Sally Heming's Children Essay

The topic of interracial, intimate relations between a slave and slaveholder during the African American slave era in the United States was a topic that was always only discussed behind closed doors. It was not until many years had passed that the topic had even begun to be discussed in the open. One of the main discussion points within this conversation is the relationship between the former President, Thomas Jefferson and his concubine Sally Hemings. The United States of America became and has remained quite obsessed with this interracial relationship. As a result of this obsession, many instigative things were done including: DNA tests of Sally Heming’s children, numerous newspaper articles were written, and even a novel written by the famous

One of the first, but one of the most important parts of the story that the memoir denotes is the truth behind Sally Heming’s children. It is evident in the novel that Thomas Jefferson indeed fathered all of Sally Heming’s children. Confirming this the memoir reads, “But during that time my mother became Mr. Jefferson’s concubine, and when he was called home she was enceinte by him” (Hemmings 3). When the novel was first introduced, many critics said that the book provided no factual evidence, but the memoir confirms Riboud’s statement and story that the children were in fact a product of President Jefferson. It is obvious that Madison Heming’s fact is true for two main reasons. The first is because he and his siblings offered the closest connection to Sally Hemings and were obviously made well aware at the time whom their father was. The second reason is that Madison Hemings would have no reason to lie and say that his father was indeed Jefferson, rather if anything he would have lied to have saved both the reputations of his mother and father. Overall, it is obvious that the novel provides very factual evidence because it provides an answer to the most pressing question of the entire Jefferson-Hemings