Personal Narrative: John Emerson

Dred Scott was an African American man that went to trial to sue for his freedom in 1847. He was living in Missouri, which was a slave state. He was then taken to Illinois and Minnesota, they were both free states. Dred Scott was sold to Sandford in a free state and tried to sue for his freedom. The United States Supreme court said that “African ancestry whether you were free or not, will never become citizens of the United States and cannot sue in a federal court.” ( Taney, 1857) Sandford had him as a slave for a long period of time when Dred Scott finally chose to sue. The Declaration of Independence and the The Constitution had never included or mentioned slaves being treated equally.

Upon his master’s death in 1846, he sued the state of Missouri for his freedom based on living in the free-soil territories of Wisconsin and Illinois. At one point the lower court in Missouri asserted that “once free, always free.” However, this finding would not stand. Eventually the case made it to the highest court in the nation, and the findings of the Justices would turn the northern sense of liberty on its ear while giving rights to slave holders and pro-slavery states.1 The Supreme Court’s decision only enhanced existing political tensions and further divided the Nation.

Slavery by Another Name gives readers an interesting and eye opening look into the past of the re-enslavement of Black Americans. The author, Douglas Blackmon, presents a compelling and effective presentation and argument; which adds on to my previous knowledge of this familiar and personal topic, that slavery did not necessarily end with the Emancipation Proclamation. He argues that from the Civil War to World War II Black Americans were re-enslaved through hard labor. He uses various examples of real life experiences from descendants of the re-enslaved Black Americans and documents to support his presentation which gives the reader a better view as to what those times were like. Blackmon researched all the facts and information for this book himself being certain not to alter any quotations from individuals to keep everything true. Although Blackmon uses many stories in his book he chose to focus this narrative on one forgotten black man and his family, Green Cottenham. Blackmon states in his introduction, “The absence of his voice rest at the center of this book” (pg 10).

This joy for African Americans soon ended when they realized that the leeway for their rights got smaller each day, as the North began focusing on other issues and Southern Democrats began slowly rising back to political power. A former slave woman in Texas recounts the violence and reality of being a freed person. She states her master made her work months after she was legally freed, and that she could see lots of former slaves hanging from trees. Her point of view, as an African American woman, is significant because she gives us insight on the price that came with being freed in the South(Document 5). Southern states learned ways to work around federal racial protection laws just to oppress and make African Americans feel like second class citizens again.

It has been presented to the Supreme Court of the United States of America that Mr. Dred Scott pleas for freedom from his slave master, Mr. Sanford. Initially Mr. Scott was owned by Dr. Emerson until Mr. Emerson’s death when Scott was sold to Mr. Sanford. Under intense scrutiny and discernment it has been decided by the Supreme Court that Mr. Dred Scott has the inalienable right to be a free citizen of the United States of America. Scott is a slave, owned by Mr. and Mrs. John Emerson since 1836. Scott currently resides in St. Louis, Missouri as of 1830. Mr. Dred Scott has presided residence in both Illinois and Wisconsin Territory, accompanied by his slaveholder. The Illinois and Wisconsin Territories are free, meaning that no man nor woman can be private property of another. Because of this, Mr. Emerson has no control nor jurisdiction over Scott. Mr. Scott resided in free territory for several years, therefore, he must leave this courtroom as a free man. Although slavery is not abolished in the South, it is abolished in both of the territories that Scott visited during his involvement with Mr. Emerson, making it his right to be free. It is of the slaveholder’s duty to not enter the territories of Illinois and Wisconsin expecting his slave to maintain in his possession. The responsibility is left on Mr. Emerson and it is due to his ignorance that his slave will gain freedom today. Slavery is prohibited in both territories, making it unreasonable that a man should remain a

“Wake up, wake up!” says my owner, Eliza Emerson. She has been my owner ever since her husband, my old owner, died. I have been a slave my whole life and when our old owner died I thought that maybe our new owner Eliza, would set us free if I paid her. She actually liked me here and liked the earnings she got for paying me out. What I thought I could do after she said no was go to court. When our old owner died we had already lived in a free state so I thought that since I lived in a free state I was free.

