Mary Ellen Pleasant (1814–1904) was a self-made millionaire and a key African American civil rights activist during the 19th century, often hailed as the “Mother of Civil Rights in California.” Born into slavery in Georgia, she escaped to freedom and eventually made
her way to California during the Gold Rush. There, she successfully operated several boarding houses and restaurants catering to miners and travelers.
Pleasant accumulated considerable wealth, which she used to advocate for the abolition of slavery and support the Underground Railroad, assisting in the escape of enslaved individuals. She also financed John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry and was a dedicated supporter of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. In today’s currency she was worth close to one billion dollars.
