Sally Hemings: Good Book

Hello Didi, the cover blurb for Sally Hemings [that’s a link to the book] by Barbara Chase-Ribaud sounds exactly like the descriptions of the NPR and NY Times headlines about her and Jefferson that you have written. Yet the book itself is much more truthful. The actual story of the book, which was written during a time when Jefferson’s treatment of her was officially denied as were their descendants, is very much like what you described — production of property. When I was young, I read the book as presenting that Jefferson “loved” Sally even though he used her horribly, but seen with an adult’s eyes — of course it didn’t.

When I mention good books I read a long time ago written by women of color about women of color, like Sally Hemings and Wide Sargasso Sea, and look for new editions, they all have whitewashed covers and blurbs. Even more now than I remember in the past! This is worse, and people are in denial bigtime.

Reparations are in order, for a lot more than iPad minis. Investment isn’t about taking and using. There has been so little investment of any type for the past 3 decades it’s almost not worth talking about — but now would be the time to start if it ever will.

I didn’t care for the women’s march people for my own reasons, and those weren’t due to supporting Donald J. Trump.