Cultural depictions of Sally Hemings

Sally Hemings has been represented in the media in popular culture due to her relationship with American Founding Father and president Thomas Jefferson. She has been portrayed in films and the inspiration for novels, plays and music.

## Literature

[edit]

* 1853, William Wells Brown, known as the first African-American novelist, published his Clotel; or, The President's Daughter, a novel about a mixed-race daughter and based on the Jefferson-Hemings story.[1]
* 1974, Fawn McKay Brodie published her psychobiography, Thomas Jefferson: An Intimate History, which seriously examined the evidence of Jefferson's relationship with Sally Hemings and was a bestseller. Together with articles about the issue and Jefferson-Hemings descendants in American Heritage magazine in 1974 and 1976, popular attention was attracted to the controversy, as her conclusion was vigorously resisted by mainline historians.[2][3]
* 1979, Barbara Chase-Riboud's novel Sally Hemings became a bestseller. Hers was the first novel in which an author had portrayed Sally Hemings as a fully realized person. CBS began to adapt the popular novel as a miniseries, but prominent historians Virginius Dabney (a descendant of Jefferson's sister Martha) and Dumas Malone successfully campaigned against it with the network's president William S. Paley, and persuaded him to kill the project.[4]
* 1993, Steve Erickson's novel Arc d'X features Sally Hemings as one of the main characters.
* 2016 Sally Hemings is a main character in the historical novel America's First Daughter by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie. The novel draws heavily upon Jefferson's letters and includes his relationship with Hemmings starting in Paris.
* 2016, Stephen O'Connell's Thomas Jefferson Dreams of Sally Hemings depicts the relationship between Hemings and Jefferson.

## In television

[edit]

* 1976, the opening episode of the third season of the TV series, The Jeffersons, was entitled "George and the President," and had a plot linked to the Jefferson–Hemings controversy.[5][6][7]
* 1986, In an episode of Head of the Class, Darlene Merrimen (played by actress Robin Givens) learns that she is a descendant of Sally Hemings.[2] Archived 2015-07-05 at the Wayback Machine
* 2000, Sally Hemings: An American Scandal, was a CBS television miniseries (air dates: February 13, 2000 and February 16, 2000; writer: Tina Andrews director: Charles Haid; with Carmen Ejogo as Hemings and Sam Neill as Thomas Jefferson).[8] As PBS noted in a Frontline program, "Though many quarrelled with the portrayal of Hemings as unrealistically modern and heroic, no major historian challenged the series' premise that Hemings and Jefferson had a 38-year relationship that produced children."[9]
* 2000, PBS Frontline had an extensive documentary program entitled Jefferson's Blood, about the issues of DNA, historical evidence related to Jefferson's likely paternity of Hemings' children, and the significance of the controversy and its issues in American history.[10] Documentary material is on the website for this program.[11]
* 2002,  Saturday Night Live parodied the relationship of Hemings and Jefferson titled Thomas Jefferson Meets Sally Hemings in Season 28, Episode 8. Hemings was portrayed by comedian Maya Rudolph, while Jefferson was portrayed by actor Robert De Niro.[12]
* 2008, HBO's miniseries John Adams briefly shows Sally Hemings in its final episode, "Peacefield (1803 A.D. – 1826 A.D.)". Hemings, played by actress Lizan Mitchell, is shown comforting Jefferson, played by Stephen Dillane, as he dies at Monticello; and crying openly once he has died.
* 2013, Sleepy Hollow, a television series on Fox, the episode "Midnight Ride" references an affair between Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings, citing DNA evidence as proof to the lead character, Ichabod Crane, who knew Jefferson.[13]
* 2025, Hemings is portrayed and discussed in the six-episode miniseries, Thomas Jefferson.

