| Episodes |
African Concubine No More
Erin Wildeman
[1] Barbara Chase-Riboud's Sally Hemings takes what little information is known about Sally and develops her into a character with which the public can identify. Previously thought of as "a national symbol of noxious blackness," Chase-Riboud paints a more human figure of Sally (Suzette Spencer). Readers of this popular novel see Sally as a woman struggling to find her true identity rather than the "wench" or "slut as common as the pavement" she used to be. The novel recounts all of the major memories and interactions in Sally's life concerning her relationship with Jefferson. From her very first memory of him as an innocent nine year-old to his death and her eventual freedom, the reader watches Sally grow and mature. Chapter twenty-nine of Chase-Riboud's novel depicts Sally and Thomas discussing the recent Prosser Rebellion (220-24). Through this interaction, Sally is portrayed as an educated woman searching for her identity while strengthening her relationship with Jefferson.
[2] The chapter focuses on Jefferson's reaction to the Prosser Rebellion. James Monroe, Virginia's governor and Jefferson's friend, writes to Jefferson seeking advice on the political steps that should be taken after the rebellion. Gabriel Prosser, the leader of the rebellion, had already been hung by the time Jefferson receives the news. When the rebellion was stopped, Prosser had remained composed and took full responsibility for the destruction caused by the rebellion. Executed as punishment for his actions, Prosser died a martyr in the African American population. Even though they had no confessions and no proof, the white population wanted justice for what had happened and were prepared to sentence hundreds more slaves to death. This was Monroe's dilemma. Monroe knew that the rebels needed some sort of punishment; however, he also recognized that killing hundreds of Virginia slaves was not the right way to go about the punishment.
[3] The news of the rebellions comes as a shock to Jefferson. He, like Monroe, is conflicted on the moral course of action a politician should take in this sort of situation. For the first time in the novel, Jefferson comes to Sally for political advice. Jefferson is even, in a way, asking for her permission on the subject; this is a strange twist on the master and slave relationship. Jefferson is worried about what Sally might think of him, depending on the advice he gave to Monroe. The Prosser Rebellion and slavery in general are difficult subjects for the couple to discuss. Sally feels strongly about ending slavery while Jefferson is a diplomat and politician and has public opinion to worry about. Also, Jefferson's character seems to be different in this section of the novel. Sally notices what sounds like "sadness" in his voice, and he seems much more emotional than previously (221). Jefferson seems unsure of himself and incapable of making this decision without Sally's feedback. Consequently, he breathes a huge sigh of relief when Sally tells him the answer he wants to hear, as if he knew it was the correct answer but was not confident and needed someone's approval. Furthermore, Jefferson is under a lot of stress, and he is worried about what Sally will think of him. Sally states "[Jefferson] was afraid of me" (223). Jefferson is not necessarily scared of Sally herself but more so afraid their relationship will come to an end; coupled with the "ineffable tenderness" in his eyes, it can be concluded that Jefferson truly did care for Sally (224).
[4] Throughout the novel, Sally is searching for her identity. Sally questions her color, her right to freedom, and her position in her relationship with Jefferson. By the end of her life, Sally has had enough with people deciding these character-defining traits for her and labeling her in whatever way is most convenient for them. She even recognizes the fact that she is Jefferson's creation and that he is attracted to her because of her resemblance to his deceased wife, Martha. However, Sally takes a stand here and identifies herself as black, saying "these are my people" (223). Her decisiveness on the matter surprises Jefferson. She tells Jefferson that they could not kill every slave in Virginia and that it would be better to exile them by returning them back to Africa. Sally seems very mature in the scene; she keeps herself controlled. "There were so many things [she] wanted to say," but, instead, she calmly suggests that politicians should "free" or exile some of the slaves as opposed to hanging them all (224).
[5] Also, Sally has a "new seed planted in [her] womb" (223). Sally pregnant with another child, or slave for that matter, causes stress and tension in the Sally and Jefferson relationship. Sally will be tied to Jefferson by yet another child and Jefferson has yet to admit to the public he is even in a relationship with Sally, let alone having several illegitimate children with her. Sally feels that this lifestyle is her fate, the same as her mother and grandmother and does little to stop it. She also recognizes that something needs to change with slavery, since she does not want her child to be a slave; she must remember that Jefferson was first and foremost a slave master. While the relationship is constrained, however, both Sally and Jefferson have a desire to be with each other. Jefferson is described as glancing over to Sally and staring into her eyes tenderly while Sally is "ablaze," longing for Jefferson's touch (224).
[6] At the end of the novel, after realizing she had been loving the enemy and aligning herself with her black heritage, Sally has finally mentally freed herself. There were many moments throughout her life in which she aligned herself with this free state of mind, but she was never able to follow through. However, at the end of her life, a confident Sally is much happier than she ever imagined. Furthermore, the novel leaves the reader empathizing with Sally, or at least viewing her in a different, more human light.
