BH-Chapter1

Beloved Harriet

Dred scott

Harriet scott

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Imagine what it would like to be a slave in the 19th century before the Civil War. Freedom is so taken for granted by all US citizens these days - but true equal rights for slaves at this time in our history was only a far reaching dream. BELOVED HARRIET is a two person script dialogue with background music recreating the fascinating real life and drama of slaves, Dred and Harriet Scott. Their two suits were combined into the leading 1857 US Supreme Court case of all time. Despite the Scotts losing the nine year legal freedom battle and remaining slaves in the eyes of the state of Missouri - a true dream actually occurred via their boyhood friend master’s son, Taylor Blow, paying a freedom bond for the Scotts’ freedom. The freedom bond allowed the Scotts and their children Eliza and Lizzy to live free. The Scott v Sanford US Supreme Court case was the last legal significant ruling against slaves preempting the Civil War. This historical fictional drama story will bring the culture, events,and people of that time to real life. Enjoy a step back into pre Civil War history as slavery dominated substantial aspects of United States society.

AN INSPIRING HISTORICAL FICTION DRAMA SCRIPT BASED ON SCOTT V SANFORD, THE (7-2) U.S. SUPREME COURT RULING READ BY CHIEF JUSTICE ROGER TANEY ON MARCH 6,1857 THAT STATED THAT NEGROES-WHETHER FREE OR SLAVE-ARE NOT UNITED STATES CITIZENS BY THE CONSTITUTION. ADDITIONALLY, THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE OF 1787 COULD NOT CONFER CITIZENSHIP OR FREEDOM TO NEGROES WITHIN THIS TERRITORY. AND FINALLY, THE 1820 MISSOURI COMPROMISE PROVISION DISALLOWING SLAVERY NORTH OF MISSOURI EXCEEDED CONGRESSIONAL POWER AND THUS, THIS PORTION OF THE LEGISLATIVE ACT WAS NULL AND VOID. AS A RESULT DRED AND HARRIET SCOTT WITH THEIR CHILDREN (ELIZA AND LIZZY) HAD NO JURISDICTIONAL POWER TO UTILIZE THE FEDERAL COURTS TO OBTAIN FREEDOM OR CITIZENSHIP. THIS RULING SET THE STAGE FOR THE LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATES OF 1858 AND THE CIVIL WAR. HARRIET SCOTT’S TREMENDOUS SUPPORT OF HER HUSBAND, DRED, IN HIS FREEDOM SUIT, FIGHTING TO KEEP HER FAMILY TOGETHER, AND THE UNENDING PLIGHT TO HAVE HER DAUGHTERS LIVE”FREE”IS A REMARKABLE TRIBUTE TO WOMEN AND MANKIND. THE STORY BEGINS AT FORT SNELLING IN WISCONSIN TERRITORY IN MAY 1836 WHERE DRED AND HARRIET SCOTT ACTUALLY MEET.

MAY 10, 1836 DRED IT WAS THE COLDEST WINTER OF ALL TIME EVER RECORDED! HARRIET HOW DO YOU KNOW ABOUT WINTER . . . EXCUSE ME, WHAT WAS YOUR NAME? DRED MY NAME IS DRED. WHAT’S YOURS? HARRIET ROBINSON.

HARRIET

DRED HOW DID YOU OBTAIN TWO NAMES? MOST NEGRO SLAVES I’VE EVER KNOWN HAVE ONLY ONE NAME.

Dred scott’s grave in st louis

HARRIET WELL, I’M A SERVANT FOR MY MASTER—PROBABLY THE VERY BEST IN THE WORLD. HE TREATS ME LIKE I’M HIS SISTER. I COULDN’T HAVE IT ANY BETTER. I’M NOT REALLY CONSIDERED A SLAVE. DRED THAT SO! THAT MUST BE WHY YOU ARE SO VERY HAPPY. I ACTUALLY WAS WATCHING YOU CLEAN BATHROOMS, WASH DISHES, DO LAUNDRY . . . EVERYTHING, AND YOU JUST SMILE AND SING. YOU HAVE A BEAUTIFUL VOICE. HARRIET THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU ARE POLITE AND . . .

AND WHAT?

DRED

HARRIET WELL, I’VE BEEN WATCHING YOU FOR A FEW DAYS ALSO. YOU DON’T SMILE MUCH BUT YOU ARE DEFINITELY DETERMINED. MORE THAN ANYONE I’VE EVER SEEN. AMAZING! HOW OLD ARE YOU?

view of scott’s living area at field museum

DRED

HARRIET JUST TURNED 17. HOW OLD ARE YOU?

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DRED THEY SAY I’M 37 OR SO. NO ONE REALLY KNOWS. I NEVER REALLY HAD A BIRTHDAY GIVEN TO ME. BUT I CELEBRATED MY BIRTHDAY ANYWAY EVERY SUMMER WITH THE BLOW FAMILY BACK IN VIRGINIA. THEY WERE MY FORMER MASTERS. HARRIET YOU DON’T KNOW YOUR AGE DRED? MAYBE YOU ARE JUST A TYPICAL NEGRO MAN. DRED WELL, NO ONE TOLD ME WHAT MY AGE WAS SINCE I WAS SOLD AT SUCH A VERY YOUNG AGE. I BARELY REMEMBER MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND . . . chancellorsville,

AND WHAT?

HARRIET

DRED AND I EVEN LESS SO REMEMBER MY MOM AND DAD BECAUSE THEY WERE ALWAYS IN THE FIELDS AROUND SOUTHAMPTON, VIRGINIA. UNFORTUNATELY MY PARENTS AND MYSELF BECAME SEPARATED DUE TO SLAVE AUCTIONS SHORTLY AFTER I JUST BEGAN TO KNOW THEM. HARRIET I WAS SOLD AT A VERY YOUNG AGE ALSO. AND YOU, DRED, ARE FROM VIRGINIA ALSO. WELL, SO AM I. AMAZING! DRED I GUESS THOUGH IT SEEMS WE DON’T HAVE MUCH ALIKE, WE DO HAVE A COMMON ORIGIN: VIRGINIA. DON’T YOU WISH YOU WERE THERE?

harriet’s Grave marker

HARRIET MY GOD, YES I DO. IT IS SO COLD AND WET HERE AT FORT SNELLING. BUT WHEN MAJOR TALIAFERRO TRANSFERRED HERE HE SPECIFICALLY TOLD US IT WOULD BE ROUGH BUT THAT HE WOULD TAKE CARE OF US SERVANTS. DRED YOU MEAN HE DIDN’T CALL YOU A SLAVE? HARRIET HECK, NO! IN FACT I KNOW MAJOR TALIAFERRO DOESN’T BELIEVE IN SLAVERY. HE TOLD ME SO ONE DAY. DRED WELL, THEN, WHY DON’T YOU ASK FOR FREEDOM?

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HARRIET I CANNOT HAVE IT ANY BETTER UNDER THIS MASTER. HE’S SIMPLY THE VERY BEST-NO ONE BETTER. IT’S THAT SIMPLE. EVERY ONE REALLY LOVES HIM-SLAVES AND NON-SLAVES ALIKE. DRED I DON’T GET IT! YOU COULD BE FREE AND YOU WON’T ACTUALLY DO IT? ARE YOU CRAZY? HARRIET I DON’T GET YOU, DRED. I HAVE IT GOOD HERE, OTHER THAN THE WEATHER. I’M NOT KILLING MYSELF IN THE HOT SUN, GETTING ILLNESS, NOR AM I EVER BEATEN OR FLOGGED. THE FOOD IS GREAT. MY MASTER SAYS COOK AND EAT WHAT YOU LIKE. HECK-IF I DON’T SAY MASTER OR MISTER TALIAFERRO-WELL, IT’S NO BIG DEAL TO HIM.

fort snelling, minnesota territory

DRED I GUESS YOU DO HAVE IT GOOD, BUT YOU ARE STILL A SLAVE. HARRIET SO WHAT ARE YOU SAYING DRED-I SHOULD ASK FOR OR BUY MY FREEDOM? DRED YES-ABSOLUTELY! TALIAFERRO, OR WHATEVER HIS NAME IS, WILL PROBABLY GIVE IT TO YOU. HARRIET I REALLY DON’T THINK SO-THOUGH HIS FAMILY IS ABOLITIONIST-MEANING THEY HATE SLAVERY-SOME OF THEM STILL HAVE SERVANTS-LIKE ME. I GUESS IT WOULDN’T LOOK GOOD IF HE JUST GAVE ME UP OR I PURCHASED MY FREEDOM. BUT IT DOESN’T MATTER-I DON’T HAVE ANY MONEY AND NEVER WILL HAVE ANY. I’VE ACCEPTED THAT. FREE NEGROES ARE SOMETIMES MUCH WORSE OFF THAN SLAVES ECONOMICALLY. AND FREE BLACK FOLKS ARE SEVERELY DESPISED-IT’S BETTER BEING A SLAVE-I KID YOU NOT!

court house, st louis, missouri

DRED WOW! I’VE NEVER MET ANYONE LIKE YOU! YOU ARE SO ACCEPTING OF OUR SITUATION WHICH YOU COULD ESCAPE FROM. HARRIET HMMMM . . . LET ME SEE . . . I KNOW IF I LIVE UP NORTHABOVE MISSOURI-THAT I CAN BE FREE IF THE STATE ALLOWS MYSELF TO BE FREE. THAT IS THE LAW YOU KNOW DRED.

