Dred Scott 150th Anniversary
Brings Honor to Famous Slaves
By Lynne M. Jackson
March
6, 2007 began what became an international acknowledgement of a historic ruling
made 150 years earlier. When Dred and
Harriet Scott, two slaves from St. Louis, walked up the steps of The Old Courthouse
on 4th Street on April 6, 1846, they were unaware of what was about to be
set in motion with the filing of their separate but similar petitions requesting
their freedom. Having lived in free territory for several years, the Scotts had
just reason to believe that the “once free, always free” law would justify
them in their suit. 
Eleven
years later their combined case had advanced through the courts to the United
States Supreme Court. It was the first time slaves had persisted in taking
a case all the way to the US Supreme Court. There were dangers from not only
white people, but their own who wondered why they had to risk making things
worse for African Americans. In an incredulous ruling Chief Justice Roger
B. Taney read the majority opinion - a ruling that denied the Scotts their
freedom.
The
verdict incited the North, but for more reasons than the refusal of the Scotts
freedom. Aside from the unfortunate
and untrue assessment of the Scotts as individuals, the language was harsh
and demeaning. Then, to make matters
worse, the Court declared the Missouri
Compromise as unconstitutional, denying Congress the right to have made
the law and opened the nation to the right of slavery from coast to coast. In addition, the ruling deemed the Scotts not
be citizens (thus having no right to sue in court) and denied citizenship
to those of African descent who were already considered citizens “and to their
heirs forever.” This outlandish ruling
was one of the catalysts that brought on the Civil War.
As
for the Scotts, their fate did not lie in the hands of the courts but in the
hands of the Almighty. There was a
wonderful turn of events that, although difficult to understand at the time,
worked for good for the Scotts who endured the hardships of five trials over
an 11 year period. Peter Blow, one
of the children of Dred’s original owner, was instrumental in helping Dred
and Harriet financially by various means throughout their trials. And, in
the end, another child Taylor Blow, paid the freedom bonds for the Scotts
and their daughters, Eliza and Lizzie, to be free.
During
this anniversary year, the story came alive again and the sacrifices and courage
of this couple’s convictions were remembered with a new appreciation.
I
am blessed to be the General Services Manager at Bryan Cave LLP going on twelve
years now. In this premier international
law firm, located in downtown St. Louis, we are able look out our windows
on the southeast side of the building and see the historic Old Courthouse
where the Dred Scott trial took place. The
266 attorneys and 350 staff members of Bryan Cave have been an integral part
of this years’ Dred Scott Anniversary celebration with the total support of
Chairman, Don Lents. Their support
has been immeasurable in this historic recognition of my great-great grandparents
and our family will be forever thankful.
The
Anniversary
The
anniversary year planning began in mid 2005.
I remembered my father, John A. Madison, Jr. telling me that although
the 100th Anniversary was acknowledged, it was done so quietly for the most
part and by relatively few. The Old
Courthouse did a reenactment of the trial which received notice. But there
were few photographs taken and very few people in those photos.
By contrast, the 150th Anniversary was acknowledged by over 50 local
organizations in St. Louis who came together to form the Friends of the 150th
Anniversary of the Dred Scott Decision. In
2006, my parents and I formed the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation, with the
pro bono support of Bryan Cave. The Friends have now met monthly for over
24 months and planned their own commemorative events and programs which we
promoted under the foundation umbrella.
Among
the many, many highlights of the 150th Anniversary celebration were:
In
addition, Dred is the first American of African descent to have received a
star on the Walk of Fame last April in Marshfield, MO and the Gateway Classic
Sports Foundation honored Dred and Harriet with a diamond in their Walk of
Fame this past September.
A
Gala Event
On
March 15, 2008 we ended the anniversary year with a gala dinner and fund raiser
at the Hilton St. Louis at the Ball Park to help further the goals of the
Foundation. What 
people
have to understand is how faithful the Lord was in all of this. With meager funds and obedience to the will
and blueprint that the Lord had provided, the wonderful Friends group (see
www.TheDredScottFoundation.org for a list of organizations) made the year
and gala a success beyond what we could have imagined.
