Yes, the side of the race dissemblers and hustlers does make him less of a great man--because attached to the "fact" of his fathering the kids with Hemmings is a whole train car of baggage: he was a hypocrite, a racist, a liar, and that therefore makes him, and his part in founding the country, less legitimate--less great. No, both sides are premising their arguments on the belief that if Jefferson did father children on his slave he was a hypocrite and a racist.
I reject that.
Whether or not he had a black concubine, he was living an honest and moral life within the mores of the time and place.
He cannot be judged by a standard that was completely unknown during his life.
Did he deny it during his lifetime? Yes.
If what he said was untrue, he was acting as a gentleman to protect his privacy and dignity. Calling that a lie is simplistic.
So9
I agree that we can't judge these people to today's standards. Anyone living that kind of lifestyle now should know better. Any man leading a life of bastardry with the other woman (no matter what race/ethnicity is involved) is condemning that child to a life of stigma and sloppy seconds affection. If the child makes it, it will inspite of the man and woman's lust for sex over having a real family.