Sally Hemings (2000) | Documentary 

She was a 14 year old slave that resembled his dead wife and he used her sexually until he died with a promise to free their children. This is a sad story not a love story.

Why are they sugar coating her life story? Her life was not an “adventure”, she was a slave and this is not a love story bc she had no choice.

She definitely deserves to be recognized and honored.

Slavery is one of the worlds worst crimes

I think we should stop calling them "Masters" but instead refer to them as Criminals or Human Traffickers.

Did they just call a 14 year old and 40 year old sexual relationship consensual. Grosss

GOD Bless this woman she lived during an era of pain,suffering and servitude. She persevered in spite of her situation for which she had no control. I commend her because she did what she had to do in order to survive. There was no love between the two of them only understanding of their places in society. Creating riffs that are still causing raised eyebrows.Lord knows African Americans were racially intermingled when you look at a lot of physical features to include complexions, hair texture to the shape of their noses, lips and body structure.

It's a very sad story actually. This young girl who was 14 years old and enslaved was sexually assaulted by her slave master and had to submit to being his concubine and bear his children or potentially be killed or sold away from her family. I see no love. Only an old man using a young girl for his sexual pleasure, then possibly feeling guilty for it later and deciding that he owed her, so he gave her and her children freedom. People put these so called founding fathers on a pedestal. History reveals many sick things.

I need to hear the BLACK VERSION OF THIS STORY

He saw that beautiful black girl and preyed on her. This was nothing but rape. She was forced to conform. But played her cards well to secure her children’s future . Sadly there are many other Sally’s

Thank you so much for this very informative documentary on Sally Hemming’s life. 😮

Thank you for this truthful account of what this young woman's life was like. This is just one of the storys that should be taught in all our schools. This country was built by enslaved people and there's no reason we should not be teaching and discussing this history.

I hate the narrative that Sally and Thomas were “in love.” She and her children were viewed as property.

Weird how we were good enough to nurse their babies, and to sleep with, but not good enough to treat like a human being that God created. Truly sad. How do you inherited a human person ugh 🙄

Why doesn't anybody ever admit that Thomas Jefferson sexually abused Sally Hemings? She was a fourteen-year-old girl with no choice except to survive and protect her children.

I was born and raised in Laos I know nothing about slavery until moved here to United States thanks for sharing. As painful as it is history is part of our lives it is important to learn from it learn from our mistakes so we can better ourselves for future generations

Why are they acting like her and her mother wasn’t raped? This is sick.

Paused at “Difficult choices she made.”😒 Not a love story. She was an enslaved child.

Sally did the best she could for herself and her children. Judge her for the times she lived in. It is certain that she must have been a real beauty even tho no paintings exist of her. Also, people say her voice was the same as Patsy, her half sister.

Horrifying history. Sally Hemings will be in my thoughts forever. 💝

She lost me when she said that "slaves sometimes did fall in love with their masters" 🙄🙄🙄 This wasnt even close to a love story. This is a sick story about a child that was raped by her own "master"

This is complete BS. This is NOT a love story. It's a story of survival. And still today Jefferson made sure his black descendents could never inherit/profit from him.

Not them turning rape of both Sally’s mother & her into love stories. That’s disgusting.

Im glad it ends well. Also, very interesting that historians are interested in Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemming's lifes back in 1700s-1800s. I am happy to see the gathering of their descendents in the photo here. I really hope that everyone keep in touch and have get togethers whenever they have the time. Share their interests and life experiences and hobbies. Just look what positivity built from all these. My husband is part Malay and part Japanese. He has relatives who are of Indian blood, Malay blood and Japanese blood. From very dark-tanned complexion to pale complexion. THANK YOU FOR SHARING.

Funny how folks were acting like the slave owners weren’t sleeping with and impregnating the slave women. Crazy.

"A remarkable courageous life as a SLAVE" Honestly why did anyone think it was okay to try and turn a 14 year old being raped by a founding father routinely into a love story.

