Love her. I will love to read more about her. I love women that do what makes them happy and that is why they stand out among the rest.

I think we as people of color really need to take a look at our ancestors.. Because the way we act today is not even a good look!

Yeah…I would take off runnin if i saw her coming at me.

I love CL for this. Its so great to learn something about my heritage. Great story.

BLUUU- PHIII 1914

Wow! Ms. Mary Fields didn’t play that Shit!

wow.

i LOVED that she knocked out white men with one punch. LOL sorry I just do.

This is why I love Conrete!! Thank you for this bit of history!!

greatness.

she ran things. thats how grown women do it.

WOW she is a tough woman, I wouldn’t have walked up on her in that time era. But the fact that she was a slave, Its cool that she worked after the fact; that’s a strong black woman.

Uh..whoa..speechless…and not in a good way

A movie should be made about this woman, she is an interesting character

I wonder how many comments this blog is gonna get. 20 at most

SHE OPENED A LAUNDRY BUSINESS AT 70. WOW. THAT’S DEFINITELY A STRONG WOMAN.

CL SHOULD DO POSTS ABOUT ALL THE BLACK PEOPLE THAT INVENTED THINGS WE ALL USE. I BET MANY OF THE YOUNGER READERS WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW SOME OF THE THINGS BLACK PEOPLE INVENTED.

I never heard of her thanks for the info…I bet they were scared to tell her to leave that convent

Wow!
the power black women have never ceases to amaze me. A black woman respected in the 19th century… crazy.

She reminds me of grandma rip. She ddnt take nonsense from n e one yet she had a soft side ppl rarely saw. That’s a strong courageous woman who held her own in a repressive society. U learn something new everyday.

Nice write up. Enjoyed today’s history lesson

THANK YOU Ms. Mary!!

This was a great read, thanks CL.

Now that’s a bad “bitch”

What a great story. CL be having the real deal with these story. Always keeping me thinking. Bless Ya CL.

At 1st i thought CL was introducing us to a new singer( until i read the title) oops!…She aint playin wit that gun, and she was tall..im sure no 1 messed with her..even the dog look like it will bite the bitch outta you!…Good Ole History Facts 4 the day! Love it! learn something or sum 1 new everyday!

WHO WROTE THIS ARTICLE?! WAS MARY FIELDS TALL OR A SHORT WOMAN? I’M CONFUSED

Btw are Mrs. Fields Cookies Based Off Her last name??? Could be ya never know(serious)

**Okay, I see it now!**

I love this story…Thanks CL for a look back into time. It makes me feel like life is all in what you make it.

@ Lis, it says short-tempered. LOL. She was 6 foot tall.

@27, I have a bad habit of scanning through, but I did read the entire article. Very good one! lol

Learn something new every day, She was a powerful women. Thanks CL!!!!

COMMENTS 1, 2, 3 & 21

GOOD Afternoon….

@24. She was tall “6-foot.” She was also “short-tempered”, as in easily angered.

lol look at the dog

And thus, the birth of “Lesbianism”!

Never needed a man, never wanted a man.

I love her confidence. A very strong black woman.

Wow @ the first sentence “Never had no children”…. Wow just because it’s an article about slavery times means we have to use improper grammar?

She don’t play but I learn something new everyday. Thanks CL

LOL the dog is funny lookin. I find his facial expression hilarious for some reason.

Great article! Mary Fields seems like an interesting person, thanks for dropping a little bit of knowledge on me today, CL…

OOOH, SHE AINT SOMEONE U’D WANNA HAVE IT OUT WIT!! LOOK @ HOW SHE HOLDIN THAT SHOT GUN… OOOO, AND THE DOG!

LOL, I didn’t notice the dog! I bet you won’t pet him! lol.

Wow, never heard of her, very interesting read! Love CL’s Spotlights!

A DNA test would provide a strong match between Mary Fields, Serena Williams and South African runner Caster Semenya.

LOL youz a fool Meat.

Interesting, I <3 Black History spotlight. I wish other blogs were as enlightened.

@Educated Goon

Name that Dog for me (lol), you are too funny! lol.

I have never of heard of this fantastic woman..thanks CL!