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DRED WELL, YOU ARE NOT REALLY IN A STATE-THIS IS THE WISCONSIN TERRITORY-BUT SLAVERY IS PROHIBITED IN THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES I’VE HEARD BY THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE OF 1787-ADOPTED JUST AFTER THE U.S. CONSTITUTION WAS RATIFIED IN 1787.

HARRIET HOW DO YOU KNOW ALL THIS? YOU SAID YOU COULDN’T READ.

eugene field ‘s house

DRED I CAN’T READ-BUT I CAN REMEMBER. THE BLOWS WHO WERE MY PREVIOUS MASTERS, WELL, THEY READ TO ME ALL THE TIME AND I DIDN’T FORGET ONE THING. NOTHING! BOTH THE GIRLS AND THE BOYS READ TO ME: CHARLOTTE, MARY ANNE, ELIZABETH REBECCA, MARTHA ELLA, HENRY, PETER, AND EVEN BABY TAYLOR. THEY WERE THE BEST PEOPLE ANYONE COULD EVER KNOW. EVERYTHING SEEMED SO GREAT UNTIL THEY MIGRATED WEST TO ALABAMA IN SEARCH OF FORTUNE IN 1818.

HARRIET WELL, YOU ARE NOT A STUPID NEGRO MAN LIKE MANY I’VE MET. I MEAN TO SAY THEY KNEW NOTHING-NOT THEIR FAULTTHEY JUST NEVER HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO EVER LEARN ANYTHING BUT CHORES. AFRICANS NEVER HAVE MUCH OF A CHANCE AT EDUCATION. DRED SO YOU COULD BE A FREE WOMAN, HARRIET! I MEAN IT! HARRIET I KNOW YOU MEAN IT! YOU ARE A TON SMARTER THAN I EVER REALIZED-MAYBE THE SMARTEST MAN I EVER KNEW . . . BUT DON’T GET ME DREAMING LIKE YOU . . . BECAUSE, WELL, I’M QUITE HAPPY WITH MY LIFE.

the field’s sons

DRED ARE YOU HARRIET? WOULDN’T YOU LIKE TO GO BACK TO VIRGINIA AND FIND YOUR FAMILY? WELL, YES, BUT . . .

HARRIET

DRED BUT WHAT . . . YOU’RE SCARED? HARRIET DRED, EVERYONE KNOWS SOMEDAY WE WILL ALL BE FREE. IT JUST WON’T HAPPEN IN OUR LIVES. FORGET IT. I HAVE THE VERY BEST I COULD EVER HAVE IN A MASTER-MAJOR 6

TALIAFERRO-AND WHO KNOWS-IF I RUN AWAY OR EVEN ASK FOR FREEDOM, HE MAY SELL ME TO A BRUTAL MASTER. I WON’T RISK THIS EVER. MAJOR TALIAFERRO IS TOO NICE A GUY AND . . .

DRED YOU ARE SCARED YOU WILL BE WHIPPED? HARRIET I’VE HEARD STORES AND SEEN BACKS OF SEVERAL SLAVES WITH BAD OWNERS. I’M NOT GOING TO RISK MY LIFE, WHICH IS VERY GOOD TO ME PRESENTLY. BESIDES, IF I WENT BACK TO VIRGINIA, IT’S A SLAVE STATE AND I MAY BE TREATED AS A SLAVE AGAIN ANYWAY. THERE ARE RUNAWAY SLAVE LAWS THAT MAY HOLD YOU GUILTY-YOU KNOW HOW A BIASED JUDGE MAY BE? DRED WELL, THEN, YOU COULD LIVE UP NORTH AND BE FREE-IN A FREE STATE LIKE MASSACHUSETTS OR ILLINOIS OR . . .

Surrender of Fort Donelson, Tennessee

HARRIET DRED JUST SHUT UP. I DON’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS. YOU WILL GET ME THINKING AND THEN I MAY DO SOMETHING STUPID. I’M HAPPY-EVEN YOU SAID SO. I WAS JUST TRYING TO . . .

DRED

HARRIET DRED-I WANT YOU TO GO. I LIKE YOU AND ALL, BUT I CANNOT EVEN FATHOM IDEAS THAT YOU HAVE. YOUR TALK IS JUST NOT FOR ME, SO JUST PLEASE LEAVE. DRED I LIKE YOU . . . I DON’T WANT TO LEAVE. HARRIET I CAN TELL THAT. I LIKE YOU TOO, BUT YOU ARE SO OVER BEARING WITH THIS FREEDOM TALK AND YOU COME ON WAY TOO STRONG FOR ME. I HAVE WORK TO DO, SO GOOD BYE!

slave auction lithograph

DRED GOOD BYE. I’M SORRY-I WILL BE . . .

JUST GO DRED. PLEASE!

HARRIET

MAY 17, 1836

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DRED HELLO MS. HARRIET. I HAVE MISSED YOU. HARRIET WELL, I REALLY DON’T KNOW IF I’VE MISSED YOU. DRED I UNDERSTAND. MAYBE I WAS A BIT TOO FORTHCOMING WHEN I TALKED ABOUT YOUR RIGHT TO FREEDOM THE OTHER DAY. HARRIET YES, YOU ARE FAR TOO AGGRESSIVE AND I LET YOU KNOW MY POSITION. BUT I GUESS I DO UNDERSTAND. DRED WELL, I PROMISE I WILL BE NICE FROM NOW ON SO I WANTED YOU TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT I WORKED ON ALL WEEK. Roswell field

HARRIET DRED, THIS IS INCREDIBLE! WHY, THESE ARE PEARLS! WHERE DID YOU GET THE MONEY TO BUY THESE? DRED I HAVE NO MONEY AND I DIDN’T STEAL THEM. I WORKED ALL WEEK AT NIGHT WITH SOME NEARBY DAKOTA INDIANS I MET. WHY, THEY KNOW THIS NEARBY RIVER WITH CLAMS THAT PRODUCE A HIGH YIELD OF PEARLS. HARRIET SO YOU WENT CLAMMING ALL WEEK? WHAT ABOUT YOUR CHORES? DRED WELL, MY MASTER DR. EMERSON IS ALWAYS AT MEETINGS AND TAKING CARE OF SICK AND DYING PATIENTS-HE’S TOO TIRED TO NOTICE THAT I’M GONE AT TIMES.

sign to field house, modern day

HARRIET I WILL ADMIT YOU MAKE FRIENDS QUITE EASILY. I WOULD IMAGINE YOU KNOW THE ENTIRE TRIBE NOW. DRED YES, THEY ARE VERY FRIENDLY PEOPLE. HECK, THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH THE WHITE MAN CONTINUALLY COMING THEIR WAY. HARRIET YES, I KNOW SINCE MAJOR TALIAFERRO IS SENT HERE BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT TO QUIET INDIAN UPRISINGS. BUT MY GOD, DRED, THESE PEARLS ARE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING I’VE EVER RECEIVED. I DON’T KNOW IF I SHOULD

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WEAR THIS AROUND MY MASTER. HE MAY THINK SOMETHING IS UP. DRED I DOUBT IT-IN FACT YOU SAID HE WAS PROBABLY AN ABOLITIONIST-AND HE’D BE HAPPY IF YOU WERE EVENTUALLY FREE. HARRIET YOU ARE RIGHT-I CAN LOOK GOOD. BUT I DON’T WANT TO LOOK TOO GOOD! WHY IS THAT?

