Accessibility links
150 Years Later, Dred Scott Remembered This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Supreme Court's Dred Scott decision. Lynne Jackson, a descendant of Scott, talks about his legacy and the case's historic implications.

Race

150 Years Later, Dred Scott Remembered

Heard on Tell Me More

150 Years Later, Dred Scott Remembered

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/14855781/14855772" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

This year marks the 150th anniversary of what may be the Supreme Court's most notorious ruling: the Dred Scott decision. Later reversed, the Court ruled that slaves had no standing before the high court to demand their freedom, and that black people "had no rights which the white man was bound to respect." Lynne Jackson is a descendant of Dred Scott. She talks about Scott's legacy and the historic implications of the case.