Sally Hemings is part of American history. The Jefferson estate is finally honoring her.
Thomas Jefferson's historic estate has gotten a major facelift to reflect its full story.
He famously wrote that "all men are created equal," and now his estate is taking major steps to honor that claim.
The curators at Monticello have updated Jefferson's estate to include the stories of hundreds of slaves who literally helped build the home of the founding father, with a central focus on Sally Hemings, who gave birth to six of his children. A room believed to have served as Hemings' living quarters has been updated to reflect a more full history of her life and contributions.
"It's not a re-creation of what her room would've looked like at the time but rather a presentation of Sally Hemings as a fully dimensioned human being: a mother, a sister, a daughter, a world traveler," said Gayle Jessup White, a Hemings and Jefferson descendant.
It's the first time tours of the Jefferson estate will show all visitors the slavery narrative — past tours gave visitors the option to experience a Jefferson-only narrative or to take a separate tour that also told the story of his slaves.
Photo by Alain Jocard/Getty Images.
Sally Hemings' living descendants were brought into the process as well.
By bringing Jessup White into the process, the Monticello estate is moving beyond simply telling the uncomfortable aspects of Jefferson's history and instead making those facts part of the larger woven fabric of his, and America's, life.
And to their credit, the curators of Monticello are facing some of the most painful questions surrounding Jefferson's legacy, including whether his relationship with Hemings was sexual assault.
"There are a lot of people who believe rape is too polarizing a word," said Monticello public historian Niya Bates. "But it was a conversation that we knew we could not avoid. It's a conversation the public is already having."
There's also the fact that no known photographs of Hemings exist, which the exhibitors addressed by casting a shadow meant to represent her figure onto the wall of her living quarters.
"It's not just about Thomas Jefferson, it's about the people who made Thomas Jefferson's life possible," Jessup White said. "At Monticello we're giving humanity to people long forgotten. And the people to whom we're giving humanity are my people — they're my family."
[rebelmouse-image 19397979 dam="1" original_size="1200x631" caption="Photo via Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello." expand=1]Photo via Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello.
Being open and honest about history will give America the best chance of being strong going forward.
As we increasingly face the demons of our nation's past, we're sometimes left with a painful choice: to disown individuals who played instrumental roles in our nation's history or to willfully ignore the mistakes and even crimes they committed along the way.
The changes at Monticello show there is a better way that fully acknowledges the truth of America's history by honoring all the people who lived and suffered for its benefit.
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12 non-threatening leadership strategies for women
We mustn't hurt a man's feelings.
Men and the feels.
Note: This an excerpt is from Sarah Cooper's book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings.
In this fast-paced business world, female leaders need to make sure they're not perceived as pushy, aggressive, or competent.
One way to do that is to alter your leadership style to account for the fragile male ego.
Should men accept powerful women and not feel threatened by them? Yes. Is that asking too much?
IS IT?
Sorry, I didn't mean to get aggressive there. Anyhoo, here are twelve non-threatening leadership strategies for women.
Encourage.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When setting a deadline, ask your coworker what he thinks of doing something, instead of just asking him to get it done. This makes him feel less like you're telling him what to do and more like you care about his opinions.
Sharing ideas.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When sharing your ideas, overconfidence is a killer. You don't want your male coworkers to think you're getting all uppity. Instead, downplay your ideas as just "thinking out loud," "throwing something out there," or sharing something "dumb," "random," or "crazy."
Email requests.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pepper your emails with exclamation marks and emojis so you don't come across as too clear or direct. Your lack of efficient communication will make you seem more approachable.
Idea sharing.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
If a male coworker steals your idea in a meeting, thank him for it. Give him kudos for how he explained your idea so clearly. And let's face it, no one might've ever heard it if he hadn't repeated it.
Sexism.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you hear a sexist comment, the awkward laugh is key. Practice your awkward laugh at home, with your friends and family, and in the mirror. Make sure you sound truly delighted even as your soul is dying inside.
Mansplain.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Men love explaining things. But when he's explaining something and you already know that, it might be tempting to say, "I already know that." Instead, have him explain it to you over and over again. It will make him feel useful and will give you some time to think about how to avoid him in the future.
Mistakes.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pointing out a mistake is always risky so it's important to always apologize for noticing the mistake and then make sure that no one thinks you're too sure about it. People will appreciate your "hey what do I know?!" sensibilities.
Promotions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Asking your manager for a promotion could make you seem power- hungry, opportunistic, and transparent. Instead, ask a male coworker to vouch for you. Have your coworker tell your manager you'd be great for the role even though you don't really want it. This will make you more likely to actually get that promotion.
Rude.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Sometimes not everyone is properly introduced at the start of a meeting. Don't take it personally even if it happens to you all the time, and certainly don't stop the meeting from moving forward to introduce yourself. Sending a quick note afterward is the best way to introduce yourself without seeming too self-important.
Interruptions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you get interrupted, you might be tempted to just continue talking or even ask if you can finish what you were saying. This is treacherous territory. Instead, simply stop talking. The path of least resistance is silence.
Collaboration.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When collaborating with a man, type using only one finger. Skill and speed are very off-putting.
Disagreements.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When all else fails, wear a mustache so everyone sees you as more man-like. This will cancel out any need to change your leadership style. In fact, you may even get a quick promotion!
In conclusion...
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Many women have discovered the secret power of non-threatening leadership. We call it a "secret power" because no one else actually knows about it. We keep our power hidden within ourselves so that it doesn't frighten and intimidate others. That's what makes us the true unsung heroes of the corporate world.
About the Author: Sarah Cooper
Sarah Cooper is a writer, comedian, and author of 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings. Her new book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings, is out now.
The comedic book cover.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
A satirical take on what it's like to be a woman in the workplace, Cooper draws from her experience as a former executive in the world of tech (she's a former Googler and Yahooer). You can get the book here.
This article was originally published on March 25, 2019.