@Educated Goon

lol they edited the first sentence

More black l*sbian glorification lmao & smh. This is just proof that the “strong black woman” movement = feminism movement = l*sbian movement. Women like Mary Fields, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, etc. were all l*sbians and that is the ONLY reason why they are commemorated. The white man does not want the black women to see femininity in accord with the family unit….just some dyke trying to knock out men. I gurantee that those children that she “loved” were all white children lol.

What a Courageous, brave and strong willed woman. If black people weren’t so divided we could be so powerful!

I was wondering where you were Judah! I knew you were coming! (smile).

@ 36. I edited it. LOL. I didn’t even catch that one and Judah always has something to say. Damn!

Taurus women are SO thorough… Shout to Ms. Fields, she and I have the same birthday!!!

This was my first time really reading the “spotlight’ and I am so happy I did. I’m proud to have read about someone like Ms. Fields. And her life was even an example that whites and blacks did get a long. Look at how they treated her. She’s like my new hero now.lol

Im shocked she was allowed to even act like that back in those days. hmmm

@ Angel….. that damn Judah he seems really hateful and sad

Wow great read, she was def about her business.

This is the kinda women we need out there now, stong black women God bless their souls, all those who made the path for us (black) to follow.

@49 Judah u always got something negative to say why?? wow i don’t know wat u want anymore they give celebs negativity, they give a bit of your history negativity wat is she now a lesbian and the anti-christ, mason yeah? wat are u??? lool

Thank you sooo much for this CL, I don’t think I’ve ever heard of her. She was a badd lady! I wanna know more about her too; she seems very interesting. I love the fact that she didn’t take mess from anybody but would help out those in need. It’s nice to know that there was at least one respected black woman from back in the day!

@52ANGELONFIRE

This is off the subject! but can you please get the name of that dog! LOL have a good day girl!

I congratulate you for doing this. I do research on AA during WWI and WWII. This is an amazing story. Hope you’ll do something like this every day.

You don’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to see what the arrangement was. A 6-foot black dyke living around a bunch of white nuns lol. The nuns “loved” her so much, and she “loved” them so good, lol, that they helped her open a cafe. They even gave her a “mail route”, “stagecoach”, and a “team of horses” lmao. I bet they did. I wonder what she helped the nuns with that they sponsored her so thoroughly? I don’t see how she stands as a person worth remembering whatsoever, other than as a paragon of l*sbianism.

Great article!!

Of course Judah ALWAYS has something negative to say about a Black woman.

LMAO at all the side comments about this amazing woman’s sexuality! What in the HAIL does that have to do with anything??? LOL

Thank you for posting about our ancestors. It is great. I enjoy reading them. What I enjoyed about reading this is the fact that she could knock a man out with a single punch. That is what I’m talking about. POW~~~~

#63 ….Judah writes from his jail cell. He is serving life with no parole, Let me guess Judah.
Drive by. #63 whenever a black man puts a black women down just throw back in their face all the shit they are known for. 10-12 fucken kids, grade 8 education, gun in pocket, and you know the list goes on and on. At least we can say 5-0 never showed up at my mamas house can he say the same……… probably not that’s why he’s in jail.
Good Day!

Thanks for shedding some light on this and sharing it with us all. I love to learn about Black History. I’m sure there are a lot of our ancestors that arent talked about in the least bit, so this was truly refreshing.:)

Lol wow Miss. Mary don’t play!
She was a hard working woman - even in her old age.
I wasn’t going to read this spotlight but that picture got me - she sure was a big woman. Who would even want to test her and try and see if she could knock ‘em out?

Contrary to what someone stated above, I think it goes without saying that Mary Fields, Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth are historically significant due to their contributions to the progress of blacks and women of all races in America. Not because of what some presume to be their sexual orientation due to narrow-minded views on gender roles.

Post Script, Sojourner Truth had at least 5 children in her lifetime.

Liberated before Women’s Liberation, very strong and brave woman, and to be a black women in that period and time, just wow.

@LYNN!

Girl do you really think Judah is writing from his jail cell! That is a scary thought!
do they even allow people in jail to have computers, I think they do, if they show
good behavior or something like that!

Damn that is scary!