## In film

[edit]

* 1995, The second half of the film Jefferson in Paris portrayed the early relationship between Sally Hemings (played by Thandiwe Newton) and Jefferson (Nick Nolte).[14]

## In opera

[edit]

* 2001: From the Diary of Sally Hemings, with a text by playwright and librettist Sandra Seaton, is a solo opera by the American composer William Bolcom;[15] it was premiered at the Library of Congress.[16] The Jefferson-Hemings descendants attended the premiere.[17]
* 2005, Jefferson & Poe: A Lyric Opera portrays a dual love story, one between Jefferson and Hemings, and the other between Edgar Allan Poe and Jefferson's daughter.
* 2012, Tom and Sally in Paris is a two-act opera with libretto and music by William Lavonis; he explores Jefferson and Hemings' relationship during the French Revolution.[18][19][20][21]
* 2016, Monticello Wakes is an opera with libretto by Tim Appelo and music by Garrett Fisher; it focuses on Sally Hemings, her lookalike sister Martha Jefferson, and Thomas Jefferson, and was produced at Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles and accompanied by Tori Ellison's bronze public sculpture installed at City Hall, commissioned by the Mayor of Inglewood, California, who proclaimed the world's first Sally Hemings Day. The sculpture is near Frederick M. Roberts Park, named after Sally Hemings' descendant, who signed legislation to create UCLA, as Thomas Jefferson had created the University of Virginia. In the audience at the premiere was LMU professor Rosalynde Loo, a descendant of Sally's sister Mary.[22]

## In theater

[edit]

* 2003, Sally: A Solo Play, written by Sandra Seaton, directed by Langdon Brown and starring Zabryna Guevara premiered at the New York State Writer's Institute [23]
* 2005, The musical "Sally and Tom (The American Way)" by Fred Newman and Annie Roboff, premiered off Broadway in New York City.[24]
* 2010, the play "A Bed Made in Heaven", a historical play about the relationship between Sally Hemings and Thomas Jefferson, written by Sandra Seaton and directed by David Wolber, had its premier.[25]
* 2015, In the musical Hamilton, Sally Hemings briefly appears and has a dance solo in "What'd I Miss", the opening to Act II.
* 2017, Thomas & Sally by Thomas Bradshaw depicted the relationship between Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings.[26] This depiction was met with controversy over the question of consent.[27]
* 2022, Suzan-Lori Parks's play Sally and Tom.[28] involves a fictional playwright working on a play-within-a-play about Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings. Both the fictional playwright and Hemings in the play-in-a-play are played by the same actress.

## In music

[edit]

* 2015: On the Hamilton cast album, Sally Hemings is mentioned very briefly on the track "What'd I Miss?".
* 2016: On The Hamilton Mixtape album, Sally Hemings is mentioned as a sly reference in the track "Cabinet Battle 3 (demo)."
* 2016: Composer and director Daniel Rowsey directs a 5-minute music video of a song in the style of the musical Hamilton entitled "They're Ready" described as "picking up where Hamilton left off" about a conversation between Jefferson and Hemings as whether it is wise to seek to ban the importation of slaves into the United States.[29][30]

## In art

[edit]

* American artist Titus Kaphar's 2014 piece Behind the Myth of Benevolence features a classical oil portrait of Thomas Jefferson, drawn back to reveal the painting of a naked slave woman beneath the canvas. Although the reference to Hemings is clear, by the artist's own admission the portrayal does not match her reported appearance (she was described as light-skinned with straight hair), instead presenting her with more African features to be a broader representation of enslaved women invisibilized by traditional American history.[31]
* American artist Martin Puryear included a piece titled A Column for Sally Hemings in the 2019 Venice Bienniale.

