In any discussion about Thomas Jefferson (or his descendants), I have to start by saying that he is one of my few actual heroes. Yes he had faults, just like the rest of us, but I accept him for what he was: an innovative thinker, patriot, and a defender of freedom. Unformtunately he was also a slave owner, but then, many of the Founders were (and the sooner we deal with reality, as a nation, the better).
Slavery and descendents, of course, are the reasons that I bring Jefferson up. The Monticello Society, a group of Jefferson's (white) descendants have decided to exclude the descendents of Sally Hemmings from the family association. This is significant for a few reasons.
Sally Hemmings was one of Jefferson's slaves, whom, it was rumored had an affair with him. A few years ago, it was proved through DNA evidence, that her descendants were, in fact Jeffersons, over the protests of the Monticello Society. It would appear that Jefferson's white descendants were not satisfied with the court and scientific evidence, and commissioned a study that shows that it was more likely Thomas Jefferson's brother who had the affair with Sally Hemmings.
I have to admit, that I haven't read the new report, but I think it's kind of convenient. "Yes, you people are part of the family, but you're from the other part,and, therefore, not important". Sounds like the decsendants of one of America's greatest leaders, the man who penned the Declaration of Independence, had a major hand in the U.S. Constitution, was our 3rd President, and helped fight the Alien And Sedition acts of 1798, are not living up to his heritage.
It is obvious, at least to me, that the Monticello Society is going to extreme measures to keep out a group of "undesirables", and sullying the name the seek to protect in the process.
Posted by Chris at May 6, 2002 10:50 PM