Songs of the Day:

Staples Singers: Why am I Treated so Bad

Pop Staple heard MLKJ preaching at Dexter Ave. Baptist church, and said if he can preach it, we can sing it. So he wrote a song about the Little Rock Nine.

This later became King’s most requested song. Dred Scott might have related to this song.

  Harry Belafonte: Oh Freedom

This reminded us of how Dred Scott must have felt during the 11 year wait for his freedom after the ruling went against him. Or for his whole life.

First Day, 3/14/15, Saturday

The old courthouse in St. Louis

Today we went to the Old Courthouse. We got lost on the way, and went to Illionis twice, when we weren’t even planning to once, but that is not the point.

At first, we stood on the steps, thinking of the hot day when everyone was waiting for the answer. We also took many pictures of the statue of Harriet and Dred Scott. When we got there, the park ranger was so excited to hear that someone actually wanted to learn about Dred Scott, because most people were there for the arch, and the St. Patrick's Day parade. 

 The Park Ranger said that the floor we were standing on was the same floor Dred Scott stood on the many days of the case. We went to see a map of where he and Harriet lived--both free and slave states. The reason why he sued is because he and Harriet had lived in free states, and once you are in a free state, it sticks to you like velcro or burs (that is how the park ranger explained it). Another issue was that the  court said you can't look at a slave and call them property and a person. And sadly, they ruled wrong.  Even though the court ruled that Dred and Harriet were property, eventually they were purchased by a man who then freed them.

Then we drove to Memphis, found our way to Beale Street and discovered this going on:

 

Tomorrow we go to the Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Hotel, then drive to Alabama.

Before heading to the National Civil Rights Museum on Sunday, we walked along the riverfront and decided to revisit Beale St on a quieter Sunday morning (and to eat some southern fried goodness).