## See also

[edit]

* Cultural depictions of Thomas Jefferson

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Ishida, Yoriko (2010). Modern and Postmodern Narratives of Race, Gender, and Identity: The Descendants of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings (Modern American Literature). Peter Lang International Academic Publishers. p. 6\. ISBN 978-1433108754.
2. ^ "A Popular but Controversial Biography". Pbs.org. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
3. ^ "Thomas Jefferson's Unknown Grandchildren". americanheritage.com. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
4. ^ Gordon-Reed (1998), pp. 182–83.
5. ^ "The Jeffersons - George And The President Pt 1 of 3". YouTube. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
6. ^ "The Jeffersons - George And The President Part 2 of 3". YouTube. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
7. ^ "The Jeffersons - George And The President Part 3 of 3". YouTube. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
8. ^ "Review: 'Sally Hemings: An American Scandal'". Variety.com. February 10, 2000. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
9. ^ "The History of a Secret", 1995–2011, accessed 5 May 2011
10. ^ Shelby Steele (writer, narrator) (2000-05-03). "Jefferson's Blood". PBS Frontline documentary. PBS. WGBH, Boston.
11. ^ "Jefferson's Blood". pbs.org. 2 May 0200. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
12. ^ "Thomas Jefferson Meets Sally Hemings - SNL". YouTube.
13. ^ Berkshire, Geoff (November 12, 2013). "Its Ichabod Versus the Internet and We all win". Hitfix. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
14. ^ Travers, Peter (March 31, 1995). "Jefferson in Paris". Rollingstone.com. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
15. ^ "Sally". albany.edu. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
16. ^ "World Premiere of From the Diary of Sally Hemings at Library of Congress". Archived from the original on April 13, 2016. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
17. ^ "From the Diary of Sally Hemings". .sandraseaton.com. Archived from the original on February 28, 2015. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
18. ^ ""Tom and Sally in Paris," Excerpt 1". YouTube. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
19. ^ ""Tom and Sally in Paris" Opera Excerpt 2, "The Bastille"". YouTube. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
20. ^ ""Tom and Sally in Paris," Opera excerpt 3". YouTube. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
21. ^ "Tom and Sally in Paris," Opera excerpt 4 of 4". YouTube. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
22. ^ ""Monticello Wakes: Luce and Char," Excerpt 1". YouTube. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
23. ^ https://www.albany.edu/writers-inst/webpages4/archives/seaton_sandra.html
24. ^ [1]
25. ^ https://www.broadwayworld.com/michigan/article/Performance-Network-Theatre-Announces-FIRESIDE-FESTIVAL-1258-20101123
26. ^ Janiak, Lily (2017-10-04). "'Thomas and Sally': How much did she choose?". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2017-10-24.
27. ^ Kost, Ryan (2017-10-22). "Marin play ignites debate about history and slavery". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2017-10-24.
28. ^ "Sally & Tom | Guthrie Theater".
29. ^ "Following up 'Hamilton': THEY'RE READY (The Ballad of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings)". YouTube.
30. ^ "They're Ready: The Ballad of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings". IMDb.
31. ^ "National Portrait Gallery: Titus Kaphar and Ken Gonzales-Day Explore 'UnSeen' Narratives in Historic Portraiture". 28 March 2018.

* v
* t
* e

Thomas Jefferson

* 3rd President of the United States (1801–1809)
* 2nd Vice President of the United States (1797–1801)
* 1st United States Secretary of State (1790–1793)
* U.S. Minister to France (1785–1789)
* Delegate to the Congress of the Confederation (1783–1784)
* 2nd Governor of Virginia (1779–1781)
* Delegate to the Second Continental Congress (1775–1776)
* Delegate, Fifth Virginia Convention (1776)

Founding
documents of
the United States|

* A Summary View of the Rights of British America (1774)
* Olive Branch Petition (1775)
* Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms (1775)
* Declaration of Independence (1776)
* Committee of Five
* physical history
* "All men are created equal"
* "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness"
* "Consent of the governed"
* Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom (1786)
* Land Ordinance of 1784
* Land Ordinance of 1785

French Revolution|

* Co-author, Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (1789)