DRED

HARRIET WELL, IT IS SOMETHING WOMEN NEGRO SLAVES DON’T LIKE TO DISCUSS. DRED OH, I THINK I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT . . . THAT YOU DON’T WANT TO BE A SLAVE MISTRESS?

st louis courthouse today

HARRIET YES. I’VE KNOWN TOO MANY SLAVE GIRLS THAT HAVE BEEN SELECTED BY THEIR MASTERS AS MISTRESSES. MANY SLAVE NEGRO WOMEN BIRTH MANY CHILDREN-MULATTOES-WHICH BELONG TO THEIR MASTERS. AND MULATTOES ARE TREATED AS SLAVES IN ALL REGARDS DESPITE THEIR LIGHTER COLOR. DRED YES. THIS IS A VERY SAD PART OF SLAVERY. BUT I KNOW ONE SURE THING: HARRIET, YOU LOOK REAL GOOD WITHOUT THE PEARLS . . . AND YOU’VE NEVER BEEN . . .

HARRIET NO. AGAIN I SAY I HAVE THE WORLD’S BEST MASTER. IT’S LIKE I’M NOT A SLAVE. HE ONLY WANTS WHAT IS BEST FOR ME AND HIS OTHER SLAVES, MOST OF WHICH HE HAS SOLD.

Battle of Malvern Hill, Virginia

DRED WELL, IF HE SOLD HIS OTHER SLAVES THEY WOULD NOT BE BETTER OFF SINCE THEY WOULD BE WITH MASTERS WHO MAY TREAT THEM HARSHLY. HARRIET NO, MAJOR TALIAFERRO IS A GOOD MAN-HE WOULD ONLY SELL A SLAVE TO ANOTHER WHITE MAN IF HE FELT THEY WOULD BE CARED FOR EQUAL OR BETTER THAN HE WOULD. IT’S THAT SIMPLE-HE’S A MAN OF HIS WORD AND HE PROMISED US. 9

DRED I WISHED THAT I HAD TALIAFERRO AS A MASTER. HARRIET THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN. WHY?

DRED

HARRIET BECAUSE HE EVENTUALLY IS SELLING ALL HIS SLAVES AND MOVING BACK TO THE NORTHEAST WHERE SLAVERY IS ILLEGAL.

Struggle at the Bridge of Antietam

SO YOU WILL BE SOLD.

DRED

HARRIET EVENTUALLY. I CANNOT WORRY ABOUT WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN. I’M HAPPY HERE. I HAVE IT BETTER THAN MOST YOUNG NEGRO SLAVE GIRLS-AND I’M JUST NOT A MISTRESS. I ACTUALLY LIKE MY WORK AND THE PEOPLE AROUND HERE. YET . . .

DRED

HARRIET OH, STOP THAT DRED! YOU SEEM TO THINK THE WORLD IS OUT TO GET YOU. YOU ARE A GOOD MAN-A BIT REBELLIOUSBUT A REAL GOOD MAN. DRED BUT I’LL ALWAYS BE A SLAVE! MY KIDS WILL ALWAYS BE IN BONDAGE SINCE THEY WILL BE BORN OF ME IF I HAVE CHILDREN AND THEIR KIDS WILL BE THE SAME. IT WILL NEVER END. HARRIET OK, SO WHAT ARE YOU AND I TO DO ABOUT IT? RUN? historical plaque at eugene field house

DRED WE FIGHT LEGALLY TO OBTAIN OUR FREEDOM. HARRIET BUT THAT COSTS LOTS OF MONEY. YOU NEED SYMPATHETIC WHITE ABOLITIONISTS-A GOOD JUDGE-IT ALMOST NEVER HAPPENS-AND THEN YOU ARE LOOKED AT AS REBELLIOUSAND YOUR MASTER IS ALWAYS SUSPICIOUS OF YOU. AND THEY MAY LOSE THEIR PLACE IN SOCIETY-LIKE THE MASTERS DO IN ST. LOUIS IF YOU ALLOW YOUR SLAVES FREEDOM.

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DRED BUT THE DREAM OF FREEDOM WILL NEVER LEAVE ME. HARRIET THAT IS OBVIOUS, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT A GOOD WHIPPING WILL CHASE YOUR DREAM RIGHT OUT OF YOUR MIND. AND I DON’T WANT THAT FOR YOU. DRED NEITHER DO I, BUT THINGS MAY BE CHANGING-THERE WAS THIS CASE RACHEL V WALKER IN ST. LOUIS . . .

HARRIET YES, EVERY SLAVE KNOWS ABOUT THIS CASE: RACHEL HAD A SON IN MICHIGAN. AND I BRIEFLY MET RACHEL AT FORT SNELLING . . . A GREAT WOMAN WITH A WILL FOR FREEDOM. DRED AND HER MASTER WAS A RANKING ARMY OFFICER. HARRIET AND THE COURT ORIGINALLY RULED AGAINST RACHEL, SIDING WITH WALKER THAT THE MASTER HAD NO CHOICE TO LIVE BUT IN A FREE TERRITORY.

political drawing showing lincoln freeing the slaves

DRED AND THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE OF 1787 OUTLAWED SLAVERY IN THE TERRITORIES, SO . . .

HARRIET THE ST. LOUIS COURT EVENTUALLY GAVE RACHEL HER FREEDOM STATING THAT IF A SLAVE RESIDED IN A FREE STATE, THAT ONCE FREE IS ALWAYS FREE. THE MISSOURI COURT APPARENTLY APPLIED THE LAW OF WHAT THEY CALL JURISDICTION, WHICH ALLOWS SLAVES TO HAVE THEIR FREEDOM IF THEY RESIDE IN A STATE THAT ALLOWS FREEDOM. DRED YES, HARRIET. EVERY SLAVE I KNOW KNOWS OF THIS CASETHEY EVEN KNOW THE DETAILS.

anti-abolitionist handbill

HARRIET SO YOU ARE SAYING WE COULD GO TO COURT-SUE FOR FREEDOM AND BE FREE? YES-ABSOLUTELY.

DRED

HARRIET I DON’T SEE IT QUITE SO CLEARLY AS YOU DRED . . .

SUPPOSE WE LOSE . . . AND ARE THEN SOLD TO A MEAN 11

MASTER? IT WILL NOT HAVE BEEN WORTH IT-NOT AT ALL. I HAVE NO DESIRE TO BE SOMEONE’S MISTRESS. I WANT MY OWN FAMILY OF MY CHOOSING. DRED THAT IS WHAT FREEDOM IS-YOUR CHOOSING. YOU CHOOSE WHERE YOU WANT TO WORK, YOUR HUSBAND, WHERE YOU LIVE, WHAT TIME YOU GET UP IN THE MORNING, WHERE YOUR KIDS GO TO SCHOOL, HOW MUCH MONEY YOU WANT TO EARN AND KEEP, AND YOUR ENTIRE LIFE REVOLVES AROUND PERSONAL CHOICE. WE DON’T IN ANY WAY HAVE THAT NOW AND WILL NEVER HAVE IT UNLESS WE ACT FOR OUR FREEDOM.

Battle of Lookout Mountain

HARRIET YES, I KNOW DRED, BUT THIS WHOLE THING OF FREEDOM MAY BACKFIRE-MANY CASES HAVE GONE THE OTHER WAY. THE COURTS STALL-THE SLAVE IS SENT SOUTH-THE WHITE ATTORNEY GIVES UP-THE JUDGE ISN’T SYMPATHETIC-THE MASTER BEATS YOU TO A PULP FOR BEING A REBEL . . .

