Mary Ellen Pleasant was born in Virginia under "unclear" circumstances around 1812. She was a VERY fair skinned Negress who was afforded most of her life what other black women of her time were not. Though her own life included servitude, she was allowed to work her way to freedom. She was allowed access to education. She ended up becoming friends with her former bondwoman's great granddaughter who was an abolitionist and became an active part of that movement. In 1848 she married. She and her husband, who was also a fair skinned man, began helping with the underground railroad and helped many slaves get out of the south. However as things got increasingly more difficult she and her husband had to move west to avoid their own demise.
They got out west in 1852. San Francisco to be specific and when she arrived Ms Mary passed for white. She never actively told anyone she was white. She just let the white folks believe what they will. Being a wonderful cook she soon gained employment at one of the most prominent gentleman's eateries in San Francisco. This place was visited by the most successful capitalists in San Francisco. So well was she received that these men helped Ms Mary to get her own place and they all frequented her establishment often. Because they thought she was white they often gave her business tips. And even when they weren't giving her tips they often spoke freely with each other at their tables... And Ms. Mary listened. Because of this she amassed a great fortune.
What her clients didn't know was how Ms. Mary was using that fortune. She was still part of the Underground railroad movement. She helped to finance many former slaves to get west. For those who made it to San Francisco she gave them loans and helped them find jobs. And she never lied to her people. She told them she was black and trusted them to keep her secret. At the end of the civil war she "came out" as black and began to file several civil rights suits with courts to overturn laws that prohibited blacks from riding trolley cars and access to other public resources. And many of the folks she helped to get established in San Francisco became Leaders in the black community in San Francisco. Her white benefactors were shocked and felt betrayed. When she died Ms Mary was know by 2 names by history 1) A professional Capitalist (This name she gave herself) and 2) The mother of the Human Rights Movement, a name given to her by the black folks of San Francisco.
White people have always known the potential power of passing in a white supremacist society. That is why the punishment during slavery and Jim Crow was death. They understood that if a black person with a particular mindset (or even one who could be swayed by the suffering of their people) were able to pass and benefit from that privilege, they could use it to pull up those of their race unable to pass.
What does all this have to do with Beyonce? Well, her parents spent years crafting a persona that would allow her to rise to super-stardom. And we know America likes to make their pop stars "colorless" once they reach a certain level of fame. And for years Beyonce allowed America to paint her with their colorless brush. But she never told folks she was colorless. She just let them believe what they will while she amassed her fortune. Now, as a grown woman, far outside her parents control, she's decided to "come out" as black. And she's publicly using her money to help where her presence may not. She and her husband have been supporting Dream Defenders with funds since the Trayvon Martin case and just pledged 1.5 million more this week. Beyonce is using some of the proceeds from her upcoming tour to help Flint, MI.
See the problem with passing is that in the end you end up in a very lonely place. The white folks who thought you were one of them feel betrayed and taken advantage of and so they rage (White Tears). And Black folks find it hard to trust you because you spent so many years passing (All the black folk critics out there saying Beyonce is just doing this for publicity). I don't know Beyonce's intent, but through observation I can say she took a chance with this most recent project, Because being un-apologetically black in America has NEVER been advantageous. But like Ms Mary, after years of passing she's saying to the white world "Y'all do know I'm black right?" and like Ms Mary she is trying to use the fortune she's amassed to do some good. For this reason the white tears flow.
Now, the last line of Formation (Your best revenge is your paper) lets you know that Beyonce is a Capitalist just like Ms Mary. Only time will tell if her legacy will include both her capitalism and human rights activism like Ms Mary. I for one am pulling for her!
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