Stagecoach Mary: The Fearless First Black Woman Mail Carrier of the Wild West

Meet Stagecoach Mary: The Fearless Black Pioneer Who Ruled the Wild West Mary Fields, better known as Stagecoach Mary, was born into slavery around 1832, likely in or near Hickman County, Tennessee. Due to the limited record-keeping of enslaved individuals, the exact details of her birth remain uncertain. However, after gaining her freedom following the Civil War, she embarked on a remarkable journey that solidified her historical place.

Her legacy was honored in the movie produced by rap icon Jay Z and directed by Jeymes Samuel. The movie shed light on several legendary African American gunslingers that shaped the Wild West. Zazie Beetz played Stagecoach Mary in the amazing Netflix 2021 movie, The Harder They Fall. The film featured an all-star cast to included Idris Elba, LaKeith Stanfield, Johnathon Majors, Regina King, and DeRoy Lindo. The movie is a must-see revealing the untold stories of Black gunslingers in America whom history has tragically ignored.

Determined to build a new life, Mary moved north to Toledo, Ohio, where she quickly developed a reputation for her fiery spirit. She stood six feet tall and weighed around 200 pounds, she was a fearless woman who never backed down from a fight. In Toledo, she worked at the Ursuline Convent of the Sacred Heart as a groundskeeper, kitchen manager, and laundress. for the nuns.

Her employer, Mother Superior Amadeus, had ties to the family that once enslaved Mary. When the nun left Ohio to establish St. Peter’s Mission in Montana—deep in the Wild West—Mary made a bold decision to follow.

In Montana, Mary worked part-time at the mission while picking up extra jobs, including hauling freight and delivering mail for the U.S. Postal Service. This was no ordinary mail route—it required braving harsh weather, rugged terrain, and the constant threat of bandits. Yet Mary handled it all with unmatched toughness, earning the nickname “Stagecoach Mary.” She became the first Black woman to carry mail for the postal service, making her a legend of the Old West.

Watch the video below to learn more about the unstoppable Stagecoach Mary the legendary gunfighter:

Mary’s fearless legacy lives on, and her story inspired a character in the hit Netflix film, The Harder They Fall, starring Regina King and Idris Elba. Though the movie took creative liberties, it brought renewed attention to the real-life Black cowboys and pioneers who shaped American history.