I DON’T WANT TO RISK THIS-I HAVE A GOOD SLAVE LIFE. MAYBE I’LL MARRY A GOOD NEGRO SLAVE AND THEY’LL JUST LET US BE. THAT IS PLENTY GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME. DRED BUT WHAT OF YOUR CHILDREN? YOUR DAUGHTERS WILL BE EVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN YOU ARE. THEY WILL LIKELY BE MASTERS’ MISTRESSES, MAYBE NEVER MARRY AND HAVE A FAMILY OF THEIR OWN, MAY DIE OF DISEASE, AND MAY BE IN A BAD SITUATION WHICH YOU’LL NEVER KNOW. AND MY SONS?

interior of eugene field house

HARRIET

DRED HARRIET, YOUR SONS WILL BE SOLD AT YOUNG AGE AND YOU WILL LIKELY NEVER SEE THEM AGAIN. IT’S COMMON. JUST GO TO ST. LOUIS. THE DOWNTOWN AREA INCLUDING THE COURTHOUSE HAS MULTIPLE SLAVE AUCTIONS DAILY. YOU NEVER KNOW. ODDS ARE YOUR KIDS AND YOU WILL BE SEPARATED FOREVER. WHEN A MASTER TAKES YOU INTO A PRIVATE ROOM FOR A DISCUSSION . . . WELL, YOU KNOW IT IS THE END. DO YOU WANT YOUR MUSCULAR BEAUTIFUL SONS SENT SOUTH TO WORK 16 HOURS A DAY ON A TOBACCO OR COTTON PLANTATION? HARRIET YES . . . I KNOW THE STRONGEST DO DIE ON THOSE PLANTATIONS. IT IS SUCH TOUGH WORK. BUT DRED . . .

DRED FREEDOM IS LIKE A SPRING BLUEBIRD: THE BIRD DECIDES WHERE AND WHEN HE WANTS TO CHIRP AND FLY-THE

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BLUEBIRD ISN’T TOLD WHAT TO DO. I STARED AT THESE BIRDS AS A KID IN VIRGINIA AND ALWAYS WONDERED, WHY IF BIRDS ARE FREE, WHY CAN’T I BE FREE? HARRIET SO YOU ARE SAYING ANIMALS HAVE IT BETTER THAN US SLAVES OR SERVANTS? DRED MUCH BETTER! THEY HAVE TOTAL FREEDOM. HARRIET BUT AGAIN, I’M HAPPY. I HAVE A GOOD MASTER-MAJOR TALIAFERRO IS THE BEST. WE BOTH DO WHAT IS BEST FOR US-WE HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING. DRED THINK ABOUT SOME OF THESE THINGS I’VE DISCUSSED, HARRIET. I HAVE WORK TO DO.

Attack on Fort Sumter

HARRIET GOOD BYE . . . I WILL WEAR THIS PEARL NECKLACE ALL DAY AND NIGHT. IT REMINDS ME OF YOU. GOOD NIGHT. GOOD NIGHT.

DRED HARRIET

JUNE 20, 1836 DRED HELLO HARRIET. I SEE YOU ARE STILL WEARING THE PEARLS. HARRIET YES, IT ALWAYS REMINDS ME OF YOU. MANY OF THE THINGS YOU SAID . . .

Capitulation of Vicksburg

DRED GO ON . . . I THINK I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE SAYING. HARRIET WELL, YOU MIGHT-I FULLY UNDERSTAND HOW YOU FEEL-YOU ARE A LITTLE OLDER THAN ME. BUT YOU ARE STILL NOT A GIRL. DRED CORRECT! I AM NOT THAT.

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HARRIET WELL, THIS SLAVERY THING-WE NEGROES JUST ACCEPT IT . . . AND I GUESS THAT IS HOW IT IS. I PROBABLY KNOW MORE THAN YOU THINK, DRED. DRED OH? . . . SO TELL ME SOME THINGS YOU KNOW. HARRIET I ACTUALLY KNEW THE HENNING FAMILY. YOU KNOW SALLY WAS THE MISTRESS WITH THOMAS JEFFERSON-A NICE MASTER WHO . . .

Union Soldiers

DRED WHO HAD SIX CHILDREN WITH SALLY? EVERYONE KNOWS THAT. SO WHAT? WHAT ARE YOU GETTING AT? HARRIET WELL, THEY WERE QUITE HAPPY . . . IN LOVE BY ALL ACCOUNTS AND JEFFERSON TOOK CARE OF ALL HIS SLAVES AND THE HENNING FAMILY. DRED UNTIL HE SOLD THEM WHEN HE WENT BANKRUPT . . . A SAD DAY. HARRIET BUT THOSE SLAVES WERE HAPPY PEOPLE AT MONTICELLO. I GREW UP NEAR THERE AND IT WASN’T AS IF YOU WERE A SLAVE.

political cartoon from the dred scott era

DRED HARRIET, YOU ARE UNBELIEVABLE! SO YOU ARE SAYING THOMAS JEFFERSON’S SLAVES WERE REALLY NOT SLAVES? LET’S SEE . . . DID THEY WORK WHEN THEY WANTED TO? DID THEY FREELY COME AND GO FROM MONTICELLO? DID THEY OWN LAND OR HAVE THEIR OWN HOUSE? WERE SOME OF THEM SOLD? NO SALLY AND JEFFERSON’S SLAVES MAY HAVE BEEN TREATED EXTRAORDINARILY-EVEN WONDERFULLYBUT THEY WERE STILL SLAVES AND MANY WENT TO OTHER COTTON AND TOBACCO PLANTATIONS AFTER THEY WERE SOLD. THERE IS ALWAYS THE HUGE RISK OF SLAVE FAMILY SEPARATION . . . AND IT ISN’T TEMPORARY. HARRIET BUT THIS MAY BE AS GOOD AS IT GETS . . . DRED, YOU ARE DREAMING TO THINK THAT ALL OF US SLAVES CAN BE FREE. DRED ON TOP OF THAT, SLAVERY WORKED AGAINST THOMAS JEFFERSON, BECAUSE IN VIRGINIA A WHITE PERSON CANNOT MARRY A BLACK PERSON. IT’S CALLED . . .

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HARRIET MISCEGENATION. IT’S THE LAW. NO INTER-RACIAL MARRIAGES. DRED AND THE MARRIAGE IS NULL AND VOID AND THE WHITE PERSON GOES TO PRISON AND THE BLACK PERSON IS WHIPPED AND THEN GETS PRISON. SO YES, SLAVERY AFFECTS EVERYONE: WHITE, BLACK, INDIANS . . .

HARRIET EVEN WHITE PEOPLE AND INDIANS ARE IN BONDAGE. I’VE SEEN THAT BACK IN VIRGINIA AND HERE IN WISCONSIN TERRITORY A LITTLE BIT. DRED THE DIFFERENCE IS THAT MANY OF THESE NON-NEGRO SERVANTS CAN EASILY WORK, SAVE MONEY AND BUY FREEDOM. NEGROES CANNOT DO THAT EASILY BECAUSE OF THE COURTS AND THE DIFFICULTY OF OBTAINING MONEYUNLESS AN ABOLITIONIST SUPPORTS YOUR CAUSE.

confederate dead at battle of chancellorsville, near fredericsburg, Virginia

HARRIET SO JUST ACCEPT YOUR PLIGHT IN LIFE DRED-YOU ARE DOING FINE. YOU ARE FRIENDS WITH EVERYONE. WE HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP. DRED I MAY FEEL DIFFERENTLY IF I ACTUALLY LIKED MY MASTER. HARRIET SO YOU DON’T LIKE DR. EMERSON? DRED OH, I GUESS HE’S OK-BUT HE COULD ACTUALLY CARE LESS ABOUT MY PLIGHT. I GUESS I’M SICK OF DOING SOMEONE ELSE’S DIRTY WORK AND NOT BEING PAID. HARRIET SO YOU ARE TIRED OF BEING A SLAVE . . . WHY DON’T YOU ASK FOR YOUR FREEDOM?

emancipation political drawing

DRED I HAVE AND HE’S TURNED ME DOWN SEVERAL TIMES. HE SAYS HE UNDERSTANDS, BUT THAT HE NEEDS ME AND THAT I’M WORTH MONEY AT A SLAVE AUCTION OR AS RENTED WORK. HE ALSO SAYS I’M HIS PROPERTY, AND THAT WE BOTH WERE BORN INTO THIS SYSTEM AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT. HARRIET WELL-HE IS HONEST. THAT’S THE LEAST I CAN SAY FOR HIM. 15

DRED OK-DR. EMERSON IS HONEST-SO WHAT? WHERE DOES THAT GET ME OR YOU OR ANY OF THE OTHER AFRICAN AMERICANS HERE IN NORTH AMERICA, THE CARIBBEAN, AND THE REST OF THE WORLD?

political cartoon of the era about the dred scott court case

HARRIET DRED, YOU MUST UNDERSTAND HUMANS HAVE BEEN SLAVES AND SERVANTS TO OTHER HUMANS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIME. THIS SITUATION IN THE UNITED STATES WAS AS MUCH THE FAULT OF THE AFRICAN NEGRO RACE AS THE WHITE RACE. IT WAS AFRICAN AMERICAN TRIBES TRAPPING THEIR OWN PEOPLE BY NETS, THREATS, AND KNIVES THAT PUSHED PEOPLE INTO THESE BOATS THAT CROSSED THE ATLANTIC. MANY OF THESE PEOPLE STOPPED IN JAMAICA AND WERE HERDED INTO CAMPS WHICH”BROKE”THE AFRICAN. DRED YOU MEAN LIKE BREAKING A HORSE . . .

