Jefferson Descendants Nix Hemings Kin

AP/via Newsday ^ | May 5, 2002 | Michael Buettner

[Bonaparte]

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- An organization for descendants of Thomas Jefferson voted Sunday not to extend membership to descendants of one of Jefferson's slaves reputed to have borne several of his children.

The Monticello Association in a closed meeting decided to continue to restrict membership to Jefferson's descendants through his daughters Martha and Maria.

The group will continue to exclude descendants of Sally Hemings, a slave at Monticello with whom Jefferson has long been rumored to have had a sexual relationship.

[Pearls Before Swine]

Oh no--another case of an exclusive "whites only" club!

[pabianice]

Screech! Racism!

[Dakota gal in Seattle]

And, just where is Jesse Jackson when you need him?

[Dakota gal in Seattle]

And, just where is Jesse Jackson when you need him?

[TomGuy]

DNA tests have showed a male in Jefferson's family -- possibly the former president -- fathered Hemings' son Eston.

One article I read several months ago implied that the possible forefather was one of T Jefferson's cousins. The DNA seemed to link the cousin, rather than TJ himself. Of course, this aspect wasn't widely reported by the media who had pounced all over this issue then.

[UbIwerks]

That British Nature report which says that Jefferson fathered Sally Hemming's child was flawed and probably released to help the Democrats in 1998.

The Jefferson's should've nixed the inclusion on scientific and historical grounds.

By the way, did someone mention Jesse Jackson?

The Rainbow Pimp Coalition

[Truthsayer20]

Aren't Sally Hemings' present day descendants white? At least those I saw interviewed some years ago about this issue were.

[VaBthang4]

Maybe it is me but on the face of it, the DNA makes it plain that these folks are indeed descendants of the Jefferson family...to exclude them seems pretty stupid to me.

I am sure that the image is if little old white conservatives saying "no"....but my experience tells me that more and more these days, it is the Liberals who have a problem with reality.

Charlottesville is blatently Liberal...

The decision seems to be in character for this clique.

[xm177e2]

This is a very shame, at the least they are part Jefferson, if not part Thomas Jefferson.

At any rate, the Hemings have just as much Jefferson in them, unless the white members of the Jefferson club are inbred (I wouldn't discount that as a possibility). They should not be denied the right of their blood because of the color of their skin.

[Bonaparte]

" Maybe it is me but on the face of it, the DNA makes it plain that these folks are indeed descendants of the Jefferson family...to exclude them seems pretty stupid to me."

From the official webpage of the Monticello Association --

The Monticello Association is the group of descendants of Thomas Jefferson. The Thomas Jefferson Foundation is the private, nonprofit organization that owns and operates Monticello.

Please notice that this private association does not describe its membership as consisting of any and all descendants of anybody who was related to Jefferson. It describes its membership as limited to those who are descended from Jefferson himself. It also does not include in its membership those who think that they may be directly descended from Jefferson. Under the 1st Amendment, the Monticello Association has every right to do this. It's called "freedom of association." And their membership has always consisted only of the lineal descendants of Thomas Jefferson through his two daughters. Why is this such a hard concept for so many people?

[Bonaparte]

Please see post 13. I usually agree with your posts, but in this case, I have to tell you that you're way off base. You do not set criteria for membership in somebody else's private organization, and neither do I.

[Bonaparte]

"...the Hemings have just as much Jefferson in them..."

Oh, really? Not according to the available genetic evidence.

Research Report On The Jefferson-Hemings Controversy: A Critical Analysis

The Jefferson-Hemings DNA Study, by Herbert Barger, Jefferson Family historian.

Historical Trash Talk

[Bonaparte]

"Aren't Sally Hemings' present day descendants white?"

All of her living descendants who possess the haplotype in question are white as white can be. When Sally's son Eston was born, he was 7/8 white. That's why I get so burned by ignorant statements like the one above, claiming that these folks are being "excluded" because of the "color of their skin." Give me a break!

[Bonaparte]

You and me both, brother.

[OK]

Ditto.