FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
160th Anniversary of the Dred Scott Decision
Annapolis, MD Reconciliation Event
March 6, 2017
Contact: Tracey Wagner
traceywagner@justiceunited.org
Phone: 443-333-9410
The modern-day families of Dred Scott and Roger Brooke Taney were brought together by a work of art.
In May, 2016, the renowned Actors Studio in New York City produced the premier of A Man of His Time, a one act play centered on an emotional meeting of the descendants of Scott and Taney set in today’s time. The playwright is Kate Taney Billingsley, an actor and member of the Actors Studio. The Actors Studio invited Lynne Jackson, the great-great-granddaughter of Dred Scott and Charlie Taney, the great-great-great nephew of Roger Brooke Taney to come to New York to participate in a talk-back session with the audience after the play. Jackson lives in Missouri, Taney in Connecticut.
After meeting in New York, Lynne Jackson and Charlie Taney formed a working relationship. Jackson says; “Only Divine Providence could have set up the Scott and Taney descendant’s first meeting around an amazing play written by a Taney about Scott and Taney descendants meeting for the first time! I had hoped to meet and draw them out over time to build a relationship through the Foundation’s work and they actually contacted me. It was a highlight for me personally and for the Foundation’s 10th anniversary.”
Jackson is the founder and president of the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation in St. Louis and needed help with a strategic plan. Taney consults with non-profits and offered to work pro bono with Jackson on this project. After successfully completing the strategic plan, Jackson invited Taney to Dred Scott Presents Sons & Daughters of Reconciliation, a December 2016 conference in St. Louis hosted by the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation. At this event the Taney and Scott families participated in a public reconciliation. Taney recognized the harm caused to African Americans by the infamous Dred Scott decision authored by Roger Brooke Taney, and formally apologized for the Taney family to the Scott family. In turn, the Scott family formally forgave the Taney family. The result is a new foundation of trust, and a commitment to work together on the reconciliation of black and white America. Charlie Taney says, “Working with Lynne Jackson and the Scott family on reconciliation has been an important and deeply moving experience. “
Another work of art, the statue of Roger Brooke Taney in Annapolis, is bringing the Scott’s and Taney’s together again. On March 6, 2017, the 160th anniversary of the Dred Scott decision, they will be at the Taney statue in front of the Maryland State House. They are coming together on March 6th for two reasons. First, to reconfirm the reconciliation of the Scott’s and Taney’s, with accompanying apology and forgiveness. Second, to speak against the removal of the Taney statue. Instead, they see an opportunity for reconciliation via the erection of a statue of Dred Scott to stand side-by-side with Roger Brooke Taney, along with an educational display on the Dred Scott decision and its aftermath. And, they will help raise the funds for the Dred Scott statue. The Scott’s and Taney’s believe that Americans should learn from their history, not bury their history.
On the morning of March 6th, a reading of A Man of His Time will be performed.
As President Obama said in his remarks at Reverend Pickney’s funeral after the 2015 Charleston massacre; “Justice grows out of our recognition of each other”.
Source:
Photo: Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media
Follow Kate Taney Billingsley on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/KTBillzzz
https://twitter.com/KTBillzzz
Dred Scott Day of Reconciliation
Descendants of those involved in Dred Scott case gather for daylong event.
The Dred Scott slavery legal case resulted in much division and drama — including the Civil War — but a local foundation has been working for a decade to heal the animosities between the people affected by this and other historical divisions.The Dred Scott Heritage Foundation held its first Reconciliation Conference Dec. 3 at the Frontenac Hilton, bringing together descendants of Dred and Harriet Scott, their former owners, the Supreme Court Justice involved in the case and even descendants of President Thomas Jefferson and Jefferson Davis.
“For more than a decade we have had the concept to meet and find common ground with other descendants of history makers, especially those surrounding the Dred Scott Decision,” said Lynne Jackson, who founded the organization in 2007 with her husband, Brian. “We are grateful that descendants of some of the history makers and many others have come together as the Dred Scott Sons and Daughters of Reconciliation.”
Review of Dred Scott Reconciliation Conference of December 3, 2016
By Dana Riek, Guest Reviewer
On March 6, 1857, the decision that Judge Taney made on the Dred Scott Case dehumanized the black community and brought even more division and segregation than before! We are approaching 160 years since this horrible incident took place. It is evident that we need more healing from wounds of racial divide in St. Louis and throughout the US! What would happen if more believers in Jesus would come together in unity to break down strongholds of racism and take action? It starts in the Church! What would happen if we truly took it to heart? What would happen if descendants of those who were involved in the Dred Scott Case reconciled and came together? It was an honor to be a part of such a beautiful event where that took place! The 10th Anniversary Celebration for the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation was powerful! Not only was there such historical significance, but spiritual significance in what took place at the Frontenac Hilton Hotel that day!
Lynne Jackson, great-great granddaughter of Dred Scott is the founder of the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation and she worked hard with others to organize this event and it paid off. She understands the importance of forgiveness, reconciliation, and unity! As her great-great grandfather was an advocate for justice and equal rights, Lynne is carrying on his legacy in a way that brings healing. God made a way to bring descendants together of historical figures who were connected to the Dred Scott Case! Jackson’s cousins, Dred Madison and Barbara McGregory joined her along with John and Ashton LeBourgeois, descendants of the Blow family; Charlie Taney, great-great-nephew of Judge Taney; Bertram Hayes Davis, a descendant of Confederacy President Jefferson Davis; and Shannon Lanier, sixth-great-grandson of Thomas Jefferson and his slave, Sally Hemings!