HARRIET EXACTLY-YOU DON’T SEE IT MUCH TODAY. AFRICAN KIDS GROW UP IN BONDAGE AND JUST ACCEPT ALL THIS. DRED THAT IS MY POINT, HARRIET. IT IS JUST ACCEPTED. HARRIET YES-I AGREE-IT’S ACCEPTED BY MOST OF US. THAT IS JUST THE WAY IT IS . . . I’M SORRY. DRED WELL, I’M UNWILLING TO ACCEPT THIS. I WANT TO BE FREE-I WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL, I WANT TO OWN MY OWN CLOTHES, HOUSE, LAND, AND A FARM OF MY OWN-MAYBE A BUSINESS. I WANT THIS FOR MY WIFE, KIDS, AND THEIR KIDS.

harriet beecher stowe, author of uncle tom’s cabin

HARRIET YOU ARE DREAMING DRED. I ADMIRE YOUR UNBELIEVABLE TENACITY AND TRUE SPIRIT OF FREEDOM-BUT I MUST ADMIT I AM QUITE HAPPY. DRED OK, HARRIET . . . WHAT IF YOU HAD YOUR FAMILY RIGHTHERE-YOUR MOM AND DAD, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, NIECES AND NEPHEWS, AND YOUR NON-FAMILY FRIENDS? HARRIET THAT WOULD BE VERY NICE-JUST LIKE HEAVEN!

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DRED WELL, OUR MASTERS AND THEIR FAMILIES HAVE ALL OF THIS AND MORE. IT IS JUST GIVEN TO THEM BY BIRTH OR THEIR WHITE RACE. THIS SITUATION IS NOT RIGHT MORALLY. HARRIET LOTS OF THINGS ARE NOT RIGHT MORALLY . . . I’M SORRY DRED. IF OUR MASTERS START THINKING YOU AND NOW, MAYBE ME, ARE REBELLING-WHY WE’LL BE SOLD AT A SLAVE AUCTION PROBABLY DOWN RIVER IN ST. LOUIS WHERE THE PRICES ARE QUITE HIGH. DRED I PROMISE I WOULD NEVER DO ANYTHING TO ENDANGER YOUR HEALTH OR YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR MASTER. HARRIET I KNOW THAT BUT I’M JUST NOT READY FOR A BREAK LIKE YOU ARE. I FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE ACTUALLY SAYING. I’VE HEARD MUCH ABOUT THIS IN VIRGINIA BEFORE WE CAME TO FORT SNELLING. I HAVE TO GO DRED. WHEN WILL YOU COME VISIT AGAIN?

the missouri compromise of 1820

DRED WHEN YOU’LL HAVE ME FOR YOUR WIFE! HARRIET OH, MY GOD, DRED! THAT ISN’T EVEN A POSSIBILITY-WE ARE MUCH TOO DIFFERENT. GOOD BYE. DRED GOOD BYE. I’LL STOP BY NEXT WEEK.

JULY 4, 1836 HARRIET WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN DRED?

union soldiers

DRED I FIGURED YOU WERE NOT INTERESTED IN MYSELF SO I JUST BACKED OFF. YOU ARE RIGHT: WE ARE JUST SO DIFFERENT. HARRIET BUT WE CAN STILL BE FRIENDS. WE DON’T HAVE TO MARRY . ..

DRED I FULLY REALIZE THAT YOU DON’T WANT TO “JUMP THE BROOM.” 17

HARRIET THAT IS A VERY OLD SLAVE TERM FOR JUMPING INTO MARRIAGE. DRED YES, I KNOW ALL ABOUT “JUMPING THE BROOM.” I’VE SEEN IT MANY TIMES BEFORE. HARRIET WELL, I DIDN’T SAY I WOULD NEVER JUMP THE BROOM-I JUST SAID I THOUGHT WE WERE MUCH TOO DIFFERENT NOW. DRED AND THAT IT WOULD NEVER WORK . . . union artillery

HARRIET MY GOD, DRED-YOU COME ON SO STRONG. DRED WELL, MAYBE I DO BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT I WANT. I DIDN’T JUST GIVE YOU THE PEARLS TO BE FRIENDS. YOU ARE VERY SPECIAL TO ME. AMIDST ALL THOSE INDIANS AT NIGHT . . .

WELL, I RISKED MY LIFE AND . . .

HARRIET I REALIZE THAT, BUT I AM YOUNGER THAN YOU-HAVE NEVER BEEN IN A RELATIONSHIP BEFORE-AND WELL, MARRIAGE IS FOR LIFE . . . SO I JUST CANNOT SAY, OK-WE’VE ONLY TALKED THREE TIMES. BESIDES, ONE OF US WOULD HAVE TO BE SOLD TO THE OTHER’S MASTER FOR ALL THIS TO WORK. DRED SO THE MASTERS WOULD HAVE TO OK THE MARRIAGE? ABSOLUTELY-100%.

slave auction scene

HARRIET

DRED THAT WOULD ONLY HAPPEN IF DR. EMERSON OWNED BOTH OF US-I MEAN YOU ALREADY SAID MAJOR TALIAFERRO WANTED TO GET RID OF HIS SLAVES-OR SELL THEM ALL. RIGHT? HARRIET EVENTUALLY, WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT. DRED BUT YOU KNOW THAT DR. EMERSON MAY NOT BE AS GOOD A MASTER AS MAJOR TALIAFERRO, RIGHT?

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HARRIET I’M WELL, AWARE OF THIS ALSO. BUT I’M ALSO AWARE THAT I’M TO BE SOLD SOMEDAY, OR I MAY BE A MISTRESS OR I MAY BE . . .

DRED MAYBE WHAT? HARRIET WELL, I MAY BE KILLED IF I REFUSE TO BE A MISTRESS. WHO KNOWS? IT HAPPENS. DRED WELL, THE MASTERS USUALLY LAY OFF YOU IF YOU ARE MARRIED. SO I’M THE ANSWER. HARRIET NOT SO FAST-I REALLY HAVE TO THINK. I’LL ONLY MARRY IF I’M TRULY IN LOVE. DRED WELL, YOU HAVE TO ADMIT THIS IS A GREAT NIGHT TO FALL IN LOVE BECAUSE IT’S JULY 4TH-THE BIRTHDATE OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

newsclipping announcing the dred scott supreme court decision

HARRIET VERY GOOD DRED-AND ALL THE MASTERS ARE DOWN THE ROAD HAVING A BIG PARTY. DRED CELEBRATING THE FREEDOM THAT WE ALL SHOULD HAVEAND THE INDIANS AROUND HERE ARE JUST BEGINNING TO REALIZE THIS IS A PERMANENT THING: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND WESTWARD EXPANSION INTO THEIR LANDS. INDIAN FREEDOM IS ALSO THREATENED. HARRIET BUT UNDERSTAND DRED: IF WE WERE TO MARRY I COULDN’T LISTEN TO THIS FREEDOM TALK DAY AND NIGHT-I CAN’T FATHOM OBTAINING AN IMPOSSIBLE DREAM AND THEN HAVING IT ALL GO AWAY WITH A SALE OR BE BEATEN BECAUSE WE ARE REBELLIOUS.

emancipation related political drawing from the period

DRED WELL, IF RACHEL AND HER SON, JARVIS, HAD THOUGHT THAT THEY WOULD NEVER GET FREEDOM WE’D MAYBE HAVE NOTHING TO TALK ABOUT, BUT THEY ESTABLISHED IN THE MISSOURI COURTS THAT YOU CAN OBTAIN FREEDOM IF YOU ARE IN FREE TERRITORY. IN FACT, RACHEL AND JARVIS WERE GIVEN THEIR FREEDOM BECAUSE THEIR MASTER HAD THEM SPECIFICALLY AT FORT SNELLING IN WISCONSIN TERRITORY19