Key
volunteers included Gerald Brooks, from the St. Louis Public Library who co-chaired
with me, Ken Mallin, Partner at Bryan Cave, who was the dinner coordinator,
and Belleville attorney Dave Uhler, all of whom helped me with the day to
day details. Chanin Paxton of Scott
Air Force Base continues to be the most faithful administrative assistant
ever. Among all of the individuals,
organizations and participants, there was a sweetest Spirit of unity, cooperation
and consideration which honored the Scotts in every aspect. It was a joy to
work with each and every one of them.
The
guest speaker at the banquet was Dr. John M. Perkins who is a renowned minister
of reconciliation. He delivered a heartfelt message of forgiveness and
the need of a Savior, Jesus Christ, as the way to healing the brokenness between
the races. Afterwards, many commented on Dr. Perkins’ and the programs’ focus
on family.
Bobby Norfolk, Emmy winning storyteller
and performer, gave a stirring performance as the spirit of Dred Scott. The
mistress of ceremonies was the gracious Bonita Cornute of Fox 2 News. The evening
was spent sharing a song from a new musical about the Scotts; a presentation
of never before revealed information about the children and grandchildren
of Dred and Harriet which was researched by Etta Daniels, Ruth Ann Hagar and
others with oral histories I contributed from my dad and his sister, Alma
Miller; and the previewing of a beautiful trailer for an upcoming educational
documentary called The Price of Power,
which was produced and filmed by Linda and Bruce VanReed as they covered
the anniversary year.
A special treat happened when four students
from East St. Louis Senior High School joined with four students from Mary
Institute – Country Day and performed the reading chorus of Black Man, to a song by Stevie Wonder which
detailed the contributions of white, black, red and yellow men, proclaiming
“This world was made for all men!”
In
March of 1852, in the third trial, the Missouri Supreme Court denied the Scotts
their freedom and said essentially that Missouri was willing to accept the
consequences of slavery within her borders. One-hundred and fifty years later, the current
Chief Justice of the Missouri Supreme Court, Laura Denver Stith, who attended
our banquet shared her personal insights, denouncing that decision. Her presence and perspective were especially
meaningful. Also in attendance were
Justices Michael Wolff and Richard Teitleman.
A
total of 425 attended the banquet and I have to tip my hat to Chef Phillip
Paris and Sales and Catering Manager Emily Fink of the Hilton St. Louis at
the Ball Park for designing a meal so incredibly delicious that there wasn’t
a morsel left on anyone’s plate. They researched what slaves would have eaten
in the 1850’s and they hit a home run!
The
Foundation
The
Dred Scott Heritage Foundation was started with the following objectives:
1.) To commemorate the 150th anniversary, which includes erecting a statue
of Dred Scott in downtown St. Louis; 2.) To educate everyone about the history
and impact of Dred and Harriet Scott’s courageous stand, all of which is OUR
history and; 3.) To reconcile and begin initiatives that will support our
motto which is, “Let the Healing Begin.”
Our
Honorary co–chairs this year have been three men who were kind enough to support
this anniversary representing three major areas of relevance: The Honorable
John C. Danforth, Partner at Bryan Cave LLP (Legal), Mr. Dick Bott, Sr., Founder
of Bott Radio Network (Religion), and Dr. John M. Perkins, Founder of the
Perkins Foundation and Christian Community Development Association (Reconciliation).
We are truly thankful for their support. Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff
and Bryan Cave were Dred Scott Freedom Level Sponsors and helped in a most
significant way in promoting the anniversary. They made it possible to accomplish our dream.
The
gala dinner was a fundraiser to start raising money for the Dred Scott statue
to be placed near the Old Courthouse. There is no statue of Dred that I am
aware of and surely there should be a monument to his remembrance in his own
city. The Dred Scott Project is a plan to provide such a monument and a place
for the Foundation to carry out its mission and vision. Contributions are tax deductible and we would
appreciate the support of the public by sending donations to: The Dred Scott
Heritage Foundation, 211 N. Broadway, Ste. 3600, St. Louis, MO 63102.
In
all this, the Lord’s Name is to be praised.
He has done an amazing thing and we intend to continue to seek His
face and do His will as He has ordained. This
was His doing and the blessings that happened this past year are known by
those involved. We give thanks to the
Lord always, for He has done great things!
Lynne
M. Jackson is the great-great granddaughter of Dred and Harriet Scott. She is the General Services Manager at Bryan
Cave LLP and Founder of the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation. She is a board
member of Mission Metro St. Louis and on the review board of Global Day of
Prayer. She and her husband Brian teach biblical apologetics.
