“Any time while I was a slave, if one minute’s freedom had been offered to me, and I had been told I must die at the end of that minute, I would have taken it—just to stand one minute on God’s earth a free woman—I would.”
Emma Sunnerberg, Massachusetts College of Art
The Du Bois Freedom Center is Proud to Be Honoring, Celebrating, and Sharing the Story, Life, and Legacy of
Elizabeth Freeman
Abby Glover, Massachusetts College of Art
In 1781, an enslaved woman named Elizabeth Freeman walked into a courtroom and changed history.
Known as Mum Bett, Freeman became the first enslaved person to successfully sue for her freedom under the Massachusetts Constitution.
In the landmark case Brom & Bett v. Ashley, she argued that the Constitution's declaration that "all men are born free and equal" applied to her.
The court ruled in her favor, establishing a legal precedent that contributed to the abolition of slavery in Massachusetts.
We Invite You to Join Us for
Our Special Events
as We Explore the History of the First Enslaved Woman to
Win Her Freedom in a Court of Law in Massachusetts.
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Elizabeth Freeman Reimagined:
An Exhibit of Works Celebrating the Life, Story and Legacy of Elizabeth Freeman in Collaboration with Massachusetts College of Art
June 20-October 2, 2026
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"Elizabeth Freeman's Declaration of Independence"
A Family Reading with Author Jana Laiz
TBA
Du Bois Freedom Center
309 Main Street, Great Barrington
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"Enslavement and Freedom: Elizabeth Freeman and the American Revolution"
A Panel Discussion
July 15, 2026 5:30-7 pm
The Mount
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"1781, the Story of 'Mum Bett' - A Play with the Berkshire Theatre Group"
August 20 and 21, 2026
Unicorn Theatre Stockbridge
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Town Hall Unveiling
Dedication of a Permanent Interactive Kiosk Celebrating Elizabeth Freeman
Tentative Date August 22, 2026
Great Barrington Town Hall
Elizabeth Freeman’s verdict was not just a personal victory — it was a turning point in the history of American freedom.
After gaining her freedom, Freeman made her home in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, where she worked for the Sedgwick family until her death in 1829.
Her life and courage left behind a legacy that continues to challenge the contradictions between the ideals of the new nation and the reality of enslavement within it — reminding us that the meaning of freedom has always had to be claimed, fought for, and defended.
Her story did not happen in a distant place or a distant time — it happened here, in the Berkshires, on ground we still walk today.
Each of our special events brings the opportunity to interpret Freeman's life and legacy, reflect on the growing efforts to commemorate her memory, and consider what her courage means for our understanding of liberty and equality in America today.