Mary Ellen Pleasant's Saga

Courage, Immense wealth, philanthropy, and heroic civil rights deeds are among the legacies inextricably woven into the Mary Ellen Pleasant saga— oddly coupled with vodou, intrigue, blackmail, betrayal, and death.

Lauded before the Civil War throughout the Victorian era as a staunch abolitionist but also as San Francisco’s Vodou Queen. “Mammy” Pleasant conducted her thriving businesses –and Vodou– from her massive Octavia Street mansion—  It is said she haunts the street still.

Mary Ellen Pleasant was an African-American woman who in her youth could “pass” for white; a wildly successful entrepreneur, a powerful abolitionist …and a mistress or consort to wealthy banker Thomas Bell.

Her nemesis, and one time protégé Teresa Percy-Bell, claimed “Mammy” held Vodou orgies at their mansion. While supporters claimed she was one of the first Civil Rights crusaders. She was ultimately mysterious, fabulously wealthy, and constantly controversial.

The truth of Pleasant’s hold on Thomas and Teresa Bell will perhaps always be shrouded in secrecy, for loyalty was one of “Mammy’s” chief virtues.