EXACTLY WHERE WE ARE. I BRIEFLY KNEW RACHEL WHILE SHE WAS AT FORT SNELLING. HARRIET SO IT’S THE SAME SITUATION? EXACTLY.

general phillip sheridan

DRED

HARRIET BUT DON’T YOU THINK THE COURTS MAY RULE THAT THOUGH YOU ARE HERE IN FREE TERRITORY AND THIS TERRITORY BY THE 1787 NORTHWEST TERRITORY ORDINANCE DOESN’T ALLOW SLAVERY-YOU ARE REALLY ONLY HERE TEMPORARILY WITH A MASTER WHO IS HERE BECAUSE OF THE MILITARY AND THIS REALLY ISN’T HIS PERMANENT HOME? I’VE HEARD THIS. DRED SO HAVE I AND THAT IS WHY YOU NEED A COMMITTED ABOLITIONIST ATTORNEY WHO WANTS YOU TO BE FREE AND WHO WILL FIGHT TO THE END FOR YOU IN COURT. HARRIET OK, DRED: TELL ME WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL CHANGE ALL OF THIS? WE’VE HAD SLAVERY IN AMERICA AND ITS COLONIES SINCE THE EARLY 1600’S. IN FACT, THE BRITISH DIDN’T DO ANYTHING TO STOP SLAVERY AND EVEN ENCOURAGED IT BECAUSE IT BROUGHT AGRICULTURE, GOODS, AND MADE THE SOUTHERN UNITED STATES ECONOMY FLOURISH. DRED ALL AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR NEGRO CULTURE.

soldiers taking a break during civil war

HARRIET I REALIZE THAT DRED, BUT YOU STILL DON’T ANSWER THE QUESTION . . . WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS? YOU ARE A ONE MAN TEAM. I DON’T SEE OTHER SLAVES REBELLING HERE . . . OH, THERE IS AN OCCASIONAL SLAVE UPRISING, BUT MOST ACCEPT THEIR PLACE IN LIFE AND LIVE THEIR LIFE. SLAVERY IS INGRAINED IN AMERICA. IN FACT IT IS GROWING BY SOME ACCOUNTS. DRED BUT THERE CLEARLY IS A DIVISION BETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH REGARDING SLAVERY . . . AS A RESULT OF THE MISSOURI COMPROMISE OF 1820 MISSOURI BECAME A STATE IN THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS.

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HARRIET BUT WHAT DID THAT SETTLE? NOTHING! THE LAW ALLOWED SLAVERY IN ALL STATES AND NEW TERRITORIES SOUTH OF MISSOURI. AND PROBABLY ALLOWED SLAVES TO OBTAIN FREEDOM IF THEY WERE PERMANENTLY RESIDING IN A FREE STATE UNLESS LIKE US, WHERE WE ARE HERE IN FREE TERRITORY ONLY TEMPORARILY. DRED BUT LOOK AT RACHEL V WALKER: SHE WON HER FREEDOM IN ST. LOUIS. HARRIET THAT IS ONE CASE, DRED-AND SHE HAD PLENTY OF BACKING. WHERE ARE YOU TO GET THE BACKING TO FIGHT FOR FREEDOM IF YOUR MASTER DOESN’T GRANT IT TO YOU BEFORE HE SELLS YOU TO A BRUTAL MASTER?

slaves picking cottong

DRED I GUESS I’M AN IDEALIST-MAYBE A DREAMER-BUT I WANT TO BE FREE-NOT ONLY FOR ME BUT FOR MY KIDS AND THEIR KIDS. I’M NOT ASKING FOR MONEY, HANDOUTS, FOOD, CLOTHING, HOUSING, OR ANYTHING. I CAN OBTAIN THOSE THINGS. I WANT TO JUST BE FREE. HARRIET OH, I THINK DRED IT WOULD REQUIRE YOUR WHOLE LIFE TO GET INVOLVED IN A SUIT FOR FREEDOM-AND TOTALLY DRAIN YOU OF ALL YOUR ENERGY. AND YOU RISK BEING SOLD AND SENT SOUTH. YOU KNOW THAT-YOU IN FACT HAVE IT PRETTY GOOD UP HERE NOW. AND YOU’VE MET ME. DRED WELL, IF WE WERE TO MARRY-WELL, ONE OF OUR MASTERS WOULD BE REQUIRED TO SELL ONE OF US TO THE OTHER. THAT IS THE GENERAL CUSTOM. HARRIET HERE YOU GO AGAIN WITH THAT MARRIAGE BUSINESS . . . I HARDLY KNOW YOU. WE ARE TOTALLY OPPOSITE: WE DON’T BELIEVE IN THE SAME VALUES. YOU WANT FREEDOM–SO DO I, BUT I WON’T RISK MY LIFE FOR SOME FAR REACHING CAUSE. BESIDES, FREE SLAVES ALSO HAVE MANY PROBLEMS THAT WE DON’T HAVE. AGAIN, FREE SLAVES ARE DESPISED. MANY WHITE GROUPS WANT THEM OFF THE PLANET. SO MANY FREE NEGROES ARE KILLED AND NO ONE IS PROSECUTED. THAT IS UNFORTUNATELY JUST THE WAY IT IS!!

dairy on a southern planatation

DRED YES, I KNOW FREE NEGROES HAVE MANY PROBLEMS WITH WAGES, WORK, HOUSING, SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, 21

DISCRIMINATION, AND THE LIST GOES ON. I KNOW IT WILL TAKE TIME. BUT DAMMIT-I WANT MY FAMILY TO HAVE FREEDOM! THAT IS WHAT JULY 4TH IS-AND ACTUALLY MEANS THIS BY OUR CONSTITUTION AND THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE IN 1776.

HARRIET WELL, MAJOR TALIAFERRO TOLD ME IT WAS ONLY TIME BEFORE ALL NEGROES WERE FREE. HE STRONGLY FEELS FREEDOM FOR SLAVES COMING BUT IT MAY TAKE A WAR BETWEEN THE NORTH AND SOUTH BEFORE THE MATTER IS SETTLED. DRED SO BE IT . . . I’LL FIGHT FOR THE NORTH.

women pounding rice

HARRIET YOU WOULDN’T STAND A CHANCE-YOU WOULD BE IMMEDIATELY KILLED, DRED-YOU KNOW THAT. SO WHY ARE YOU WILLING TO TAKE ALL THESE RISKS? DRED SOMEONE HAS TO-SOMEONE HAS TO START A MOVEMENT. NOT THAT I WANT TO, BUT I’LL GO THE EXTRA MILE TO BE FREE. I’LL DO ANYTHING. HARRIET WELL, ANYONE THAT GOES OUT AT NIGHT AND BEFRIENDS DAKOTA INDIANS-WHO KNOW WHERE ALL THESE CLAMS WITH PEARLS ARE-IS PRETTY SPECIAL. YOU ARE TRULY SPECIAL! DRED MAY I WALK YOU HOME TONIGHT? HARRIET I GUESS SO, BUT NO MARRIAGE PROPOSALS-I DON’T WANT TO “JUMP THE BROOM” RIGHT NOW!

cotton fields

DRED WHAT IF I’M SOLD TOMORROW AND NEVER RETURN? WE’VE MISSED OUR CHANCE AT MARRIAGE. HARRIET YOU ALWAYS HAVE A SNEAKY REPLY FOR EVERY SITUATION. YOU ARE VERY SMART FOR NOT KNOWING HOW TO READ OR WRITE. DRED WELL-I’M PLANNING ON LEARNING TO READ AND WRITE SOME DAY. YOU’LL SEE-I’M NOT TOO OLD TO LEARN. I KNOW I CAN ACTUALLY LEARN-IN FACT I’VE LEARNED HOW TO

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COMMUNICATE WITH THE DAKOTA INDIANS FREELY. THEIR ONLY CONCERN IS WHERE IS ALL THIS WHITE EXPANSIONISM GOING . . . THERE MAY NOT BE ENOUGH ROOM FOR BOTH THE WHITE MAN AND INDIANS-AND THEY WERE HERE FIRST . . . MAKES YOU THINK. HARRIET OH, MY GOD, DRED-YOU THINK OF EVERYTHING. NOW YOU ARE WORRYING ABOUT THE INDIAN RIGHTS. WELL, THEY WILL PROBABLY LOSE ALSO TO THE WHITE MAN. THEY’LL GET FOOLED INTO THINKING THE TWO CULTURES CAN COEXIST, BUT EVERYONE KNOWS THEY PROBABLY CAN’T. DRED OK, BUT I WOULDN’T ACCEPT THIS EITHER IF I WERE INDIAN. HARRIET I THINK THERE IS VERY LITTLE THEY CAN DO BUT WORK OUT THE BEST SITUATION THEY CAN FOR THEMSELVES. THEY WON’T STOP WHITE MEN FROM RUNNING ACROSS THEIR LANDS-JUST WON’T.

black children soon after civil war era

DRED I GUESS MAYBE YOU ARE RIGHT. WE JUST NEED TO ENJOY THE LITTLE PLEASURE LIFE GIVES US-LIKE PEARLS. WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE AND WE NEED TO MAKE THE VERY BEST OF OUR EXISTENCE ON THE EARTH. HARRIET NOW THAT IS A VERY SWEET THING TO SAY. YOU ARE ACTUALLY HUMAN, DRED, WITH SOME PERSONAL FEELINGS. ONE LITTLE KISS AND I’LL SEE YOU IN A COUPLE DAYS. GOOD BYE. GOOD NIGHT.