This is example of pure evil not wicked. He gave the example, of him being rejected and also how he rejected her, and why America's had to be built, by her people and for her people protection. He acknowledged, that one must see his actions and be wise of the war, that is in hearts of man. Although, he contributed to the suffering of women ,some whites were the refuge of the women, to be housed and given some freedom. Let's not discredit the good nor overlook the Evil or wicked intentions in his words and actions. He knew it was wrong to do, so , however he was in a tough position, so to forge secured property rights, and the whole Louisiana purchase of the Natives side of land here, he had to win her over and used her to teach or give the children the lie. ❤

Sally was a very resilient and wise woman. She was in survival mode. She didn’t always trust Jefferson but she grew to as far as she could throw him. She would’ve never chose this life for herself or her children. She would’ve much rather they be free. I believe her loyalty spoke for itself. Sally knew that one day we would come to know her family history. She is American history. We want the truth, this is what makes our country so beautiful. Make ups of so many different backgrounds struggles strength and endurance. America is all of us born here coming together to get more compassion love and respect for all that is deserved based on basic principle. Black history is American history.❤️Love is the medicine!! Love and respect for ALL. One nation☝🏽

She did not love him she had to survive.

If only Sally Hemings could speak from the grave to tell the world the TRUTH.😢😢

WOW! Thank you for this historical information. Professionally presented.

We will never truly know what if their relationship with one another was consensual or not, but I feel like Sally H was smarter than she was given credit for. Both her grandmother and mother were daughters of white slave masters with one of their female black slaves, and was therefore likely taught by her mother as well as learned firsthand how different they were treated as “house slaves” versus those who were “field/farm working slaves”. She was also likely aware of how difficult it would have been for her to survive on her own as a free person in paris, especially if she was an unwed mother, and knew how difficult it would’ve been, so she decided the best thing to do for both herself and her child was to stay with Jefferson and negotiate as much as possible for a better future for her future children in order for her to return to America with him. She had to have had some influence over him, rather that was emotional or sexual, or he wouldn’t have cared enough to negotiate with her to return with him & keep his promise. She also would’ve known she had this and used it to her advantage for her future children. In many ways it’s like the evolution theory of “survival of the fittest”. It’s possible that she could have really loved him, even though she was his slave, however I think it would have been more along the lines of a Stokholm Syndrome kind of thing versus actual truly being in love with him. This is obviously just my personal thoughts on this and I may be completely off on it all. The thing that hits me the worst about their “relationship” is the fact that she was just a toddler when she moved to Monticello and he took ownership of her & her family. He was around her pretty much her entire life and basically watched her grow up since she and her family had been “house slaves” first at his FIL’s and then his own. It disgusting and makes you wonder at what point he started thinking of her in a sexual manner. Yes, girls were often married as young teenagers back then, my grandma was only 14 when she my grandpa who was 24, got married in 1947, but the age difference and all around circumstances are very different in their case vs those like my grandparents.

Good grief! Poor Sally. If that man couldn’t show any affection towards the children he had with Sally, it proves that he used Sally, just like any other dirty old man of that time.

"Being owned is not a desirable state of affairs!" Well stated lady. This was no romance story. This is one big horror. Young girl getting used and abused by a inhumane sicko!

This always brings me to tears because of the harsh reality and truth of the very heroic Ladies mann how much i now love them.

So sad that there is no drawing or picture of Sally. Heartbreaking that no one even knows where she was buried

"Her children not their children."How disgusting, her age, her status, what he did was just wrong, period.

Why do they say sex? Its rape. Come on! You think any of these women had real choices???

Thanks for documenting this for posterity.

Fascinating,I remember when this first came out, Sally sounds like she was a very smart lady.

How the hell do you "INHERIT" a damn human being👀 smh

Im so SICK of white ppl telling our history im so sick of seeing "slave" movies smh even in the new harriette tubman movie they just had to insert a "white" hero within the script smh

Thank You Mr. SKINNER FOR THIS STORY LOVED IT!!

Amazing doc. Thanks for sharing! I heard the stiry in school but never got a deep stufy of it. This is great ❣️

She probably did what she did to survive..a very strong woman!

Did Sally have a say so? No Did he let her go in Paris? No Did he free their children? No Did he love her? Of course not We need a re-telling of this story!

Sally was such a beautiful and remarkable woman!!!! Sally was a beast!!!! ❤️🦾🦾

My favorite story is her grandson story because he would told everyone that was his grandfather and nobody believed him and then it was proved you told the truth !

They was not consent! He took it whenever he wanted it. And it was not Love it was lust. She had no Rights. She was a child..😡😡

Why are they calling this shit a love story???

So, literally Ms. Sally was the FIRST LADY🤩😁. HOW WONDERFUL!!!