Charlie Taney is an example of one who took action by apologizing on Justice Roger Taney’s behalf for what has been done because of the Dred Scott decision! Charlie’s family contacted Lynne Jackson not knowing that she was trying to find Taney descendants to connect with for years. After meeting in New York this past April, Charlie has become active with the Foundation as an act of reconciliation in several ways to make a difference! Ashton and John LeBourgeois shared how Peter Blow owned Dred Scott and treated him with dignity. Peter Blow’s sons helped Dred pursue the long legal battles and sometimes helped pay or secure legal fees. Later, after losing the US Supreme Court Decision, they also “purchased” Dred & his family with the sole purpose to let them go and set them free! Bertram Hayes-Davis brought awareness to the fact that though Jefferson Davis was a slave owner, he was one who treated them well and set up a way for them to get an education! He did not agree with the way black people were being treated! Bertram expressed how his great-great grandfather stood up for slaves in different ways, but could have done more! Shannon Lanier shared about his heritage (Jefferson’s intent for the Declaration of Independence) and his intention to be a positive influence in our society! He is co-author of the Random House book “Jefferson’s Children: The Story of One American Family.” Lanier, along with photo-journalist Jane Feldman, wrote the book to reveal mysteries behind the controversial Jefferson lineage through Sallie Heming (his slave) and to give members of this family a chance to be heard! He is also a successful entrepreneur, an actor & producer!
Brenda Young is on the Board for the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation and gave such a beautiful message on the difference the kingdom of God is to make during racial tensions! We are to bring hope and are not to hold onto bitterness on either side!
We all need to work together to love one another through Christ in word and in deed! Pastor Jonathan Thomas is gifted with expressing truth and a passion for justice! He shared his heart and gave a spoken word for the body of Christ to rise up and make a difference in our nation! We must overcome division and the spirit of hate! Pastor Sylvester Turner also gave a strong and powerful message to rise up above the tensions and strive for unity through Christ! We are to be open to dialogue and help bring healing to wounds that have been exposed throughout history! To top it all off, Cheryl Dozier, Executive Director of Missouri Legislative Black Caucus, presented a well-deserved award to Lynne Jackson for The Dred Scott Heritage Foundation on behalf of the Missouri House of Representatives! It was beautiful! She drove quite a distance to attend & present the award! This was a memorable day on many different levels and is definitely recorded in Heaven!
Dred Scott Reconciliation Conference 10th Anniversary
A benefit gala at Frontenac Hilton Hotel in Frontenac, MO
On December 2nd – 3rd, 2016 the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation held its Dred Scott Reconciliation Conference at the Frontenac Hilton Hotel’s Clayton Room. This celebration and conference marked its 10th Anniversary.
Photo source: B. Webster for Blacktie-Missouri
Descendants Meet
Descendants of Dred Scott and Roger Taney Meet in New York
May 13 & 14, 2016
Kaitlyn Taney Billingsley and her father Charlie Taney, great-great nephew of the Justice that read the Dred Scott Decision are meeting for the first time. The host is the Actor’s Studio in New York, under the direction of Ms. Estelle Parsons, they play is a realistic fictitious account that Ms. Billingsley conceived could happen as portrayed by the two actors.
Reconciliation Forum
6th Annual Dred Scott Reconciliation Forum
Marshfield, MO
April 29, 2016
Thomas Jefferson’s 9th generation grandson, Shannon Lanier, joined Lynne as they reviewed some of the 10 years of reconciliation activities. Among the guest at the 11th annual Cherry Blossom Festival was a living DAUGHTER Ira, Gray Jordan, of a Civil War Veteran. That’s right….. 91 years old, her father had her when he was 82 and she reminisced about her father’s days in the civil war before his death when she was almost 9 years old.
Subject reference sources:
https://shanephipps.com/2017/02/04/dealing-with-demons-at-monticello/
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Medal of Honor Award
National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution
Medal of Honor Award
April 16, 2016
The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution gave their highest award, the Medal of Honor to Dred Scott’s great-great granddaughter at their regional Conference in St. Charles, MO.. Lynne Jackson accepted the award stating that she was more thrilled at the giving than the receiving and was happy to receive it in the spirit of reconciliation that the DAR afforded in bestowing this honor. Mrs. Joan Koechig of the St. Charles Chapter Nominated her and State Regent, Morgan Lake, presented the medal and certificate with President General, Lynn Forney Young.
Source: http://www.dar.org/
United Cry
United Cry in Washington DC
On April 9, 2016, The attendees of the National call to Cry Out for restoration and reconciliation saw the symbolic repentance in the act of a foot washing ceremony for descendants of Martin Luther King, Jr., Alex Halley and William Ford and Dred Scott. Bishop Harry Jackson presided over this section of the day long event with Mike Berry and many pastors as all work priest mantles of authority in recognition of this historic event.