DRED

slave quarters

SEPTEMBER 1, 1836 HARRIET NICE TO SEE YOU DRED, HAVEN’T SEEN YOU IN A FEW WEEKS . . . WHY ARE YOU SO QUIET? DRED WELL-I MAY BE SOLD TO A MASTER IN LOUISIANA-WE WILL BE GOING THERE SOME DAY SOON MAYBE. IT DEPENDS ON DR. EMERSON’S FINANCES I’VE HEARD. IT’S A LONG TRIP-BUT HE MAY BE MOVING SOUTH WITH A NEW ASSIGNMENT . . . WE MAY NEVER SEE EACH OTHER AGAIN! 23

HARRIET THAT WOULDN’T BE GOOD. WE ARE SUCH GOOD FRIENDS. DRED I THOUGHT WE WERE MORE THAN JUST FRIENDS, HARRIET. I MEAN . . .

HARRIET THE ANSWER IS STILL NO, DRED! I’M 17 AND NOT JUST READY FOR MARRIAGE-JUST NOT READY-IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU. DRED WELL, WILL YOU EVER BE READY? plantation cooking scene

HARRIET I JUST DON’T KNOW-I CANNOT DECIDE-THIS IS ALL TOO NEW TO ME. DRED I UNDERSTAND COMPLETELY-BUT OH, I GUESS THERE WILL ALWAYS BE THE CHANCE WE CAN MEET UP LATER IN LIFE . . .

IF WE ARE STILL ALIVE AND UNATTACHED. HARRIET WELL, YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW IF YOU ARE GOING-AND IF YOU DO-WELL, I’M NOT CERTAIN I WANT TO GO DOWN SOUTH ON A TOBACCO OR COTTON FARM . . . I’M OK WITH THINGS HERE. DRED UNTIL MAJOR TALIAFERRO, YOUR MASTER SELLS YOU TO A BRUTAL MASTER WHO MAY FAKE THAT HE IS NICE-YOU NEVER KNOW.

former slaves post civil war

HARRIET BUT HE WILL NEVER SELL ME-HE’S TOLD ME SO. HE’S IN NO HURRY TO DO ANYTHING NOW. HIS BIG JOB IS TO QUIET THE INDIANS AROUND HERE AND EVER SINCE THE BLACKHAWK WAR-WELL, IT’S BEEN PRETTY QUIET-SO HE’LL PROBABLY STAY FOR A WHILE. DRED OK, AND YOU’LL JUST ACCEPT SOME THINGS AS THEY ARE AND NOT TRY FOR YOUR FREEDOM WHILE YOU’VE GOT THE CHANCE RIGHT HERE AND NOW? HARRIET PROBABLY NOT-I’M HAPPY-I DON’T LIKE CHANGE-YES, I WANT TO BE FREE AS MUCH AS YOU-BUT I WILL NOT RISK MY LIFE WITH SO LITTLE OF A CHANCE-AND MY SITUATION MAY BE

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WORSE AS A FREE NEGRO. WE ARE JUST DIFFERENT, DRED. I LIKE YOU-BUT I CAN’T LIVE WITH TURBULENCE AS YOU ARE SUGGESTING. DRED DO YOU KNOW HARRIET THAT THE FRAMERS OF THE CONSTITUTION-GREAT MEN WHO DEFEATED GREAT BRITAIN IN A TOUGH WAR-PUT NO WORDS IN OUR CONSTITUTION ABOUT SLAVERY-OR THE LAWS OF SLAVERY? HARRIET YES, I KNEW THAT, DRED-I ALSO LISTEN AND REMEMBER. THE FRAMERS LEFT SLAVERY UP TO STATES-THAT WAS THEIR EXCUSE-THOUGH MANY INCLUDING JEFFERSON DIDN’T REALLY KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT SLAVERY AND IT WAS VERY TROUBLING TO HIM FOR MANY REASONS. HE WAS A GOOD MAN. DRED YOU SAY THAT-BUT HE WAS ALSO A MAN WHO VOTED FOR A NEGRO SLAVE AS NOT HAVING CITIZENSHIP IN THE UNITED STATES, THAT SLAVES WOULD BE COUNTED AS 3/5 OF A WHITE PERSON FOR CONGRESSIONAL OFFICE NUMBERS. HOW CAN YOU SAY HE WAS A GREAT MAN?

plantation smokehouse

HARRIET WELL, JUST FROM WHAT I HEARD IN VIRGINIA: HIS SLAVES MOSTLY LOVED HIM AS A PERSON. HE WAS BORN INTO THIS SYSTEM JUST LIKE YOU AND I. HE EVENTUALLY SOLD ALL HIS 300 PLUS SLAVES ONLY BECAUSE HE WENT BANKRUPT. WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE-JEFFERSON WAS FORCED TO SELL HIS SLAVES-AND SALLY HENNING STAYED WITH HIM. DRED I’VE HEARD ALL OF THIS FROM THE BLOW FAMILY-THEY TELL ME EVERYTHING-THEY TREATED ME LIKE FAMILY-BEST FRIENDS I WOULD EVER HAVE-IN FACT THEY WANTED ME FREE ALSO WHEN I WAS ADULT.

execution of a deserter

HARRIET BUT THEY SOLD YOU TO DR. EMERSON IN ST. LOUIS. MAYBE YOU HAVE BEEN FOOLED ALSO-THINKING SOME OF YOUR BEST WHITE FRIENDS THINK OF YOU MORE THAN A SLAVE. DRED I WAS SOLD BECAUSE THE BLOWS NEEDED MONEY. THE BLOWS WERE SUCH GOOD PEOPLE THAT THEY CONVINCED ME WHITE AND BLACK PEOPLE ARE ALL THE SAME. WE TREATED EACH OTHER WITH RESPECT-IT WAS AS IF I WAS THEIR FAMILY.

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HARRIET NO, DRED-YOU PERCEIVED THIS LIKE I DO NOW. BUT AS MUCH AS THEY LIKED YOU AND CARED FOR YOU, THE BLOWS SOLD YOU. I KNOW THEY MAY NOT HAVE WANTED TO BUT THEY DID. ONCE A SLAVE, ALWAYS A SLAVE-ACCEPT THIS AS I DO. IN FACT, YOU WERE SOLD SO THE BLOWS COULD PAY A WEDDING BILL SO THE DAUGHTER COULD MARRY INTO HIGH ST. LOUIS SOCIETY. DR. EMERSON’S OTHER SLAVES TOLD ME THIS ABOUT YOU. I GET AROUND. THAT IS HOW MUCH YOUR FORMER MASTERS, THE BLOWS, CARED FOR YOU DRED-THINK ABOUT IT.

picking cotton in the south

DRED I WILL NEVER ACCEPT SLAVERY, HARRIET. I FULLY UNDERSTAND YOUR POSITION AND THAT IS WHY YOU WON’T MARRY ME. BUT I’M NOT GOING TO LIE TO YOU-I AM WHO I AM. HARRIET NO KIDDING- YOU ARE DRED. I AM GOING TO BED SOON SINCE I HAVE CHORES UPON CHORES TOMORROW. YOU MAY HOLD ME, DRED BUT WE AREN’T”JUMPING THE BROOM”NOT EVEN HERE IN COLD WISCONSIN TERRITORY AT FORT SNELLING. I’M STILL WEARING MY BEAUTIFUL PEARLS AND EVERYONE HAS NOTICED. GOOD BYE. GOOD NIGHT.

