March 6, 2013  is the anniversary of the Dred Scott Decision. It is a court decision worth reading about and celebrating. Here’s a column from Jamala’s book on the decision written in January 4, 2004.

I always find it interesting that a number of civil rights events are held at the Old Courthouse. Many local people, and sadly—far too many black folks, don’t know that this courthouse is where the infamous Dred Scott decision was made. The Old Courthouse is supposed to represent the history of days gone by. However, there are times when I hear the words of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Roger Taney coming out of modern day racists or bear witness to the unequal and unfair treatment of African-Americans in St. Louis as if we were in the era of pre-Emancipation. Read more