Jefferson's Children: The Story of One American Family
by Shannon Lanier
List Price:
Our Price: $1.99
You Save: $17.96 (90%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Shannon LanierIllustrator: Jane Feldman
Edition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2000-09-05
ISBN: 0195031725
Number of pages: 144
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Book Reviews of Jefferson's Children: The Story of One American Family
Book Review: Jefferson and Hemmings - A peak into secret lives
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this book for my 12 year old nephew who wanted to understand "passing."
He had heard that people "passed into the white world" and wanted to understand this concept as he comes from a mixed race background where his Grandmother scandalised many English people when she married a Bengali in a time when Black people were still being murdered for just whistling at a white girl in the USA.
So I have got him this book which talks candidly and in a language that a twelve year old will understand about "Jefferson's Children", both legitimate and illegitimate."
All of whom walked many paths, some down the road to embracing their Anglo-African roots, others to never know their slave origins as they slipped away into the embrace of their "white roots", and just as many who would never doubt their racial purity because they were descended from the two legitimate daughters of Thomas Jefferson.
This is an excellent book for teens and adults alike; it looks at the proud descendents from this illustrious lineage as well as those who see such a bloodline as curse rather than a blessing.
I liked the fact that the book wasn't over syrupy, it was down to earth yet proud with a healthy dose of cynicism from some people both Black and White, I liked that and I think my nephew will like that too.
Of course there are many people, who will continue to deny that Sally Hemmings and Thomas Jefferson ever had a relationship, and this is reflected in the book.
I find this curious as DNA has proven that the children of Sally Hemmings were Thomas Jefferson's offspring, and their excuses such as "Thomas loved his wife Martha too much to take up with a slave," made me smile. Sally Hemmings was his wife's half sister, and probably looked a lot like her, I leave the rest to your imagination plus the fact only Sally and her children were freed upon Thomas Jefferson's death, and also the fact that
Sally followed Thomas Jefferson back to the USA when she could have stayed in Paris a free woman of colour.
All of this is expressed in this wonderful book that should be on the shelf of every school in the USA.
I just wish we had books like this in England because we too have a secret history like the Hemmings and Jefferson relationship, born from Britain's colonisation of Africa, India and the Caribbean, we too have a legacy that needs to be told and perhaps one day it will be.
Summary of Jefferson's Children: The Story of One American Family
On October 31, 1998, the Associated Press broke the news of the DNA findings linking Thomas Jefferson to Sally Hemings through the Eston Hemings line. On November 10, on national TV, Oprah united members of the Jefferson family and the descendants of the Eston, Madison, and Woodson lines of the Hemings family--and history was made. On this show, Lucian Truscott IV, a Jefferson descendant, issued an invitation to the Hemings family to come to a family reunion at Monticello. At the reunion, emotions ran high--and it was in this setting that photographer Jane Feldman met Shannon Lanier and the idea for this book was born. The authors have since traveled the country amassing historical materials and interviewing and photographing members of both sides of the family. This is the story of their journey, 200 years back in time, and back and forth across family and racial lines. It is not so much a story of black and white as it is a story about an American family.The controversy over the relationship between Thomas Jefferson and his African American slave Sally Hemings has raged for generations. Shannon Lanier, a 20-year-old descendant of Jefferson and Hemings, was inspired to delve deeper into the debate after attending the Monticello Association's yearly meeting in 1999. On the heels of the discovery through DNA evidence of a link between Jefferson and Hemings, excitement was running high at Jefferson's famous homestead. Lanier, who is black, encountered Jeffersons who embraced him, and those who wouldn't even shake his hand. He met Hemingses who looked as white as Jeffersons, Jeffersons who refused to acknowledge the scientific evidence, and Hemingses who were angry at having to prove their lineage. In this climate of stirred-up emotions and racial tensions, Lanier, along with photographer Jane Feldman, decided to write this book in hopes of unraveling some of the mystery, and giving members of one of America's largest, most well-known families a chance to speak. The result is a fascinating look at race relations, history--both oral and written, and family ties. The authors interview dozens of individuals who claim--or disclaim--shared ancestry. Many of those interviewed believe that, DNA testing or not, the connection between these families is a powerful symbol of America; to acknowledge the link would be a major step toward racial harmony. Eager, friendly, and astute, Lanier brings out the heartfelt thoughts and emotions of his extended family, while Feldman's photos capture the expressions of hope and joy on their faces. (Ages 11 and older) --Emilie Coulter
Jefferson, Thomas Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Jefferson, Thomas Books
George Washington (Pendulum Illustrated Biography Series : Presidents)by Naunerle C. Farr
Pendulum Pr; Published: 1978-09; Hardcover; Book
Price in other shops:
Thomas Jefferson: Westward the Course of Empire (Biographies in American Foreign Policy)by Lawrence S. Kaplan
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers; Published: 1998-11-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $25.44
Price in other shops:
Thomas Jefferson (Presidential Leaders)by Carol H. Behrman
Lerner Publishing Group; Published: 2003-05; Library Binding; Book
Best price: $6.50
Price in other shops:
The Wisdom of Thomas Jefferson (Philosophical Library)by Kees de Mooy
Citadel; Published: 2003-10-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $22.49
Thomas Jefferson: Architect: The Interactive Portfolioby Chuck Wills
Running Press; Published: 2008-10-07; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $7.16
Price in other shops:
The Papers of Thomas Jeffersonby Thomas Jefferson
Princeton University Press; Published: 1997-07-21; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $110.87
Price in other shops:
Picture Book of Thomas Jeffersonby David A. Adler
Rebound by Sagebrush; Published: 1991-03; Hardcover; Book
Price in other shops:
Jefferson: A Great American's Life and ideasby Saul K. Padover
Signet; Published: 1952-02-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.47
Price in other shops:
The Lost World of Thomas Jeffersonby Daniel J. Boorstin
University Of Chicago Press; Published: 1993-08-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.38
Price in other shops:
Jefferson's Secrets: Death and Desire at Monticelloby Andrew Burstein
Basic Books; Published: 2006-03-21; Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.92
Price in other shops: