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Thomas Jefferson's Post-DNA Legacy
Kimbrilee Weber
[1] Dr. Eugene Foster's DNA findings in 1998 sent shockwaves through the Jefferson-Hemings descendants. For some on the Jefferson side, the news created doubt and anger in a family history that was not supposed to be "tarnished" by scandal. For others on the Hemings side, the news provided legitimacy to a lifetime of oral tradition that has been doubted by the public and fellow family members. For these Hemings descendants, the DNA has provided a springboard from which progress and written evidence has established further arguments in support of the relationship and the legitimacy of the family line. Scholars have begun writing in support of the descendants, and the public has slowly begun to generally accept this portion of history that has been the source of debate for so long (though I must concede, there will always be skeptics--within the family and beyond). The implications of the relationship and the positive interactions between some of the family members for the legacy of Thomas Jefferson are of crucial importance so that society may move beyond a racist history into a future of acceptance where all men truly are created equal.
[2] Though Thomas Jefferson lived a life of contradictions in his personal relationships and his public ties to slavery, his views on slavery must be considered as a product of his time. Though he is not exempt from scrutiny for his involvement in slavery, historians need to be forgiving of a man who was cast into the public eye and was following societal norms. It seems fairer to evaluate Jefferson's legacy based upon his relationship with Sally, which was arguably a loving relationship over a time span of more than thirty years. This relationship, though not conventional for many reasons, was a loving relationship of mutual benefit. Sally was able to gain easier lives--albeit still lives of slavery--for her children, in addition to gaining freedom for them at the age of twenty-one. In addition, I imagine that she found a companionship in Jefferson that was unmatched, based on the unlikelihood of additional relationships she experienced. Jefferson had a confidant and lover once his wife Martha died, and he also had the security of knowing that Sally would always be there. The productive and loving relations between these two, especially in a time when such actions were not commonplace, speak volumes to the legacy of race relations that Jefferson has left for American History. Although Jefferson did not take public risks for the sake of this relationship, his private actions demonstrated his commitment to the relationship in a way that is undeniable. The fact that Jefferson kept his promise to free Sally's children in his will is arguably the strongest testament to this commitment.
[3] In using Jefferson and Hemings' relationship as an example, the future holds a call for descendants and the general public alike to seek tolerance and love in interracial relations. Although Jefferson lived in a time when he could not make these assertions publically, his actions dictate that he was a step ahead of his peers in moving toward a world in which these assertions would be public and commonplace. Jefferson continued his relationship even after public scrutiny by journalists like Callender began, which is also a testament to his commitment to Sally, even in the face of adversity. Jefferson and Hemings' relationship carries with it a call that I believe to be its legacy--even in the face of resistance and adversity, commitment to inclusion will eventually come around. For Jefferson and Hemings it truly did, as they were able to enjoy a life together at Monticello for many years, even in a time in which this sort of a relationship was not likely. For present generations, this commitment to inclusion is beginning to come around as well, as seen in the positive progress that the Jefferson and Hemings descendants have made in their efforts toward peacekeeping and inclusion in their family. Although resistance still remains, it is in the hands of the future to look toward the past and make the trailblazing efforts of Jefferson and Hemings a fully-realized reality.