Presidency|

* Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves
* Louisiana Purchase
* Lewis and Clark Expedition
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* Pike Expedition
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* Marbury v. Madison
* West Point Military Academy
* State of the Union Addresses
* 1801
* 1802
* 1805
* Cabinet
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Other noted
accomplishments|

* Early life and career
* Franco-American alliance
* Founder, University of Virginia
* history
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* Anti-Administration party
* Democratic-Republican Party
* Jeffersonian democracy
* Coinage, Weights, and Measures report (1790)
* State Department Library
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* Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions
* A Manual of Parliamentary Practice (1801)
* Jefferson disk
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* Megalonyx

Jeffersonian
architecture|

* Barboursville
* Farmington
* Monticello
* gardens
* Poplar Forest
* University of Virginia
* The Rotunda
* The Lawn
* Jefferson Hall
* Virginia State Capitol
* White House Colonnades

Other writings|

* The Papers of Thomas Jefferson
* Notes on the State of Virginia (1785)
* Pyratical states of Barbary proposals (1786)
* European journey memorandums (1787)
* Indian removal letters
* The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth (c. 1819)
* Jefferson manuscript collection
* Founders Online

Related|

* American Enlightenment
* American Philosophical Society
* Founding Fathers of the United States
* Historical reputation
* Jefferson and education
* Religious views
* Jefferson and slavery
* Jefferson and the Library of Congress
* Jefferson Pier
* Pet mockingbird
* National Gazette
* Sally Hemings
* Jefferson–Hemings controversy
* Betty Hemings
* Separation of church and state
* Shadwell plantation
* Tuckahoe plantation
* Tufton Farm
* Governor's Palace (Williamsburg, Virginia)
* Virginia dynasty
* Ward republic

Elections|

* Presidential elections
* 1796
* 1800
* 1804

Legacy and
memorials|

* Bibliography
* Jefferson Memorial
* Mount Rushmore
* Birthday
* Thomas Jefferson Building
* Jefferson River
* Jefferson Territory
* Jefferson Lecture
* Jefferson National Expansion Memorial
* Square Thomas Jefferson
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* Statues
* Karl Bitter
* Louisville
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* Monticello Association
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* Other placenames
* Jefferson–Jackson Day
* Currency depictions
* Jefferson nickel
* Two-dollar bill
* Louisiana Purchase Exposition gold dollar
* 250th Anniversary silver dollar
* U.S. postage stamps

Cultural
depictions|

* Declaration of Independence (1938 film)
* The Patriots (1946 play)
* 1776
* 1969 musical
* 1972 film
* Jefferson in Paris (1995 film)
* Thomas Jefferson (1997 film)
* John Adams (2008 miniseries)
* Jefferson's Garden (2015 play)
* Hamilton (2015 musical)
* Thomas Jefferson (2025 miniseries)
* Wine bottles controversy
* Cultural depictions of Sally Hemings

Family|

* Martha Jefferson (wife)
* Martha Jefferson Randolph (daughter)
* Mary Jefferson Eppes (daughter)
* Harriet Hemings (daughter)
* Madison Hemings (son)
* Eston Hemings (son)
* Thomas J. Randolph (grandson)
* George W. Randolph (grandson)
* Ellen Randolph Coolidge (granddaughter)
* Cornelia Jefferson Randolph (granddaughter)
* Francis Eppes (grandson)
* John Wayles Jefferson (grandson)
* Sarah N. Randolph (great-granddaughter)
* T. Jefferson Coolidge (great-grandson)
* Frederick Madison Roberts (great-grandson)
* Peter Jefferson (father)
* Jane Randolph Jefferson (mother)
* Lucy Jefferson Lewis (sister)
* Randolph Jefferson (brother)
* Peter Carr (nephew)
* Samuel Carr (nephew)
* Dabney Carr (nephew)
* Dabney S. Carr (grand-nephew)
* Isham Randolph (grandfather)
* William Randolph (great-grandfather)
* Henry Soane (2nd great-grandfather)

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