Deeply conflicted about TJ
This summer, I was fortunate enough to spend a week studying Thomas Jefferson at a teacher institute with scholars from Monticello and the University of Virginia.
We looked first at Jefferson’s rhetoric. His words in the Declaration of Independence have not only inspired Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lincoln and King, but can be traced to 114 similar documents throughout the world over the past 200+ years. Add the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, and his writings on education and democracy, and, well, I know why I love TJ.
Looking at his political career and presidency, we get a mixed bag. There’s Jefferson’s governorship of Virginia during the Revolutionary War, where he is almost captured by the British, and is at his political low point. He has a successful first term as President, culminated by Lewis and Clark, but has a less successful second term, with the persecution of VP Burr for treason and the wildly unsuccessful Embargo Act.
But it is slavery where the “deeply conflicted” part really appears. There are early writings were he acknowledges the wrongs of slavery and urges its abolition, including the first draft of the Declaration. But as he continues to write, he finds more excuses to not free his own slaves, and kick the national question to the next generation. His “Notes on the State of Virginia,” the only book he ever published, shows a complete lack of understanding or empathy about the people he enslaves – he just doesn’t get it. And of course there’s Sally Hemings – definitely not unusual for the period, a complicated relationship to be sure, but…. wrong. Finally there are accounts of TJ writing about escaped slaves from Monticello and the beating of slaves as punishment.
So how do we put him in perspective? How could someone who wrote words that gave voice to the most inspiring of human aspirations throughout the world do the things he did, and think the things he thought? Jefferson should have known better – judging him by the standards of 18th century Virginia doesn’t seem to work because he was so far beyond those standards. He knew what he was doing was wrong. Yet it seems unfair to throw out the wonderful words, the intense intellectual curiosity, the visionary ideas, because he suffered from human frailty magnified because he was, Jefferson.
If we were perfect God would never have put us in this world.
ReplyDeleteImperfections, and the recognition of their existence, permit us to develop tolerance and humility.
ReplyDeleteI hear what you are saying, but somehow owning other human beings goes beyond the pale. And what makes it worse to me, is that TJ knew slavery was wrong, spoke out forcefully against it early in his career, and sort of gave up later in his career. Plus personally, he kept his own slaves.
ReplyDeleteMy 8th grade students claim hypocrisy -- are they right?
It's an easy charge to make; however, remember that a little learning is a dangerous thing. This is certainly fertile ground for a dissertation, and often included baloney. Perhaps, there is a semantic problem here. Are just slaves per se enslaved? Were there paternalistic slave holders? Freedom and its ramifications are not always welcomed by some, or best for them. Ask some old East Germans. Should some mentally ill be allowed to choose to live on the streets? I'd love to have a discussion with T.J. before condemning him or giving him a pass.
ReplyDeleteOne more interesting lead balloon!
ReplyDeleteAre there any live people out here?
ReplyDeleteThat's the same question I've been asking. My granddaughter was studying for a quiz, and one of the questions concerned what constituted life.
ReplyDeleteOne of the criteria was sensing the environment and responding appropriately. This criterion is similar to the one I like, which involves the capture of information and processing it to produce a positive response.
Hi Guys!
ReplyDelete