Thank you to our May 6th Give STL day donors. When all donations are received, we are expecting approximately $5,000 from our
first effort.
Category Archives: News
Current events
The Dred Scott Calvary Cemetery Memorial GoFundMe Campaign is in full force. Click here.
Join us in our new Reading and Literature Program in 2021. The Foundation has collaborated with Dr. Almeda Lahr-Well (http://www.lahrwellacademy.org/) to teach the skill of reading through proven methodologies and with Dr. Kelly Byrd (https://loveforliteracy.org/)…continue reading
Recent media stories– including Women and the 19th Amendment, Dred Scott nominated to the Missouri Public Affairs Hall of Fame and the Dred Scott Cemetery Memorial Campaign.
Reading: A Civil right
Join us in our new Reading and Literature Program in 2021. The Foundation has collaborated with Dr. Almeda Lahr-Well (http://www.lahrwellacademy.org/) to teach the skill of reading through proven methodologies and with Dr. Kelly Byrd (https://loveforliteracy.org/) to share the love for literature in its many forms, especially as a family affair. We are recruiting individuals to be tutors in the reading program. If you are someone you know are interested, contact Dr. Lahr-Well at 618-288-8064. The training and programs will be in multiple locations around the St. Louis Area.
special alert – Postponed
To Our Dred Scott Volunteers, Supporters and
Our Freedom Awards Dinner Guests,
On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation, we are sad to inform you that due to circumstances beyond our control and the consequent local, state, and Federal governmental responses to the current coronavirus and COVID-19, the Dred Scott Freedom Awards Dinner, which was scheduled to take place March 28, 2020, at the Hilton St. Louis Frontenac in MO, is officially postponed, with the intention to reschedule once we are all cleared to re-engage in these community activities once again.
This past week the Board of Directors have watched and communicated in person, via phone and by email to analyze the situations that led to this decision. With the rapid changes each day, it is no longer necessary to explain this postponement as we are all aware of the state of affairs we are facing leading up to the time we would have had our event. We are in uncharted waters but anticipate a future resolution and hope that each of you who receive this are and will continue to be well.
Everyone has been patient and even encouraging to continue earlier on until it became obvious that the inevitable is upon us. We intend to reschedule and honor our awardees at the first safe and optimal opportunity.
Please take a moment to complete the cancellation form link below to allow us to handle your registration refund in the manner you prefer and that you then attend to your travel and hotel arrangements. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need assistance.
Please click here to complete cancellation
Look for future information on a new date for the 2020 Dred Scott Freedom Awards.
Yours sincerely,
Peggy Lewis LeCompte, Dinner Chairman
Lynne M. Jackson, President
For those who have hotel reservations at the Hilton Frontenac, the number to contact is 314-824-6028
Update: THE PETITION FOR A DRED SCOTT COMMEMORATIVE STAMP
The DS Stamp Campaign continues its efforts of soliciting “the powers that be” to create a stamp for Dred Scott and asks you to support the campaign at least with YOUR signature. We need around 100,000 to impress the decision makers so……
Here are other ways you can participate.
1. Sign the petition found through this link: Sign the petition for a Dred Scott Commemorative Stamp and make history come alive!
2. Download the petition and get as many signatures as you feel comfortable asking for. Partial or full pages or several pages – all are fine and should be mailed to the address at the bottom of each form. DSHF Commemorative-Stamp Petition
3. Post this content from our weblink on to your FaceBook, Twitter, Instagram, Constant Contact, Mailchimp and any other methods you have.
Participate in our challenge:
1,000 people get 100 signatures OR
100 people get 1,000 signatures. And this has been done!
Those who collect a 1,000 or more signatures will receive a custom designed Dred Scott T-Shirt and a Dred Scott frosty mug.
Meet Mary Sternberg and Kayla Vaughan. Both have collected over 1,000 signatures!! Mary through her school leadership and with the assistance of two other wonderful teachers, Susan Fried and Amy Jacobs.
Under the leadership of Mary Sternberg, Florida Social Studies Teacher of the Year 2016, Seminole Middle School in Florida acquired 1,500 letters and signatures to jump start the campaign.
Challenge: Can you beat that? Give it a try and once again be a part of making history. We appreciate all efforts. Many thousands of signatures are needed so please join the campaign today! Stay tuned for updates.
Another has taken up the challenge from Arizona. Will you be next?
If you would like to be on the team and be recognized as a DS Stamp State Coordinator, contact Mary at stamps@thedredscottfoundation.org.
A state coordinator turns in at least one page of signatures, agrees to continue efforts to get signature by enlisting others through their networks (none of this flows back to the DSHF – we simply ask for the signed petitions).
As a state coordinator, you help us put your state and city on the map.
To date we have had participation in the marked states and if yours is not shown, won’t you consider signing up and let us include your hometown on the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation Stamp Campaign State Coordinators Locator MAP.
55th anniversary of historic protest
St. Louis civil rights activist Percy Green was honored by the Jefferson National Parks Association with a poster commemorating his historic climb up the Gateway Arch 55 years ago on July 14, 1964. The climb was in protest of the lack of African American workers or contractors being hired for the arch construction project. The protest was successful. Today, the diversity of their workforce is evident as you walk around the newly renovated Arch. Watch the clip from Fox 2 News below.