“All men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights,” writes Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence. However, as the infant nation developed, a 21st Century critique of American history displays strife between these famous words penned to paper and the actions of various people throughout hundreds of years. What began as international trade evolved into a robust economy slaves, the South’s Atlas, stabilizing and serving as the foundational support of the region. As war broke out and quashed the validity of humanity serving as property, the newly freedmen assumed a new role as ex-slaves. Their legal standing continually harassed by caucasian lawmakers and continual abuse from those

In the United States, a number of individuals fought for personal freedoms for not only themselves, but the lives of others, and those to come. This fight was successful, and granted the opportunity to ensure all people had equal opportunities. Unfortunately, for many of two hundred forty five years, the enslavement of people of color became an “ordinary” part of American society; obviously breaking all rights of these people. Finally, in 1865, slavery was abolished in the United States due to the works of President Abraham Lincoln. Although African American individuals were free of

For two more weeks I remained in the hospital. Three times every day a nurse brought me a tray with a meal and medication. She watched as I swallowed the tablets, but never as I ate the meal. Compared to a normal sized portion of food, what I was given in hospital would be considered small, but my stomach was far too used to rations beyond small. Most days I was able to eat almost half a plate of pasta before my stomach rebelled and decided to throw it all back up again.

Unfortunately for the Scotts the circuit ruled in favor of Mrs. Emerson. The Scotts however were allowed to refile their suit and in 1850,in a third trial, Scott is declared a free man on the basis of having lived in non-slavery territories of Wisconsin and Illinois. Mrs. Emerson however filed an appeal and the Missouri Supreme Court returned Scott to slavery. After filing suit once more and losing the case, this time against John Sanford, Irene’s brother who was presumably Scotts new owner, Scott’s lawyers appealed the case to the United States Supreme Court in 1856.The Supreme Court’s decision would “affect not only him, but all black people in the United States.”#

One of the things that makes no sense is that the United States said all men were considered equal but black men were not considered as citizens of the U.S. they weren’t even considered as men instead they were considered as property of the owner and they were free to punish them at any time, owners can even kill their slaves and get away with it without getting into deep trouble. In a colony with a constitution that says “All Men are Created Equal” it doesn’t live up to its name. Though most slaves were African American some were Indians along with Irish people both

“Take it do as I ask” I insisted to Elie (pg.75). I wanted to give my only son our family’s inheritance, but he was refusing to accept it. I take one long look at Elie, observing of his face. Although I was shaking with fear I put on a brave face for my son. “Time is running out” I said with pain in my voice as I tried to convince him one last time before it’s too late (pg. 75). He finally caved in and took it. Now the most painful part came and we said our final goodbyes. As I walked away, I looked back thinking that would be the last time I ever saw my son; it took everything in me not to break down and cry. Every step I took seemed to be getting heavier and heavier as if my feet knew that the end was near. We all walked in a line with our

I can't be free according to Chief Justice Roger B. Taney. I was told by Chief Taney that I was still an enslaved person, and that I had no reason to bring a lawsuit. My case was sent to the supreme court because I sued for my freedom after spending time in a free territory. The decision, declared that us slaves aren't considered free citizens. I claimed that I should be free because I used to live in the North where slavery was prohibited. Since my residence on free soil did not make me a free person, and that Iwas property. Even the people couldn't vote against slavery because that would be taking away someone's property. This upset the Northerns and it contributed to the start of the Civil War.

Most people understand that slavery was a terrible thing, but most might not fully understand the struggles that free colored men and women endured as well. While slavery was legal, free men would often be kidnapped and forced into slavery, and sometimes slaves actually escape to freedom. If an African American was considered a free man, he or she had to get official documentations stating so. Even after the documents were given to them, some of them still found themselves as slaves. There are many different stories about slavery, but just because a slave escapes from slavery, does not mean he or she is free from a slave’s mindset. Although they were in different positions in life, slaves and free African Americans experienced the same hardships, fears, and daily struggles.

My Family and I were at home eating dinner. After dinner I told my mom that I had left something on top of the mountain, so she said “‘go up to get it Mary. But she didn’t want me to go alone so I went to go see if my friend was home but he wasn’t so I disobeyed my moms rules and went up by myself anyway. And it was starting to get dark so I had to get the base fast but I couldn’t find it. Now it was really dark and 2 hours had already passed and I couldn't my way off the mountain because it was so dark. And with my luck my phone died so I couldn’t call anyone for help, so I just started walking and walking after a little bit I realized I was getting nowhere so again I walked eventually I just fell and went to