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Historical stories of Black wealth tend to be few and far between. Most know of the story of the self-made millionaire Madame C.J. Walker, and amazing as that story is, it seems to be the only mainstream historical story about Black women and wealth. Walker’s story is often portrayed as the exception to the rule — the one unique story out of 100+ years of African American history. Yet, she is not the only Black woman to defeat the odds and gain capital.
Bridget Mason, known as Biddy Mason, is a Black woman who, at one point in time, was one of the wealthiest people in Los Angeles, California. Her life is one of the greatest examples of perseverance and the power of community.
Biddy Mason’s journey from enslavement to freedom
Born into slavery on a plantation in Hancock County, Georgia, on August 15, 1818, Mason took on various jobs and responsibilities. She was a house servant, cattle herder, midwife, and plantation worker. Yet, despite her many roles, she never earned the full respect she deserved. When her enslavers moved across the country to California, Mason had to walk behind the caravan for seven months.
As treacherous as the journey was, it would ultimately be the stepping stone to her freedom. When Mason and her three children arrived in California, it was declared a free state, meaning any enslaved person could become free upon entering the state.
However, Mason didn’t gain her own and her family’s freedom immediately since their enslaver denied them their freedom and kept their imprisonment a secret. Fortunately, Mason met and often spoke with freed Black people who informed her that she could be free.
It was a turn of events that catapulted Mason into taking action. When Mason’s enslaver wanted to move to Texas, she knew that she would never have a chance for freedom if she followed.
Thus, Mason fought for her freedom by suing her enslaver in the 1856 court case Mason v. Smith. Unable to attend court, she had representation during her court date. Different sources tell how this day passed, but the judge presiding over her case took the time to meet with Mason privately to hear her story. Shortly after, the judge granted Mason and her family their freedom.
How Biddy Mason gained her wealth
As a free woman, Mason did not take this opportunity for granted. Because of her midwife experience, she studied nursing and became a midwife and nurse to Dr. John Strother Griffin, a Los Angeles physician. She assisted hundreds of mothers of different races and social classes through her work. She was even renowned for her herbal remedies.
In addition to her healing work, she focused on saving money and living frugally. After years of hard work and savings, she had enough money to buy property in Los Angeles. She built small homes and rented them out to establish an additional income source. She did this for 18 years, and at 66, she sold part of her land and built a commercial building where she lived on the second floor with her family and rented out the rooms on the ground floor.
Throughout her lifetime, she became a real estate mogul, continuously buying different properties that increased in value over time. In the early 1890s, Mason’s properties were only one block from the financial district in Los Angeles. Over her lifetime, she accumulated around $300,000 and was at one point the wealthiest African-American woman in Los Angeles.
Leaving a legacy
What is more inspiring than how Mason gained her wealth is what she did with her money. Mason believed in giving back to the community. It was in 1872 that she and Charles Owen, her son-in-law, founded and financed the First African Methodist Episcopal Church.
In addition to founding the church, she helped develop an elementary school for Black children and a traveler’s aid center. Mason, also known as Grandma Mason, gave back to the community until she passed away on January 15,1891. She was laid to rest in an unmarked grave at Evergreen Cemetery in Boyle Heights.
Nearly a century after her death, her contributions to the Los Angeles community were recognized when she was given an official tombstone during a ceremony honoring her life. In addition, November 16, 1989, was declared National Biddy Mason day, and in her honor, a memorial wall was built on Spring street in Los Angeles.
In 2013 the Biddy Madison Foundation was established to help serve the foster youth in the community. Her story continues to be shared with children in the book Biddy Mason Speaks Up by Arisa White and Laura Atkins.
Madison was a hard-working and selfless woman who never stopped fighting for what she deserved. Her legacy of wealth and kindness serves as an inspiration to everyone.
Historical stories of Black wealth tend to be few and far between. Most know of the story of the self-made millionaire Madame C.J. Walker, and amazing as that story is, it seems to be the only mainstream historical story about Black women and wealth. Walker’s story is often portrayed as the exception to the rule — the one unique story out of 100+ years of African American history. Yet, she is not the only Black woman to defeat the odds and gain capital.
