Dred Scott: Resolving the Myth of a Color-Blind Constitution

In July 2023, the Ida B. Wells Center on American Exceptionalism and Restorative Justice launched a Review of the U.S. Constitution to offer an evidence-based and non-partisan analysis of whether the U.S. Constitution is color-blind or color-conscious. To address the bold scope of this project, we have complemented our in-depth research with the U.S. Supreme Court's Dred Scott decision-the law of the land. While this paper responds to the pressing constitutional questions of the day, they all also seek to construct long-term solutions that will inform political decision-making and public debate.