Sally Hemings, Founding Mother

Genetic evidence confirming Thomas Jefferson's paternity of Sally Hemings' son Eston reshaped scholarly discourse on American history, challenging long-held narratives about race and nationhood. While the Thomas Jefferson Foundation acknowledged Jefferson's relationship with Hemings in 2000, dissenting voices resisted this conclusion, citing political correctness over historical accuracy. Clarence E. Walker's Mongrel Nation argues that Jefferson and Hemings should be recognized as America's founding parents, centering interracial relationships and slavery in the nation's origins. The book critiques the 'hegemony of whiteness' in historical narratives, positioning Jefferson's actions within a broader transnational context of colonial settler societies.

Hodes, M. (2010). Sally Hemings, Founding Mother. Reviews in American History, 38(3), 437–442. https://doi.org/10.1353/rah.2010.0022