Bridget Mason, known as Biddy Mason, is a Black woman who, at one point in time, was one of the wealthiest people in Los Angeles, California. Her life is one of the greatest examples of perseverance and the power of community.
Biddy Mason’s journey from enslavement to freedom
Born into slavery on a plantation in Hancock County, Georgia, on August 15, 1818, Mason took on various jobs and responsibilities. She was a house servant, cattle herder, midwife, and plantation worker. Yet, despite her many roles, she never earned the full respect she deserved. When her enslavers moved across the country to California, Mason had to walk behind the caravan for seven months.
As treacherous as the journey was, it would ultimately be the stepping stone to her freedom. When Mason and her three children arrived in California, it was declared a free state, meaning any enslaved person could become free upon entering the state.
However, Mason didn’t gain her own and her family’s freedom immediately since their enslaver denied them their freedom and kept their imprisonment a secret. Fortunately, Mason met and often spoke with freed Black people who informed her that she could be free.
It was a turn of events that catapulted Mason into taking action. When Mason’s enslaver wanted to move to Texas, she knew that she would never have a chance for freedom if she followed.
Thus, Mason fought for her freedom by suing her enslaver in the 1856 court case Mason v. Smith. Unable to attend court, she had representation during her court date. Different sources tell how this day passed, but the judge presiding over her case took the time to meet with Mason privately to hear her story. Shortly after, the judge granted Mason and her family their freedom.
How Biddy Mason gained her wealth
As a free woman, Mason did not take this opportunity for granted. Because of her midwife experience, she studied nursing and became a midwife and nurse to Dr. John Strother Griffin, a Los Angeles physician. She assisted hundreds of mothers of different races and social classes through her work. She was even renowned for her herbal remedies.
In addition to her healing work, she focused on saving money and living frugally. After years of hard work and savings, she had enough money to buy property in Los Angeles. She built small homes and rented them out to establish an additional income source. She did this for 18 years, and at 66, she sold part of her land and built a commercial building where she lived on the second floor with her family and rented out the rooms on the ground floor.
Throughout her lifetime, she became a real estate mogul, continuously buying different properties that increased in value over time. In the early 1890s, Mason’s properties were only one block from the financial district in Los Angeles. Over her lifetime, she accumulated around $300,000 and was at one point the wealthiest African-American woman in Los Angeles.
Leaving a legacy
What is more inspiring than how Mason gained her wealth is what she did with her money. Mason believed in giving back to the community. It was in 1872 that she and Charles Owen, her son-in-law, founded and financed the First African Methodist Episcopal Church.
In addition to founding the church, she helped develop an elementary school for Black children and a traveler’s aid center. Mason, also known as Grandma Mason, gave back to the community until she passed away on January 15,1891. She was laid to rest in an unmarked grave at Evergreen Cemetery in Boyle Heights.
Nearly a century after her death, her contributions to the Los Angeles community were recognized when she was given an official tombstone during a ceremony honoring her life. In addition, November 16, 1989, was declared National Biddy Mason day, and in her honor, a memorial wall was built on Spring street in Los Angeles.
In 2013 the Biddy Madison Foundation was established to help serve the foster youth in the community. Her story continues to be shared with children in the book Biddy Mason Speaks Up by Arisa White and Laura Atkins.
Madison was a hard-working and selfless woman who never stopped fighting for what she deserved. Her legacy of wealth and kindness serves as an inspiration to everyone.
Telfar is in high demand and, with a new pricing system, they’re letting the world know they aren’t going anywhere.
After a dramatic announcement on Twitter and Instagram, the Black-owned luxury handbag brand finally made it official – the price is going up! Their newest collection, dropping on Mar. 27, will come with a unique pricing system. Fast Company reported prices for the bags and accessories will be determined by popularity, with a pricing tool designed to keep the fastest-selling products on the cheaper side.
WE HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT TO MAKE: THE PRICE IS GOING UP
MARCH 27 NOON ET— https://t.co/EpbOnsh5y7 pic.twitter.com/NvyPLzTfhA
— TELFAR (@TELFARGLOBAL) March 21, 2023
This new design reinforces the mission of founder, Telfar Clemens, to make his products affordable and accessible to anybody. “Many brands use price as a barrier to entry,” Clemens said. “I never wanted that for my brand.”
