Dred Scott Day at St. Louis Baseball Cardinal's Ballpark
Busch Stadium
August 24, 2007After an hour and a half rain delay, the decision came to Play Ball!!! The announcer read the following as a descendant of Dred Scott threw out the first pitch helping the Cardinals commemorate the city’s historic anniversary.
“On March 6, 2007 St. Louis commemorated the 150th Anniversary of the Dred Scott Decision. Dred and Harriett Scott walked up the steps of the old courthouse and filed petitions for their freedom. Eleven years and five trials later they were denied their freedom by the U.S. Supreme Court. Freed by their previous owner’s son, Taylor Blow, six weeks later, their case has been remembered as a major catalyst for the civil war. Subsequently, Abraham Lincoln declared the Emancipation Proclamation freeing all the slaves.
Today the Cardinals in recognition of the 150th Anniversary have declared Dred Scott Day at the ballpark. With us this evening to throw out the first pitch, is the great-great granddaughter of Dred and Harriet Scott, Lynne Madison Jackson, Founder of The Dred Scott Heritage Foundation. Born and raised in St. Louis, she is the General Services Manager for the Bryan Cave Law Firm, located at 211 N. Broadway and with her husband Brian, is an avid Cardinal fan. Catching tonight is veteran Cardinal Ted Savage.
With her are Gerald Brooks, a Foundation Board Member and Marketing Director at the St. Louis Public Library; Rueben Shelton, Polemarch St. Louis Chapter of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity; Nathan Young, Scholarship Chair of Kappa Alpha Psi and Alexis Thomas, one of five winners of the Kappa sponsored Dred Scott Essay contest held in the St. Louis Public Schools. The five winners received laptops donated by the St. Louis Cardinals. Congratulations to all winners!! Now let’s play ball.
Many thanks go the Cardinals and the Kappas mentioned above and especially to Dr. Rodney Wead for this special occasion recognizing the courage and legacy of Dred and Harriet Scott.
