The Ongoing Quest for Equality
“ "This was the object of the Declaration of Independence... it was intended to be an expression of the American mind..."”
The Ongoing Quest for Equality: The Idea
The debate over equal rights and who gets to participate in the Jeffersonian ideal of self-government remains unsettled ever since Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence.
Jefferson's vision has inspired oppressed people around the globe to expand human freedom and establish civil societies based on the consent of the governed.
Each generation of Americans since 1776 has interpreted “all Men are created equal” in an increasingly inclusive way and fought to make Jefferson’s words a reality for all.
The history of Monticello’s enslaved community and their descendants reveal their vital role in the fight for equality.
Words that Changed the World
“We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness – That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just Powers from the consent of the Governed…”
The Declaration of Independence - Enduring Ideals for a New Nation
The U.S. Constitution is the "Supreme law of the Land" and provides the foundation for self-government.
The first ten amendments to the Constitution make up the Bill of Rights, limiting government power and protecting individual liberties.
The endeavor to extend the promise of equality in the Declaration of Independence spans our nation's history.
The Legacy
While Jefferson may not have lived up to his ideals, he maintained the belief that future generations, in America and around the world, would continue to advance the cause of human freedom. In Jefferson's words: “all eyes are opened, or opening, to the rights of man.”
The lives and achievements of descendants of Monticello's enslaved community exemplify a quest for equality regardless of race or gender, full citizenship, and manifesting Jefferson's ideals.
MOVING TOWARD EQUAILITY
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Historians trace the arc of the struggle for equality from the Founders to the present day.
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A century before Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on an Alabama bus, Sarah M. Fossett successfully integrated the Cincinnati streetcar system.
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Inspired by her equal rights activist great-uncle, William Monroe Trotter, Preacely fought for equality during the Civil Rights Movement.
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Activists, cultural leaders, and policymakers -- Skip Gates, Bree Newsome, Jamelle Bouie, Melody Barnes and Jon Meacham -- discuss next steps in the struggle for equality.
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Present Day descendants of Monticello's enslaved community Jabari Jefferson, Andrew Davenport, and Myra Anderson discuss the quest for racial and social justice.
Ascendant: The Power of Descendant Communities to Shape Our Stories, Places and Future
"I still have a dream, a dream deeply rooted in the American dream – one day this nation will rise up and live up to its creed, "We hold these truths to be self evident: that all men are created equal." I have a dream ..." -Martin Luther King Jr. (1963)
THE ONGOING QUEST FOR EQUALITY - VIDEOS
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Calvin Jefferson, descendant of the Granger and Hemings families, discusses privilege.
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Monticello historian John Ragosta discusses the complexities of "all men are created equal."
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Veteran Thomas Jefferson interpreter, Bill Barker, appears out of character to discuss the many legacies of the Declaration, how its interpretation has evolved over time, and its continued importance today.
THE ONGOING QUEST FOR EQUALITY - PODCASTS
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Americans today celebrate July 4th as the birthday of the country, but how about in 1776? Monticello Guide Kyle Chattleton reflects on how slowly news of independence spread in 1776
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Monticello guide Justin Bates discusses Jefferson's hopes for an "Empire of Liberty" across the North American continent, and the Louisiana Purchase's lasting legacies for the United States and its indigenous nations.
THE ONGOING QUEST FOR EQUALITY - BIOGRAPHIES
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Trotter’s passionate commitment to equality inspired his famous son, William Monroe Trotter.
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"Disfranchisement because of sex...handicaps progress." Cook, a descendant of the Hemings family, became a pioneering American suffragette.
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Descended from Sally Hemings and Thomas Jefferson, Roberts was the first Black member of the California State Assembly, a school administrator, and journalist.
A Civic Engagement Initiative sponsored by and in collaboration with The New York Community Trust – The Peter G. Peterson Fund.
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