman to own land in Los Angeles.
Over time Mason sold parcels of her land and built a commercial building with rental spaces on the remaining land. The area became the central commercial district of Los Angeles. Mason over time also made very wise financial and real estate decisions and as the town developed her property became prime urban lots. Her Grandson Robert Curry Owens later became a real estate developer and politician and one of the wealthiest African Americans in Los Angeles at the time. Not to mention a business partner with his Grandmother.
Mason became known as Granny Mason as she donated generously to charities and
occasionally paid the expenses of both black and white churches. At the spring
Street location she fed the hungry, clothed the naked in addition to prison
ministry where she provided various gifts and aid. She not once excluded any
race; regardless of the times. One would think Bridget Mason would stop there
but she didn’t. In 1872 mason and her son-in-law Charles, founded and financed
the Los Angeles branch of the First African Me
thodist
Episcopal Church, the first black church in Los Angeles. Some of today’s
religious leaders in Los Angeles are not the first to do great things and in
return, produce great numbers. The church is now known as 8th and Townes, and is
presently housed at 2270 S. Harvard Street.
“Destiny pulled on the cloak of her soul to win, to succeed, to be called blessed and to empower others”.
An inspiration to the masses and a threat to defeat, mason went on home to Glory, January 15, 1891 at the age of 73. Mason was buried in an unmarked grave at Evergreen Cemetery. To pay a final and proper tribute, nearly a century later, Mayor Tom Bradley and about 3,000 congregants of First A.M. E., with much respect, marked Mason’s grave with a tombstone. The legacy of Mason wasn’t forgotten on March 27, 1988 and on November 16, 1989 Los Angeles County declared that day Biddy Mason Day and a memorial of her achievements was erected at the Broadway Spring Center (a parking garage built at the site of her home). As Mason would say, “If you hold your hand closed, nothing good can come in. The open hand is blessed (empowered to prosper), for it gives in abundance (more than enough), even as it receives.” That is why we recognize her in our day; she truly lived the words she spoke, which still whispers in the ears of our generation’s tomorrow.
http://www.distinguishedwomen.com http://www/lkwdpl.org
Sources
Ferris, Jeri Chase. The Life and Times of Biddy mason: From Slavery to Wealthy Californian Land Owner, MC Printing Co., 1976
Susan B Anthony Slept Here. A Guide to American Women’s Landmarks By: Lynn Sherr and Jurate Kazickas, Random House, 1994