Who's Dred Scott?

Dred Scott (1795-1858) was a man born into slavery whom fought for his and his family's freedom after being sold to a new owner and being moved to a free-state. The ultimate decision of the Dred Scott v. John Sandford decision most basically inferred that African Americans do not have rights and never will in America.

The first black man to sue for his freedom; the fact that any man had to sue for his freedom in America is twisted and immoral enough, just for him to not even win his freedom in legal battle. Continuing, Biography.com summarizes Dred Scott as, "...a slave and social activist who served several masters before suing for his freedom. His case made it to the Supreme Court (Dred Scott v. Sandford) prior to the American Civil War...The Dred Scott decision sparked outrage in the northern states and glee in the south—the growing schism made civil war inevitable."

So as the Dred Scott decision angered the North, then, Abraham Lincoln was elected, angering the South and leading to the start of the Civil War in America of 1861. This exemplifies the importance of this decision as a precursor and partial-cause for the Civil War in America, a war of underlying-racial/political/economic issues.

If you have a chance, please check out the above video as it is an enlightening commentary of Dred Scott, the Dred Scott decision, and his impact on America and for Black America.