Don’t miss Dred and Harriet with Thomas Jefferson on the wall and tables in the Arch Cafe’. It’s stunning!!
st. louis county courts podcast
In July, 2018, Dred Scott Presents: Sons and Daughters of Reconciliation presented for the National Judicial College. It is the nation’s most influential institute for the continuing education of judges. It was a wonderful experience inspired by Judge Judy Draper and by invitation of NJC President Benes Z. Aldana.
The following interview comes out of the connections with this program and the county court’s diversity programs held in St. Louis County in 2018. Mr. Matt Livasy, HR Specialist III and Training and Development Officer, started a podcast for the courts, All In Kids Win. He invited Lynne Jackson to share the work of the Foundation. Many thanks to Matt and the county courts for this opportunity. Click the link below to listen to the podcast.
Virginians for reconciliation
On April 3, 2019, the Virginians for Reconciliation hosted the descendants of Dred Scott and Roger B. Taney for a day-long visit and programs as an early event in their year long recognition of the 400th year anniversary (1619 -2019) of the first Africans who arrived in Virginia in 1619.
The reconciliation committee, lead by former Governor Bob McDonnell, was formed in 2018 to support racial healing through conversation and policy changes.
The day included a visit to the Capital Building and the State House, where Lynne Jackson (Dred Scott) and Charlie Taney (Chief Justice Roger B. Taney) visited and addressed many of the legislative groups. They were recognized in the General Assembly along with former Governor Bob McDonnell by Presiding Officer of the Senate Justin Fairfax, Delegate Delores McQuinn, Speaker Kirk Cox and introduced and bios read by Delegate Roslyn C. Tyler.
Pastor Sylvester Turner and Rev. Ben Campbell took the entourage to the Richmond Slave Trail. At this site, the enslaved disembarked from the long voyage from Africa and began another most difficult journey.
A somber visit to Lumpkin’s Jail revealed an underground holding facility for enslaved persons that was confirmed by archaeologists in 2005. It was covered over and will soon become a part of a museum. While in office, former Gov. McDonnell appropriated $11,000,000 for the of the construction of the site renovation.
Amid several interviews with CBN, NPR, a Virginia Union University student reporter, Jackson and Taney were assisted by Attorney Paul Hedges, acting ED for VFR, Lynne Ross, Legal Consultant and past ED for NAAG, Rhian Senseman, Executive Assistant, VFR and Keith Westbrook, Administrative Assistant to Delegate McQuinn. The group made their way to Virginia Union University where Lynne and Charlie spoke and shared their story of meeting, connecting, apology and forgiveness and interacted with the audience. Thank you to all who made this possible. A special thanks to former Governor Bob McDonnell and co-sponsors Virginians For Reconciliation., Virginia Union University and Virginia Commonwealth University. To watch the full program, click here.
Additional Resources:
Descendants of Dred Scott, Roger Taney attend reconciliation event at VUU (Richmond-Times Dispatch)
Descendants of racist Supreme Court decision pledge ‘truth-telling, forgiveness and redemption’ (Capital News Service)
Main Image: Lynne Jackson (left), a great-great-granddaughter of Dred Scott’s, and Charles Taney, a descendant of Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney’s, spoke Wednesday at VUU. Photo taken by JAMES H. WALLACE/TIMES-DISPATCH
washington university hosts 400 Event: Black Struggle, Resiliency and Hope for the Future
Dred and Harriet Scott were represented at the Washington University program Black Struggle, Resiliency and Hope for the Future on Feb 10, 2019 in Graham Chapel. It is the first of three programs throughout the year in commemoration of the 400th Anniversary of the arrival of the first slave ship to port in Virginia in August of 1619. The programs are convened by Wash U Associate Professor Jack A. Kirkland. Among the speakers was the new chancellor, Andrew Martin, Ph. D as of June 1, 2019. Others included Adrienne D. Davis, JD and Law School Vice Provost; The Honorable Wesley Bell, St. Louis County Prosecutor, and Lynne M. Jackson, Dred Scott descendant. The rest of the trilogy will be on June 2, and November 10, 2019. The public is invited.
Link to article from St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Special Interest Feature: Dred Scott Immortalized on May 9, 2012 By Missouri Artist Sculptor, E.S. Schubert
We believe this dedication is deserving of all the attention that can be given. Again, it is with sincere gratitude offered to Missouri Artist/Sculptor, E.S. Schubert for immortalizing Dred Scott with your work. Thank you.
This portrait of Civil Rights Icon, Dred Scott was originally commissioned for the Hall of Famous Missourians. The first of the edition resides in the Missouri Capitol Building in Jefferson City, Missouri. This sculpture was dedicated on May 9, 2012, one month before the dedication of a statue of Dred and Harriet Scott outside of The Old Courthouse in St. Louis, MO, making it the first known monumental statue of Dred Scott.
Content source: E.S. Schubert Sculpture Studios