This woman was someone I would’ve love to have met just to shake her hand. Who cares about her sexuality? Maybe she never met a man that wasn’t intimidated by her size and personality. She was definitely beyond her time. Who knows why the nuns loved her,who cares? Would we respect her more if she’s been hung for her actions? I see so much strength and self-respect in her photo. She seems to have been a very great lady.

well, she COULD’VE been a lesbian since this WAS in part taken from BITCH magazine which is a known lesbian magazine publication

i wouldn’t be surprised if she really was a burly, asexual, intimidating black woman as we’ve been portrayed for the past 100+ years

Lesbian,non-lesbian,hermaphrodite,trans-sexual,heterosexual,whatever she was or wasn’t. Does it take away from her accomplishments?Does it make me less proud that she is black?No.

According to another website,Miss Mary follwed the daughter(Dolly,later named Sister Amadeus) of her slavemaster to the nunnery. They became friends as they grew together on the plantation. SIster Amadeus moved elsewhere,Mary stayed on. From what I read there wasn’t that much love between her and the nuns,she was after all,still a black woman. They NEEDED her becasue she was the hardest and strongest worker.

CL, PLEASE DO MORE OF THESE!!
Our people need to know this history. She was the first REAL Independent Woman

@ Lynn

Damn, lmao. You seem very angry. Has a man knocked you out? Lemme find out you that dog next to her in the picture….

@That’s How they get You

Sojourner Truth’s children are irrelevant. She was a known l*sbian. Governor McGreevey has children too lol. Let’s establish something. I don’t give a damn if the vast majority of black women embrace feminism. It is what it is, and it’s really more of a manifestation of black women’s obsession with white women, who are the true initiators of the feminist movement through the theosophical society and the worship of the Queen Mother goddess of the ancients. The point is to establish l*sbianism as the lineal preogenitor of the mindset called feminism today. Once that is established, then the awake know what they are dealing with in actuality. While the sisters are embracing feminism; they will also be forced to embrace the offshoots of that, which are the highest rate of abortion, venereal disease, and the lowest rate of marriage.

@ KIDDO

I’m writing from your living room computer. You don’t remember me? I’m boyfriend number 7,632.

OH LAWD NOW SEE THESE COMMENTS DONE LIT A FIRE UNDER JUDAH’S A$$ AND GOT HIM ALL RILED UP LOL!

@JUDAH

I don’t get it? lol.

@JUDAH

Oh okay! that’s your jail cell number! LOL!

YESS MAM……..ITS APPARENT SHE WAS A DYKE….OOH QUEEN LATIFAH COULD PLAY HER…..I LIKE THIS CHICK THO , SHE WOULD BE A TRIP TO PLAY CARDS WIT, CURSING AND FIGHTING AND TRYING TO GET MY PANTIES…..NO MAM…….

Bump Judah!! neways back to Ms. Mary!! my grandama was like that God bless her soul… she was about six foot 200lbs… and had everyone in the community in check…. when we got into with other kids parents and grandparent use to step outside and be like LEAVE LENA GRANDCHILDREN ALONE!!! don’t get that woman rowled up… I understood what that meant when i got older she was known as one not to be played with LOL!! and I remember her calling in neighborhood kids who mom were on rock, and be like come on in here and eat you some hot food, (red beans, corn bread rice, tea mmmm) and while they were eating she was telling them how they mammy aint S**t LOL!! I know what its like to be around a strong powerful woman

strong in all ways strength and compassion

NEVER KNEW OF HER, THANKS ALOT CL..THAT GUN CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD THO!

NEVER KNEW OF HER, THANKS ALOT CL..THAT GUN CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD THO!

I love this write up, keep them coming! How about more book reviews though? I loved when you did the last one. I especially like the strength of this woman, Black woman are ashamed of our strength these days, and try to hide it to appeal to the masses.

thanks cl i really never heard of this woman, in our history class they teach you the same ones every years, no matter what grade, douglas, tubman, luther, carver etc. thanks

What a wonderful story. I would love to have met her.

I luv my history. American history that is….

Great article CL…I learned something new today.

I DON’T GET IT. WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL ABOUT HER. SMH

YOU PEOPLE ARE SO EASILY IMPRESSED.

Wow…..great history. Good to know, thanks CL!!!!!

Wow, I remember stories of “Stagecoach Mary”. Thank you for posting her story and RIP Mother Mary.