The brand has been a hot commodity in the fashion industry, setting the bar high for Black accessory designers. Celebrities from Chloe Bailey to Queen Bey herself, Beyoncé, have been seen sporting the colorful bags, which come in almost every color of the spectrum. With a variety of offerings, the products range in size and price, starting around $150.
Creative director, Babak Radboy, said that in the beginning, the team struggled with price points, as many brands were charging obscene amounts of money for things like hoodies. “The more we thought about it, the more it became clear that the pricing model in fashion doesn’t make any sense,” Radboy told Dazed.
“If we charge $600 for the hoodie, then only one class of person would buy it – the person who can afford it,” Radboy added.
The pricing for the new collection, consisting of handbags and garments for everyone, will start at the wholesale price and will increase over time. The final price at which the item sells will eventually decide the set cost for all future collections by Telfar.
The newest episode of The Mandalorian, “The Foundling,” featured the show’s latest surprise cameo. We now know who rescued Grogu from Order 66. That character’s unexpected arrival was much bigger than just a single episode or TV show, though. The actor who plays that heroic Jedi is a Star Wars‘ alum whose own journey in the franchise has been a long and difficult one.
Who Plays Jedi Kelleran Beq on The Mandalorian?
Ahmed Best—who played Jar Jar Binks in the Star Wars prequel trilogy—returned to the franchise as Jedi Knight Kelleran Beq on The Mandalorian. He was the previously unknown Jedi who ultimately rescued Grogu from Coruscant during Order 66. Other Jedi gave their lives getting the child to Kelleran for escape.
Proficient at using two lightsabers once, Kelleran fought back clone troopers long enough to dash away to an awaiting Royal Naboo Security Forces ship. There the Naboo guards fought the arriving clone troopers so Kelleran and Grogu could flee the planet. They left to find the Jedi’s unnamed “friends.”
The History of Kelleran Beq in Star Wars
Best originally debuted as Jedi Kelleran Beq in an unusual way. The fictional Jedi Knight hosted the Star Wars kids gameshow Jedi Temple Challenge. It ran for 10 episodes on YouTube in the summer of 2020. There, Best’s character served as guide and mentor to contestants as they competed against one another in Jedi training exercises. The gameshow also featured Kelleran’s two droids, his AD-3 protocol droid and his astromech LX-R5.
The kids’ show revealed facts about Beq (who served aboard the Athylia starship) that proved important on The Mandalorian. Kelleran used to remind his sassy protocol droid he earned the nickname “The Sabered Hand” as a Padawan himself for deftly using two lightsabers at once. Those skills were on full display during Grogu’s rescue—as was his ability to look after younglings. It’s only fitting that Kelleran Beq saved the wee baby Grogu.
Best has previously said his Jedi character is also related to Coruscant resident Achk Med-Beq. There is no official, canonical fact to back up that claim. However, there is still a pretty significant connection between the two. Best played both characters. He was also Med-Beq in Attack of the Clones. The brief background appearance allowed the actor to show his actual face on screen, something he didn’t get to do as Jar Jar. But this turn as Kelleran means much more than that small cameo long ago.
Why Ahmed Best’s Return to the Franchise Means So Much
The intense fan backlash to Jar Jar Binks is infamous. It was also extremely hard on Ahmed Best himself. He had been very proud of what he and George Lucas accomplished in creating one of cinema’s first fully motion-captured characters. But the over-the-top vitriol he received for playing the Gungun nearly led Best to take his own life.
Fortunately he overcome those struggles, and over the last few years he has opened up about his journey. He even shared how he went from standing on the Brooklyn Bridge thinking about jumping to years later taking his son to the very same spot.
He didn’t need to save Grogu to know what devoted Star Wars fans really think about him, though. Best got a standing ovation when he apparated at 2019’s Star Wars Celebration. But seeing his Jedi Knight save the possible future of the Jedi from Order 66 is still a triumphant return that would have felt impossible not that long ago.
No one in the franchise deserved a moment like this than Ahmed Best. He has always deserved so much better than he got from Star Wars fans long ago.
Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. You can follow him on Twitter at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.
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