In Conversation with Kevin Waite & Marne Campbell: From Slavery to Freedom - The Boundless Biddy Mason

Event details Date: Thursday, September 24, 2026 Time: 12:00 PM to 1:00 AM Location: Online Cost: free Type: Lecture / Talk / Workshop Campus: Other Location Department: Institute on California and the West (ICW), Van Hunnick History Department Audience: Students, Alumni, Faculty/Staff About this event Join Kevin Waite and Marne Campbell, in conversation with Bill Deverell, for a compelling dialogue about Waite’s new book The Boundless Biddy Mason: An Odyssey from Slavery to Freedom Across the American West. In this groundbreaking biography, Waite traces the remarkable life of Biddy Mason, who endured a 3,000-mile forced journey from slavery in Georgia to California, secured her freedom through a landmark court case, and went on to become a healer, philanthropist, entrepreneur, and one of the most influential founders of Black Los Angeles. This conversation will explore the legacy of a woman whose life illuminates both the possibilities and limits of freedom in the American West. Official event details: https://calendar.usc.edu/event/in-conversation-with-kevin-waite-marne-campbell-from-slavery-to-freedom-the-boundless-biddy-mason