NICE WRITE UP J…

FOR SOME REASON THIS STORY REALLY DREW ME INTO IT.

I bet she told that dog to sit the F*ck down and shut the F*ck up, and that damn dog still there skeletoned out!

@#77 Judah, no illiterate thats not me in the picture…… thats your Moms man, don’t you recognize her??????????? WOOF!!!!!

I understand why you would see my comment as angry. This comment is coming from someone who statstically suffers from mental illness so I see that I am not dealing with anyone who is of sound mind. So I DECIDED to go easy on you. You black men can dish your shit but you can’t take it. Well as long as I am on here I have now made you my honorary bitch and you will take it ..like you are right now up your ass. How’s it like being passed around in there???? Well that should be nothing new to you as black man you must have fucked everyone on your block. Man how are all you 10 kids. Sorry I meant 12 I did not mean to leave out lil man man and his half brother ray ray…
isn’t there birthdays coming up soon? Perhaps I can get them some tin cans with string attached to it? What do you think? Nice gift huh… I do not want to lavish them to much though with educational material because that is not something they are used to and why would they be your their DADDY!!

Sexuality has NOTHING to do with this post! It’s absolutely ridiculous that people read this post and start thinking about who this woman would sleep with rather than the respect she was able to attain despite the time period. SMH @ perverts.

Prime example of a “strong Black woman” not a “powerful” Black woman. Back in the day (and now) our women were viewed as being not feminine. When the railroads were being built the overseers would dress the men and women alike to ease his conscious of having women do the same brutal labor as the men. Sure she was tough, the she possessed brute strength and was well loved in her community….but where was her power of influence.

Remember Sojourner Truth’s - Ain’t I a Woman? Power has the ability to change lives and influence others. I am not taking anything away from Mary Fields but Truth stepped beyond her brute strength and used her intelligence to have a much lasting influence.

We have always been strong but as I’ve said earlier strong is like a pack animal, able to take the abuse life brings you and still remain standing….Powerful women go beyond and influence others for generations.
We need to flex our femininity and our power… and stop being pack animals for the Black community.

Seems like a very commendable woman. This shows that we as people can do anything we want with a little determination and diligence. If she could do so much for herself in the 19th century, there is no excuse for anyone in this world. Appreciate CL posting this, this just gave me a little more determination!

CL, Please start doing a Weekly or Daily Black History fact. We as Black people REALLY need to brush up on our History
Thank you for this information!

Thanks for bringing the Spotlight segment of your blog back! I was missing it for awhile. Love this choice. So unexpected and informative. I said Wow a couple of times while reading this. Keep up the good work and thanks for continuing to bring unknown and/or forgotten African Americans back to the forefront!

ooohhhhh LYNN & JUDAH lol in here fighting and making sterotypes about blacks ppl. smh tis tis thats almost worst
than white on black racist jargon. lol tho bc fights are good entertainment at times but what you 2 babies are doing is deep. judah, as crazy as his topic was, kind of warrants ponderation. (ponderation wat?)

@82…um you can play cards wit me. im awsome and narli (wink wink)

and yeah angel do more of these webments(like segments) i would like to nominate Chicago’s own George Jackson….then I would like to nominate the great John Henrik Clark and lastly my main man Inspector Gadget danna dannna dunt whooooo whooooo

Thanks J. Dakar. I always enjoy reading your post. Hey I have one question…. Tee shirts? (LOL)

Wow!! What an amazing woman!! I’m so glad you guys did a post about her, she would’ve been lost to be if you hadn’t. This IS why I love this site, these features are always a very welcome departure from the norm.

Amazing woman right there! Thanks CL

At least this lady wasn’t a homewrecker.

More power to her…keep the posts coming.

What an amazing and fascinating woman! Thanks for the history lesson CL. Her story is inspirational and intriguing. It couldn’t have been easy for her during that time period. All I can say is WOW!!

Wow, she was the original Madea.

