As part of Black History Month Programming, this special presentation along with a question and answer period captures a slave story told through song. "Underground" follows the life of Bali, a field slave who plans to escape from oppressive plantation life after learning that his master is going to sell his young daughter, Emala. As we learn of their run to freedom, we will discover how their songs and lyrics's will carry us along in hopes that the master will never find them and drag them back to a life of servitude.
Following the presentation, visitors will have the opportunity to take part in the imfamous Dred Scott Trial reenactment portraying trial characters reading scripts, arguing facts, and deciding a verdict in a historical courtroom.
Black History Month Schedule of Events
Children's Reading Sessions
Sundays throughout February at 2:00p.m. at the Old Courthouse
Film Series
February 5-11 Never Lose Sight of Freedom (Voting Rights Movement)
February 12-18 Sweet Auburn MLK National Historic Site)
February 19-25 Looking to Learn (Booker T. Washington)
February 26-29 Frederick Douglass: An American Life
Special Programming
February 25
12:00p.m. Dr. Joe Johnson and the history of St. Louis Black Music
1:00p.m. Professor Dave Uhler on the 19th Century judicial activism and Dred Scott
2:00p.m. Lynn Jackson and the Dred Scott Foundation
3:00p.m. Dred Scott Trial Reenactment
The Old Courthouse is open daily 8:00a.m to 4:30p.m.
All programs are free of charge and open to the public.
For more information about programs and exhibits, please call the park at 314-655-1700
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