DRED

OCTOBER 15, 1836

slave auction scene

HARRIET I JUST HEARD THAT MAJOR TALIAFERRO MIGHT BE GOING BACK NORTHEAST TO BE WITH HIS FAMILY. DRED THAT IS GOOD AND BAD. YoU MAY BE AUTOMATICALLY FREE IF HE GOES TO MAINE OR NEW YORK. HARRIET I’M NOT CERTAIN I WANT THIS-YOU KNOW FREE SLAVES HAVE A REALLY TOUGH TIME BACK THERE. I MAY REALLY STRUGGLE. DRED HARRIET ROBINSON! YOU ARE CRAZY- REALLY CRAZY-THIS IS YOUR GOLDEN CHANCE AT FREEDOM. TAKE IT!!

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HARRIET BUT I WANT YOU TO GO WITH ME! DRED WHAT GOT INTO YOU? I KNOW WOMEN ARE CRAZY-AND YOU HAVE DISTANCED YOURSELF FROM MYSELF VERY WELLBUT NOW YOU WANT ME TO GO WITH YOU?? I DON’T GET IT, HARRIET. HARRIET WELL, I HEARD A RUMOR THAT YOU, DRED, MAY BE GOING SOUTH WITH DR EMERSON ON A NEW MILITARY ASSIGNMENT OR TRAVEL. IS IT SOON?

DRED cotton fields scene

HARRIET I DON’T KNOW, BUT SOME OF THE OTHER SLAVES DIDN’T HIDE THE FACT THAT THE ONLY WAY WE COULD MAYBE STAY TOGETHER IS TO”JUMP THE BROOM”AND QUICKLY. DRED DOES THAT MEAN YOU WILL MARRY ME, HARRIET ROBINSON? HARRIET YES, DRED–I DON’T WANT TO LOSE YOU. I WILL”JUMP THE BROOM.”THE CUSTOM ESPECIALLY IN THE NORTH IS THAT ONE OF OUR MASTERS WILL BUY ONE OF US. I WILL BRING THIS UP TO MAJOR TALIAFERRO. DRED ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO DO THIS? I THOUGHT YOU SAID MAJOR TALIAFERRO WAS SELLING HIS SLAVES.

HARRIET HE IS FOR SURE-BUT HE MAY WANT TO KEEP ME, OR IF HE SELLS ME TO DR. EMERSON-WELL, THAT IS NOT SO BAD. DR. EMERSON SEEMS LIKE AN OK GUY-A GOOD MASTER. YOU ARE NOT SUFFERING. YOU ACTUALLY HAVE IT PRETTY GOOD DRED. WE WOULD BE OK EITHER WAY.

slave auction

DRED I AGREE, BUT GOING TO MAINE OR NEW YORK-EVEN THOUGH COLD-IT WOULD BE THE BEST THING FOR BOTH OF US AND WE’D BOTH BE FREE.

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HARRIET I’M NOT CERTAIN MAJOR TALIAFERRO WOULD BUY SLAVES NOW SINCE HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF SELLING ALL OF THEM OVER TIME. TALK TO HIM TONIGHT.

DRED

HARRIET I WILL HOLD MY GORGEOUS PRECIOUS PEARLS AS I TALK TO HIM-VERY TIGHT-THESE ARE MY GOOD LUCK . . .

slave auction scene

DRED I’LL PRAY FOR YOU, HARRIET-THAT WE CAN MARRY-I MEAN WE MUST ASK OUR MASTERS AND I THINK THEY WILL ACCEPT THIS AND THAT MAJOR TALIAFERRO THINKS SO MUCH OF YOU THAT HE WILL AUTOMATICALLY BUY ME. HARRIET OK-GOT TO GO. I WILL LET YOU KNOW TOMORROW . . . AND YOU’LL TALK TO YOUR MASTER DR. EMERSON? DRED YES-LOVE YOU AND GOOD NIGHT! GOOD NIGHT AND LOVE!

HARRIET

OCTOBER 25, 1856 DRED WE DID IT! WAY TO GO HARRIET! YOU ARE THE VERY BEST. OUR MASTERS HAVE AGREED TO THE MARRIAGE. I’M SO EXCITED! slave auction scene

HARRIET YES, TONIGHT WE WILL”JUMP THE BROOM.” ALL OF OUR FELLOW WORKERS AND SERVANTS WILL BE THERE. MAJOR TALIAFERRO WILL DO THE CEREMONY-HE TOLD ME SO. DRED WHICH MASTER IS BUYING ME OR YOU? HARRIET I DON’T KNOW-THEY ARE MEETING THIS AFTERNOON. DRED I BET WE WILL END UP IN THE NORTHEAST AND BE FREE BY MAJOR TALIAFERRO THROUGH A FREEDOM BOND.

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I CERTAINLY HOPE SO.

HARRIET

DRED ARE YOU READY FOR THE CELEBRATION-THE FOOD, DRESS, CEREMONY . . .?

HARRIET EVERY DETAIL-I EVEN HAVE THE BROOM. YOU ARE SIMPLY AMAZING!

DRED

HARRIET WHAT DID DR. EMERSON SAY ABOUT THE MARRIAGE? DRED HE WAS SO EXCITED-VERY HAPPY FOR BOTH OF US, AND HE DID MENTION THE FACT THAT HE KNEW TALIAFERRO WELL, AND THEY WOULD AMICABLY WORK SOMETHING OUT FOR ALL OF US: DRED AND HARRIET SCOTT WOULD STAY TOGETHER FOR LIFE AS HE PUT IT. I NOW HAVE A LAST NAME. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?

black family shortly after civil war era

HARRIET I’M THINKING THAT THEY FEEL WE WILL PRODUCE MORE SLAVES-THAT IS WHY THEY ARE PROMOTING THIS MARRIAGE AND UNUSUALLY PARTICIPATING IN IT. MAKES ME THINK I’VE BEEN SOLD. DRED NOW YOU ARE SOUNDING LIKE ME, HARRIET! I THOUGHT ON THIS SPECIAL DAY WE WOULDN’T TALK ABOUT SLAVERY. HARRIET WELL, I GUESS YOU ARE RIGHT. SLAVERY OR BONDAGE AFFECTS EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES-I GUESS WE REALLY DON’T HAVE OUR OWN LIVES.

plantation work scene

DRED I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS-YOU ARE SOUNDING LIKE ME! WHEN I WANTED FOR ONE DAY NOT TO TALK ABOUT FREEDOM-HERE YOU GO ON OUR WEDDING DAY TALKING ABOUT NEGRO FREEDOM. HARRIET OH-I GUESS I JUST REALIZED A FEW THINGS THAT I DIDN’T BEFORE . . . THOUGH WE WILL BE MARRIED, WE WILL ALWAYS BE UNDER CONTROL OF A MASTER AND GO AND DO WHAT HE WANTS. I GUESS NOW THAT WE ARE ABOUT TO MARRY I THINK DIFFERENTLY-I THINK OF OUR CHILDREN AND WHAT THEY MAY HAVE TO ENDURE. 29

DRED UNDERSTOOD. NOW YOU FULLY KNOW WHAT I’VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR YEARS. HARRIET OH, IT’S NEARLY TIME! I’M BEING ASKED BY MAJOR TALIAFERRO TO COME INTO HIS LITTLE ROOM. DRED YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS, HARRIET! – ALWAYS . . . I’LL WAIT OUTSIDE.

picking cotton

HARRIET THANKS FOR WAITING-IT TOOK FIFTEEN SECONDS IS ALL. I COULD TELL BY THE LOOK ON HIS FACE I’VE BEEN SOLD TO DR. EMERSON. HE GUARANTEED WE’D BE TOGETHER AND SAID IT WAS FOR THE BEST. DRED I LOVE YOU, HARRIET-WE’LL”JUMP THE BROOM”TONIGHT AND CELEBRATE WITH EVERYONE. AT LEAST WE’RE TOGETHER! AND SOMEDAY I KNOW WE’LL BOTH BE FREE-AND OUR CHILDREN WILL BE FREE-I JUST KNOW! HARRIET “JUMP THE BROOM” TOGETHER, DRED. WE ARE MARRIED.

DRED

End of Chapter 1, Beloved Harriet.

lincoln with matthew brady, civil war era photographer and union general

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