Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: An American Controversy

Annette Gordon-Reed

March 29, 1998

Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: An American Controversy, by Annette Gordon-Reed, chronicles the long-held speculation of a relationship between the third president of the United States and his slave woman. Through careful analysis of historical documents and slave testimonies, Gordon-Reed meticulously and clearly lays out a case for a relationship that has been talked about for centuries. Revealing the lives of two individuals, one a president, the other a slave, Gordon-Reed details how the relationship was existed in a complex web of power and influence.This political and controversial book dives deep into Jefferson and Hemings’ personal relationship and how, against the backdrop of slavery, it eventually led to the birth of their children. While much of the evidence is circumstantial, Gordon-Reed is able to compile six distinct themes that create a picture of an intimate, possibly sexual relationship. Analyzing the events which took place in history and the way in which Hemings and Jefferson interacted throughout their times together, the book challenges mainstream perceptions and challenges the reader to consider the implications of the untold history between the two.The book outlines the details of the relationship, while questioning the role of race in the historical context of the time. Gordon-Reed’s work is a unique and impactful narrative regarding a still largely untold history of the United States and provides a comprehensive understanding of the controversial relationship. Ultimately the book reveals the magnitude of the story, inviting readers to delve deeply into the relationship between two people living in a time where a relationship like theirs could never be fully expressed or understood.