Los Angeles City Historical Society: Biddy Mason – More Than Just A Los Angeles Pioneer

Press release from the Los Angeles City Historical Society:

February 24, 2022

Although Biddy Mason may have died in 1891, many Angeleno’s may only recognize her name as one of the first African American pioneers to own land and real estate in downtown Los Angeles. Or they may only recognize the name as the founder of Los Angeles’ First African Methodist Episcopal Church (First A.M.E.), the oldest African American congregation in Los Angeles. But what many may not be aware of - is that none of this would have been possible if not for an important court case in 1856 in which Biddy set a legal precedent in California courts for future enslaved African Americans in California.

This press release was produced by the Los Angeles City Historical Society. The views expressed here are the author’s own.