Dred+Scott

Photo Credits: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kenstein/11828546/ & http://www.flickr.com/photos/aclboston/447939146/

During the nineteenth century, only 2% of the entire slave population was free. The US Supreme Court did not allow African American slaves, such as Dred Scott, to claim themselves as citizens of the United States. Dred Scott, born in Virginia, traveled through the west with two of his masters: Peter Blow and Mr. Emerson. Scott and his wife did not claim their freedom during their stays at slave-free states because they were insensible of their rights. Dred Scott fought to gain his independence in many ways but failed because of the widow, Mrs. Emerson’s refusal to sell his and his wife’s freedom and also the Supreme Court’s rejection to accept the Scott family as freed citizens of the US. In 1850, the St. Louis Supreme Court acknowledged the Scott’s family as freed slaves, but was again denied by the state of Missouri. Unwillingly, Dred Scott went to the Supreme Court of the US but had to experience another denial by racist eyes of the justices. Later on, they were bought by the son of their former master, Peter Blow, and set free. The fateful case of Dred Scott demonstrates how unfortunate the African Americans were. The country's Supreme Court mostly consisted of people who supported the unfair and injustice regulations set by the government. Also, the fact that Dred Scott was unaware of his rights to claim his sovereignty during his stay at slave-free states illustrates how blinded these poor African Americans were, only led by their masters.
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Information Credit: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p2932.html & http://www.library.wustl.edu/vlib/dredscott/chronology.html

A Biased Justice (Jung Ah)

__**Dred Scott's wife " Harriet Scott's perspective"**__

It was sunny afternoon when I was working in the field I saw the new face. He was buff, strong, and hard workingman and of course he was black as I were. I don’t remember the exact date but I think it was around 1830s. I remember going up to him and asked his name. He said his name was Dred Scott, and he asked me name too. I said my name was just Harriet. From that point, I was in love with him. I don’t know why but I could just trust him right away. After me being a slave, I could never trust anyone else. After several years, I married to him. But still we were same slaves. Several years later, we had two kids. As slaves, like we were, it wasn’t a good thing to have kids. The shelter was a mess and it wasn’t a good environment for my children to live in. Slaves were constantly changed by the master. Master sold them to make money and replace to good and hard working slaves for their fields. In 1842, suddenly, after 12years later we moved to St. Louis. Our family went to this Dr. Emerson’s house. It was larger then last house where I used to work. Dred said he used to work here in this house. This time we didn’t work like slaves. We worked hard as US citizens. Almost a year later, Dr. Emerson, our master died! Then Dr. Emerson’s wife hired Dred and Harriet and my children. Almost 3 years after working under her authority, Dred and Harriet Scott sued Then Mrs. Emerson. It was about 1853~1854 we went to the court to defend all the slaves. Mrs. Emerson's brother, John Sanford, helped a lot with being a defender. I don’t really remember about the case because I wasn’t allowed to go in except my husband. Eventually we won the case anyways. When we won that case, it was the most happiest day of my life! We were free from slaves in 1858. Blows family gave us the freedom. by Yeon Su Cho  Freedom – One of Peter Blow’s son

Dred Scott was one of my old childhood friends. He was born from an African American slave family. I didn’t understand why people and my family treated African American’s differently. Even though, they had different skin color, I believed that we were still same human. Dred Scott was alienated from many people. People did not consider him as human and they treated unfairly. I really want the law to change so that my friend Dred Scott could have the same freedom as we do. Dred Scott was my Dad’ slave. My dad treated African American’s as if they are objects. Even though, the black population have many positives for the economy of our nation, it wasn’t fair for my friend to be treated the same way as others did. Showing inferior ness to the black community might lead to some bad consequences in the future, but people need them for the cotton industry. My dad should have found out about the importance of human equality. At 1832, my dad died from a heart attack. My family had no choice but to give Dred Scott to a better family then us. I didn’t want to see him working under me so I prefer giving them to a better and more trustful family. I wished that the Emerson family would have the justice of freedom and show no racist acts. At 1856, there was a trial for freedom. Dred Scott sued Mrs. Emerson in an attempt to be a legal citizen. Even though he tried hard, the result was obvious. From the hardship my friend was encountering, I helped him pay the legal fees and bought him after two years a let them have a chance of a proper life. That was the last present I could do for my friend who worked hard for his family in order to get some sort of equality. I was relieved but 9 months after he got his freedom, he died from tuberculosis. From the experience with my friend Dred Scott. I realized that even though America might be the land of opportunity, the racism and prejudice led to many conflicts and unfair judgments. People should get the same treatments. Many things could be learned from his life and the afflictions he encountered. by Dongmin Lim