Photo Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty
Oscar-winning actress Octavia Spencer has recently signed on to executive produce the indie film “first enslaved African American to file and win a freedom suit, ” based on the book “A Free Woman on God’s Earth,” reports Variety.
The film, which will be directed by Alethea Root and produced by Kim Waltrip, will focus on the life of Elizabeth Freeman, also known as Mumbet, who was the first enslaved African American to file and win a freedom suit in Massachusetts. After hearing the newly ratified constitution state that “All men are created free and equal,” Freeman used her voice to sue for freedom in court. In 1781, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court found slavery to be a violation of the new constitution and the ruling helped to implicitly end slavery in the state.
Photo Credit: Boston Globe/Getty
“This is a woman who risked her life to speak truth to injustice,” Root said. “The power of the truth is paramount and the time is ripe for the world to be inspired and moved by Mumbet’s story.”
So far, there is no word on who the cast will be, but filming will take place in the same location the story unfolded in western Massachusetts.
“I’m extremely proud to be a part of helping to tell such an important story,” Spencer said. “It’s time for everyone to know about Elizabeth ‘Mumbet’ Freeman.”
We couldn’t agree more! Thank you Ms. Spencer for continuing to use your platform to bring stories about our history to life.