Getting Word: African American Families of Monticello
Getting Word has a new home with selected excerpts from over 100 interviews and an expanded look at the families and descendants of the African American community at Monticello. Check it out at www.monticello.org/gettingword.
Life at Monticello
Within the confines of slavery, Monticello’s African Americans forged powerful bonds of family, passing skills, values, and a rich culture to their children.
Life after Monticello
Whether they remained enslaved or became free, the experience of those who left Monticello was deeply influenced by where they settled.
The Struggle
The African Americans of Monticello and their descendants strove to win their freedom, unite their families, and bring about full equality.
Families Histories
Learn about the descendants of Monticello's enslaved residents.
About the Getting Word Project
Learn about the Getting Word project, which was begun to give voice to those whose lives and contributions went unrecorded.
Discussion
Monticello has a rich and complicated history when it comes to the issue of slavery. Most people have heard of Sally Hemings, but there were many other slaves living on the plantation during Jefferson's time. Monticello's Research Historian, Cinder Stanton, heads a project that seeks to gather the oral histories of descendants of Monticello slaves. This is a fascinating project, with stories that cut across racial lines. Many who visit Monticello might not be aware of the project, but there is ample information online.
This is an amazing project headed up by our senior research historian. I very much appreciate the way she has so intentionally and thoughtfully reached out to descendants of the enslaved families of Monticello--it's a true scholarly model of this sort of research-backed oral history. It has richly informed the living story of Monticello, reminding us all that history is no static thing.
I think this is one of the most exciting research initiatives at Monticello. Our colleagues have located and interviewed numerous descendants of those who lived in slavery at Monticello to learn about what happened to individuals and families after Jefferson died and Monticello, as it had been, ceased to exist. I think this section is probably a bit difficult for the casual visitor to the site to find, but it contains amazingly rich, inspiring material.
An new (to me) look at the families of those who were slaves at monticello. There is so much information withing these pages. I keep finding more and more interesting facts, both encouraging and disheartining. Spend a little while finding out about slavery at Monticello from a different perspective.
Tracing the Histories of Enslaved Families at Monticello
Now online! Hear descendants of Monticello's enslaved community talk about their families and their histories in this new website featuring excerpts from over 100 interviews.More »
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My ancestors endured alot...was no fun being "incarcerated" I'm sure...I find it odd no one knows where Sally Hemings is buried nor are there any pictures of her..