I am a American and my cousin is a Canadian citizen who 2 generations of the slaves in her family who worked on the Sugarcane plantations. She had many stories about her family and she shared them with us. Her father was a great Artist.

If Jefferson really loved Sally he would have left her in France where she was free

Did this one lady say “there’s something about being a slave that tore at the psyche ... of the self esteem she built up”.... everything about being a slave must tear at the psyche of an individual.

Sally Hemings was a Beautiful Woman. She was brave. She had a interesting love story. Unusual during that time in Our American History. Bless You both President. Thomas Jefferson/Sally Hemmings, Frank

What an awful barter system. She thankfully was able to see her children freed, and she was at least able to live under the care of her freed sons for the last years of her life. She died only nine years after Jefferson, but she was thirty years younger.

I was irritated at how they made it seem as if going to France was some amazing adventure or that there were possibly romantic feelings. She was either threatened or didn’t want to abandon her siblings back home. Showing her how life could be and bringing her back to slavery was simply cruel. No one that actually loves someone would do that. Sounds more like continued taking advantage of this young girl and then woman for his own pleasure. She stuck around for the sake of her children who weren’t even recognized by their own father simply to buy their freedom. The only love in this story is the truest love of an amazing mother and horrendous sacrifices made for her children. If he had loved her, there would be a drawing or painting of her somewhere out there.

As an American woman, born in Virginia, this story is really very depressing. I followed the story of Sally Hemings as soon as I was old enough to ask questions.

A very well made video. I've heard this story before, and find this video an interesting summery.

Sally Hemmings was nothing more than just one of Thomas Jefferson's many victims.

I’m a descendant of this remarkable women. Her story has been passed down many generations.

Sally gave her life for her children. She is the hero who needs to be recognized.

She was amazing, her strength & ability to shape the futures of her children shows the strength of her spirit.

This was a fantastic story. I loved it and shared it. Thanks so much. 🙏🏻‼️🇺🇸. Sally was exceptional.

" she could never have imagined , the adventure , her life would become "...............uhmmmmmmmmm , wasn't she a slave............

How tf did they gloss over her being the same age as his daughter? The mental gymnastics they must have gone through to make this relationship seem anything other than predatory and exploitative.

I have always been fascinated by Sally Hemings.

What a wonderful piece of knowledge to know ‼️🙏🏽

Are u fn kidding me...omg! Did I just hear what I heard! She lived a remarkable life as a slave and mistress.

Baby yall are tearing them up in these comments. lololololololololol

Sally did not give her freedom for her kids' freedom. She gave up her freedom to be with Thomas. Her children were not in existence when she made the decision to return to America. She could've stayed in Paris and her kids would've been free by default. The bottom line is, Thomas tricked her into coming back.

How terrible that the children grew up apart from their families. How must those mother's have felt.

i just want to hear sally’s story w out it’s being downplayed, sugarcoated and disrespected. she deserved better and her story deserves better.

How could they refer to SALLY AS A MISTRESS??!!!! How dare??!!!!!

I felt very emotional watching this Sally Hemings Documentary. I can not imagine what they have went thru living as slaves especially Black during that era, MUST BEEN A VERY , VERY HARD LIFE . It Sooo SAD 😢

History (the past) cannot be changed, nor is it impossible or unheard of for people to love (even in taboo conditions)... It is very possible that they loved each other. Hopefully it was after her 16th birthday. He courted her and she trusted (& loved) him ... DNA proofs the lineage. Their love endured many challenges - sad that his children did not feel his "love". "Runaways" were most likely the best ge could do as a politician shaping freedom for more "enslaved" people in the future. Mighty respect for Sally: she was definitely a strong, honorable woman. Very sad that Jefferson did not give her, her freedom.

There was no record of the first child because they probably sold that baby off and covered his back. SMH...

I don't know how many others caught it, but it is brought out that Sally Hemings was a younger 1/2 sister to Martha Jefferson, wife of Thomas Jefferson.

I can't imagine there were not pictures❣️

I am so disappointed he wasn't affectionate to his children with Sally.

This is NOT a love story ! It’s not like she could have denied him when he came demanding sex. She was a SLAVE and he was her master. There is no “love” in that. There is no “mutual respect” in that. Yes, he freed her children eventually but he kept her enslaved. Where is the love and mutual respect in that ? Smh.

