Am I Not a Man?: The Dred Scott Story

An illiterate slave, Dred Scott trusted in an all-white, slave-owning jury to declare him free. But after briefly experiencing the glory of freedom and manhood, a new state Supreme Court ordered the cold steel of the shackles to be closed again around his wrists and ankles. Falling to his knees, Dred cried, "Ain't I a man?" Dred answered his own question by rising and taking his fight to the U.S. Supreme Court. Dred ultimately lost his epic battle when the Chief Justice declared that a black man was so inferior that he had "no rights a white man was bound to respect." Dred died not knowing that his unfailing courage led directly to the election of President Abraham Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation. Dred Scott's inspiring and compelling true story of adventure, courage, love, hatred, and friendship parellels the history of this nation from the long night of slavery to the narrow crack in the door that would ultimately lead to freedom and equality for all men.

Mark L. Shurtleff attended Brigham Young University, University of Utah College of Law, and University of San Diego School of Law. He began his Legal Career by serving four years in the United States Navy Judge Advocate Corps (JAG), then as a lawyer in Southern California. Mark then moved back to Utah and worked as a Deputy County Attorney and as Commissioner of Salt Lake County. He later became an Assistant Attorney General for the state of Utah. He was elected Attorney General in November 2000, and was re-elected in 2004 and 2008. He is the first Attorney General in Utah to win re-election for a third term. Mark is married with five children. He is an Eagle Scout and is fluent in Spanish.