This statue honors Elizabeth Freeman.

A new statue shows Elizabeth Freeman. It is in Sheffield, Massachusetts. (Gillian Jones/The Berkshire Eagle via AP)
This painting shows Bett when she was older. (Massachusetts Historical Society via AP)
She holds the court note that says she won! (Gillian Jones/The Berkshire Eagle via AP)
People came to see the statue. (Gillian Jones/The Berkshire Eagle via AP)

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“Bett” was a black woman. She lived long ago. A white family enslaved her.

Bett could not read. But she listened carefully. She heard men say that all people are born free.

She asked a lawyer to help. She won her freedom!

Pray for people around the world who are not free. Pray that they will come to know the freedom Jesus gives.

Read More: Bett lived in Sheffield, Massachusetts. Colonel John Ashley enslaved her. Article 1 of the Massachusetts Constitution was read to the public in 1780. Bett heard, “All men are born free and equal, and have certain . . . unalienable rights.” She wanted to be free. She won that freedom more than 80 years before President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Now a statue in Sheffield honors Elizabeth Freeman. “Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.” (1 Peter 2:16)