Descendants of Dred Scott, Chief Justice Taney Discuss 1857 Ruling

Why it matters locally: While the 1857 Dred Scott decision was a national ruling, its historical implications on citizenship and racial inequality profoundly impacted South Carolina, a state deeply entrenched in the institution of slavery at the time, shaping its social and political landscape for generations. The ongoing discussions about the ruling's legacy resonate with the state's efforts to grapple with its complex racial history.

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Washington D.C. — Family members of Dred Scott and Chief Justice Roger Taney gathered last week to discuss the 1857 Supreme Court decision in *Dred Scott v. Sandford*. The event occurred at St. Mark's Episcopal Church on Capitol Hill, near the Supreme Court building. The 1857 ruling by the Supreme Court denied U.S. citizenship to Black people, both enslaved and free. The decision also declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional, which had restricted the expansion of slavery into new territories. Charlie Taney, the great-great-grandnephew of Chief Justice Roger Taney, and Lynne Jackson, the great-great-granddaughter of Dred Scott, participated in the discussion. The event focused on the historical impacts of the ruling and its contemporary relevance. Their meeting occurred as the current Supreme Court issued rulings related to race and citizenship.