Am I Not a Man? The Dred Scott Story

By Mark L. Shurtleff

Reviewed by Allison G. McKenzie
On 12/22/2009

Valor Publishing Group, LLC, 2009 Hardback:
480 pages
ISBN-10: 1-935546-00-7
ISBN-13: 978-1-935546-00-9 Price: $24.95

“Alas, with all the great and noble men who have acknowledged the evil of slavery, and failed to take steps to abolish it, a Virginian greater than us all will be necessary to make real that truth we piously called self-evident.” (referenced conversation between Thomas Jefferson and James Madison). The moral and political depravity that was once accepted as tradition and standard, as documented in this historic novel, was eye opening, compelling and inspiring. The author vividly captures the courage, strength and unfailing faith in God and rights of human nature in the relentless battle of the Great Dred Scott.

To Dred Scott, “the Mississippi River was the Greatest evidence of God’s power. It could not be controlled nor tamed by man. It brought life to a nation, and it was no respecter of persons. When a steamboat ran on one of its constantly shifting sandbars, or a boiler blew, the river sucked white and black, bond and free alike, down to its murky depths.” (Pg. 19). Was the black man created by the same God and endowed by that Creator with the same unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? The unwavering conviction of the answer to this question was the life long battle of the Scott family. The eloquent writing of these chapters, going back and forth through time periods, captivates the reader’s attention and pulls you into the life of the Scott family. I was able to feel their pain and heartache. I wanted to petition for and with them. This book, as my introduction to the Dred Scott Story, inarguably stirred my soul.

Reading this book brings to mind a familiar scripture in John 18: To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world. Although Dred Scott did not triumph during his lifetime, because of his valiant effort and perseverance, the world would come to know freedom and equality for all; specifically that all men were and are created equal, with rights of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. Perhaps Dred Scott was a fore-runner to Abraham Lincoln with a pre-ordained mission to set the necessary cornerstones.

“We the people” in order to form “a more perfect union” need to remember, honor, and follow the courageous and inspiring example of the Great Dred Scott; stand up for patriotism, injustice, and rights. Even if we must stand alone at times, facing persecution, we cannot be afraid, we can not conform to something our spirit tells us otherwise. For this truth, Dred Scott will forever remain imprinted in my mind and heart; especially when I reflect on the history and development of our nation.

How the book might have been improved: I felt there were many names mentioned without character development (outside the key players). While it was a historical novel involving many individuals, there were many times I was reading along and came across a name where I couldn’t remember who that person was. Maybe more character development could have been written or instead more generic references could have been used. Just a thought.

Anyone who might like to better understand the history of slavery and the events that took place in this nation for all men to gain freedom and equality will enjoy this book. The inspiring Am I not A Man, the Dred Scott Story, will reach to the heart of all who read it. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, from the history lessons of the epic but unfortunate adventure of Dred Scott to the creative supplemental narrative to dramatize the events. I was very satisfied with this book.


Copyright 2009