Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings

In her groundbreaking study, Annette Gordon-Reed examines the contentious historical debate surrounding Thomas Jefferson's alleged sexual relationship with his slave Sally Hemings, a topic that has been shrouded in rumors for over two centuries. She presents a compelling argument that, while the 38-year affair may not be definitively proven, the evidence supporting it has been largely overlooked or dismissed by historians due to their biases and errors. Gordon-Reed critiques the inaccuracies and prejudices in the works of Jefferson's defenders, shedding light on the need for a fairer assessment of the existing evidence concerning the Hemings family.