Sally Hemings

More than two decades ago, a scandal took the newly founded country of America by storm. Thomas Jefferson, the author of The Declaration of Independence, Ambassador of France, and Vice President, came back home from France with a very pregnant Sally Hemings. Under normal circumstances, this would not be a problem. But one thing was out of place; Sally was Jefferson’s slave. This leaves much to the imagination, and even caused some to believe that our 3rd president of the United States of America would actually impregnate a slave under his ownership. These people had even the audacity to claim that they were descendants of Eston Hemings (Sally’s last child “with Jefferson”) Furthermore, continuing to have 6 more children 4 of which lived, Beverly,…

During the course of history, there have been many stories told. One story that comes to mind is about Thomas Jefferson and his relationship with his enslaved lover Sally Hemings. As we take a closer look into the life of Thomas Jefferson, let’s consider these questions, what was life like for the other enslaved families at Monticello? How were blacks viewed within the English culture? And last, but not least, was it considered rape when Jefferson had sexual relations with his fourteen year old…

Jefferson was a slave owner all his adulthood life and actually owned over hundreds of slaves in his famous home of Monticello. Although Jefferson never admitted his relationship with his slave Sally Hemings, he had also never denied it either and it was through his actions that proved he had cared for Hemings. Jefferson and Hemings' Relationship Sally Hemings was born a slave in Virginia to John Wayles, Jefferson's father in-law, in which he would inherit her and the rest of her family as…

Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: An American Controversy is a book written by Annette Gordon-Reed in 1997 which had become controversial. It talked about the life of Thomas Jefferson and investigated the rumored relationships which had been tackled by historians and the testimony of the black descendants. This book posed challenged on the analysis of the historical issue, reconstructing earlier version and featuring errors, misunderstandings and prejudices. Reed had investigated and swept…

Thomas Jefferson-Leader or Hypocrite? Mihir Palan Thomas Jefferson’s advocacy for equality made him a hypocrite to many, as his alleged sexual affairs with his slave, Sally Hemings, created a strong distaste within individuals of present society. Now, is all this controversy valid, or is it all what Douglas L. Wilson calls presentism? In present day, gun laws have become a big issue, and whatever Obama does will looked upon in future years, however it's important to note that present morals…

All in the family, written by Annette Gordon-Reed is an article about third president of the united states of America, Thomas Jefferson and the possibility of him, having an affair with a slave. Basically, the main point of the article has focused on Jefferson and the possibility of a male member of his family who had fathered at least one child with a mulatto slave Sally Hemings. The Monticello association, a group composed from six hundred and fifty descendants of Thomas Jefferson, who look…

Since the late 1780’s, there has been controversy as to whether or not there were sexual relations and children born between Thomas Jefferson, an American founding father and third president of the United States, and a young Virginian slave Sally Hemmings. Thomas Jefferson was born on a large estate in Virginia that was labored by many slaves. He was married to Martha Wayles Skelton at the time in 1772 which led to a double in property and slaves. He led many to believe he was strongly against…

wrote the constitution, and was a significant part of the Louisiana Purchase. What a lot of people don’t know about is his black slave mistress Sally Hemmings. Sally Hemmings was a biracial slave that Thomas Jefferson owned. She was his first wife (Martha Jefferson) half sister. Allegedly, from this union was born six children. It is clear that Sally Hemmings children were fathered by Thomas Jefferson because the DNA results, historical record, and oral evidence proves it. In 1802, a…

Jefferson and Sally Hemings: An American Controversy is a 1998 book written by African American historian and law professor Annette Gordon-Reed. The book can be considered as a non-fictional history-based treatise. The basis for this classification lies in the fact that the people referred to in the book are actual historical figures one of whom is a former US president and a major factor in the formation of the United States of America. Most of the events mentioned in the book also align with…

experiences portrayed in primary sources and narratives highlight the struggles of female slaves against the patriarchy. Ultimately, this paper reveals how female slaves were subjected to sexual harassment and emotional distress and looks in depth at the dynamic of the relationship between Thomas Jefferson and his slave Sally Hemings. The extent of sexual harassment and emotional distress was experienced much worse by female slaves. In chapter 14 of “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl,”…