I'm just putting myself in Sally's shoes. 1st these children who are her "masters" are actually her neice and nephews. And Jefferson is actually her brother in law. The whole thing is very insestuest. And I cant imagine going from being free in France and back to be a slave in the us. What a culture shock and change. What a brave women she truly was!

I don’t think Sally ever quietly accepted her fate as a slave.. she knew that she was More than that.. and she was so smart and I so wish that she had left journals, a diary, anything.. I wonder what their conversations were like.. he apparently trusted her, very much, to entrust his children to her care and upbringing.. I’m so disappointed that he didn’t free her after his death.. I can’t find a good reason Why he didnt. At least he kept his word about their children. And, that is what mattered most to her❤️❤️

Really enjoyed this! I've just discovered the story about the Zong slave ship that sailed from England. Look it up. It's the case that started them on the road away from slavery. Very interesting.

The historian said that slaves actually "did fall in love with their masters," and that "to say that Sally had no feelings for Jefferson, is to say that an enslaved person could not love." Um no, that's ridiculous, and an attempt to make Jefferson look attractive and benevolent while toying with Ms. Hemings' legacy. Slaves could absolutely love. It's just that when slave masters saw black men and women together, there were very quick and efficient at breaking up families and marriages, and selling off children to destroy the family unit. When they, their mothers, sisters and daughters weren't being brutally raped themselves, black women had to witness their men, brothers, fathers and sons being whipped, maimed, castrated and murdered by slave masters and overseers. Ms. Hemings' molestation and rape by Thomas Jefferson began when she was only 14. She was owned, and therefore did not have the maturity nor the choice of developing a love for him. For all that she endured at the hands of this pedophile, her blood cries out to us to not let her story be misrepresented today, as it has been in movies and documentaries like this one.

This is just SICK!! You people should be ashame of yourselves. A 14 years old CHILD held against her will.....SMH🤦🏿‍♀️ I hate this narrative. This was no romantic beautiful love story. She had NO CHOICE!!

What a well done documentary the historical accuracy must me applauded! The question of love between Jefferson and Sally is muted by how all marriages during that time period and Jefferson’s social class are transactional! His marriage to Sally’s half sister was just that and resulted in a deep and abiding love! Sally’s relationship with Jefferson was mostly transactional in the beginning no doubt because she said she would stay in Paris and not go home without the agreement she wanted! Make no mistake SHE HAD THE POWER OF A WOMAN ! Jefferson knew he risk all with the relationship no doubt about his feelings! One of American historys most amazing stories! Thanks to all involved in producing this, and particularly Annette Gordon - Reed author of THE HEMINGES of MONTICELLO a must read for anyone interested in Jefferson.

Poor Sally. Impregnated by a rapist and forced to choose the lesser of two evils. The fact that she maintained any shred of dignity is remarkable. Rest Well Dear Sister 🖤

This all just sounds waaaaay too romanticized!! And wtf how does the name Monica Lewinsky even come into play to compare Sally's situation to hers??? Wtf?!!

Sally made the best of the situation she was in. She had the good sense to get Jefferson to free her children. It doesn't matter to me if they loved each other or not. The fact that her children were free is everything.

This was an amazing documentary. Good job!

Definitely sally Hemings was a beautiful woman.

*I don’t think that they mean it but this documentary is really offensive.*

Absolutely disgusting that he took advantage of Sally. Slavery of any type comes from the pits of hell.

Smh. So young poor girl. There wasn't slavery in Paris but he still treated her as property. A young girl at 15 should NOT EVER have to be kept against her will... slavery is evil.

This story shows us as black women how strong we are and what we will do and go through within our life. Keeping and maintaining our dignity and strength. We and I say WE as black American Females are strong no matter what struggles we go through we make it. Beautifully as we are this is how others view us but as we still strive they cannot. will not and be like us although they try. I'm proud to be a black beautiful woman like Sally.

He was a rapist, she didn’t have any choice in the matter stop trying to make the relationship something it wasn’t, she was a child.

This was so watered down smh

Fantastic video

THE ONLY REASON SALLY HEMING DIDN'T RUN AWAY IS BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T KNOW SHE COULD. THE TASTE OF FREEDOM? THE IRONY!!! SHE WAS BORN TO BELIEVE SHE WAS PROPERTY