Let's talk about humbling experiences, because by all indications, Dred Scott was a humble man. He struggled to protect his family from the predations of slavery, and he did that quietly, respectfully—doggedly—seeking justice through one of the bulwarks of slavery itself: the judicial system.
I spoke about what I had learned about this remarkable man and his times, and I spoke about how my research shaped the character of Dred Scott I would write about. It's a long presentation, too long for many I suspect, so here is an index of sorts to help you find the parts you're most interested in:
00:00
Dr. John Cole, Director of the Center for the Book, introduces me
01:10
I thank those who influenced and helped me
04:46
Explanation of the Sankofa symbol
06:12
Dred Scott and other US Supreme Court major cases; how courts are about protection of individual rights; Dred's anonymity
08:20
How I became hooked on Dred Scott's story
10:55
Where I found information; known facts from his birth until 1846
15:20
The case begins: what motivated the Scotts to seek freedom through the courts?
16:10
Who was Dred Scott? Part I: quotes from him
21:50
I read from Speak Right On, regarding books and stories
24:35
Who was Dred Scott? Part II: what we can learn from the case
31:30
The surprising aftermath of the Supreme Court ruling
34:00
I read from Speak Right On, regarding the ongoing significance of the Dred Scott story
36:05
I introduce Henry E. Autry, US District Judge for the Eastern District of Missouri
37:00
Judge Autry speaks about his personal and professional views of the case and of Dred Scott
42:50
Judge Autry reads from Speak Right On, regarding the Scotts hearing the news about the Supreme Court's decision
53:00
John Cole introduces Jerry McCoy, founder of the Silverspring, Maryland, Historical Society
54:00
Jerry McCoy reads comments prepared by Richard Hollyday, descendant of Montgomery Blair
1:01:00
Lynne Jackson, the great-great-granddaughter of Dred and Harriet Scott, speaks via video
1:12:10
John Cole's concluding remarks