STANDING BEAR WAS ARRESTED FOR TRYING TO GO HOME – THEN HIS CASE FORCED A U.S. COURT TO DECIDE IF A NATIVE MAN WAS A “PERSON”

THE FAMOUS COURTROOM SPEECH SHOULD BE TOLD CAREFULLY

Near the end of the trial, Standing Bear is said to have delivered the speech that later became inseparable from his name.

The most famous version describes him extending his hand toward Judge Dundy and the audience.

He contrasted the color of his hand with theirs, then argued that if either hand were pierced, both would feel pain and both would bleed.

He ended the central thought with the declaration that he was a man.