@Lynn

Lmao, you back? I didn’t even throw a stick. Oh yeah, some black man definitely beat on you like a set of congas didn’t he? “Cheated” on you? Left you? Lmao, sorry. That’s no reason to turn dyke sister. Unless you look like Mary. You must, because you are in a a phenomenal rage lmao. You should balance out that problem by being a little happier. Maybe then a negro won’t hit you with that left and that right. Worst come to worst, remember to keep your chin tucked when he’s on the offensive. Duck, roll, grab the phone, and call the cops. In all seriousness you obviously have penile envy lol. You one of those dykes that rocks the timbs and the fitted cap? You tatted up, lmao? I get a kick out of messing with characters like yourself.

Now that was an interesting read she was a fascinating woman. Glad I took the time out to read this fully I rarely do it.

I LOVE U WANDA.

YALL BETTER RECOGNIZE… STAND UP!

I was reading on CNN about Tom Joyner getting a pardon for his great-uncles for a murder they didn’t commit and then I read this story afterward. I feel like there is a missing link when it comes to African-America history, something that helps ferment pride and purpose in this country. I always loved learning about our history. Thank you CL for sharing this.

And Trina calls herself the “baddest bitch” lol. I would have loved to meet this woman

A blast from the past!
It’s wonderful how the good is remembered!!!!!
I hope I leave a mouth full of good when I leave this earth!!!!!!!!!!
Read and learn!
Read and learn my black people !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

so, we’re just going to assume judah is in jail because he has an difference of opinion? he isn’t too far off.

i love learning new things about our history just like the next, but the ability to see through certain things are a must. this story seems strange. just my thoughts.

Wow I’m really interested on reading more on her…. amazing CL thank you so much

Always giving us that knowledge, THANKS JDAKAR! Loved this one.

WANDA
Thursday, October 15, 2009 /
I think we as people of color really need to take a look at our ancestors.. Because the way we act today is not even a good look!

————————————————————————————————————–
I agree. Everyone should take time to learn what was going on before they were even thought about.

Nice read. Look foward to the next feature.

great post! thanks for the history lesson!

Please keep these history highlights coming! I’m learning so much from these. Thanks!

CL, thank you for your continued support of African American history. The creators of this site are definitely doing their part in increasing awareness of these notable, but overlooked, historical figures. Keep up the good work.

Nice lesson, CL! And I completely agree with comment number 2.

It’s a shame our contribution to history is overlooked. Whenever black ancestors do get a mention, it’s slavery and other times we’ve died. Historians ignore our achievements.

historians have not ignored blacks accomplishments. they purposely do not mention them bc they want blacks to fall into sterotypical roles of bafoons and so forth. if they(white historians) show positive works, then ppl might just strive for such. duh, its called dumbing down. there is however plenty info out there…..seek and you shall find.

BLACK PEOPLE SO IGNORANT. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER SEEN PEOPLE THINK ABOUT WHO WAS A LESBIAN OR WHATEVER IN OUR BLACK HISTORY. WTF YALL NEED SOME SCHOOLING FOR REAL. THIS IS A FIRST. WHO THE HELL WOULD ASK THEMSELVES WAS SHE A LESBIAN?? WHO IS THINKING ABOUT THAT BESIDES THAT DAMN JUDAH? I AGREE HE PROBABLY IS DOING THIS FROM JAIL LOL YOU KNOW IMPRISONED PEOPLE HAVE A LOT TO THINK ABOUT WHILE THEY ARE ALONE. LOL

@ OH OK.

Let me see if I can help you………
First off don’t make blanket statements. The ignorance in this room comes from one source……”JUDAH”.

Judah is extremely hateful of women in general and of empowered women in particular and he loves to equate feminism with homosexuality which of course is utter nonsense.

I suggest you simply dismiss and excuse his comments and take full advantage of the historical perspective and glory of Mary Fields.

Judah at least is trying to educate himself by reading and his subjective views on the roles of women are just pedestrian and lack the intellectual structure to cause the type of damage he would like. I think he does this to get a reaction because he is very insecure. But you would make a huge mistake to sink to his level and take him seriously.

I love CL for these!!!!!!!!!!

lovin Furious Styles!

Thank you so much for the enlightenment…very much appreciated…

great post. Keep it up!!!

Great job Angel, thank you for this article. This is what makes you stand out above the rest.

A great story-always nice to get some black history, keep em coming!

Thanks for this CL…the picture was the reason why I read the article but I wouldn’t have known anything about this woman had it not been posted. This is why I love CL!