Hemmings of Monticello
Marian Beavers
APUSH
Mrs. Collet
10 August 2012
The Hemings of Monticello Critical Review
Gordon-Reed, Annette The Hemings of Monticello New York.W.W. Norton & Company.2008.
The purpose of Gordon-Reed’s book was to see how the families of African Americans were treated during the transitional period of slavery to freedom in America. There were many ways that the mixed slaves were treated differently than other slaves. The author’s thesis is clear throughout the text and provides many pieces of evidence. The author Annette Gordon-Reed has written several books; Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: An American Controversy, edited Race on Trial: Law and Justice in American History, and is the co-author of Vernon Can Read: A Memoir. Gordon-Reed’s experience with writing books may have been the reason this book was easy to read and follow, although the first several chapters were more difficult, as I had to get used to the plot, people, and time period. While reading I noticed that Gordon-Reed never used the term, Caucasian. She would use the word white, instead. Gordon-Reed may have some bias, since she is African American, and may have sided more towards the African Americans. Gordon-Reed is a professor of law at New York Law School and a professor of history at Rutgers University. These titles may have contributed to the quality of her book.
The Hemings of Monticello is mainly about how one African woman and one sailor helped change the world and future. Elizabeth Hemings was the daughter of sailor Captain Hemings and an African woman. Elizabeth (Betty) Hemings played a major part in slavery, Monticello, and the history of mixed people. Elizabeth Hemings had Mary in 1753, Martin in 1755, Betty in 1759 and Nancy in 1761. Then, with John Wayles, her master, she had Robert 1762, James 1765, Thenia 1467, Critta 1769, Peter 1770, and Sarah (also known as Sally) in 1773. Once John Wayles had died, Elizabeth had John Hemings. Elizabeth was 37 when
APUSH
Mrs. Collet
10 August 2012
The Hemings of Monticello Critical Review
Gordon-Reed, Annette The Hemings of Monticello New York.W.W. Norton & Company.2008.
The purpose of Gordon-Reed’s book was to see how the families of African Americans were treated during the transitional period of slavery to freedom in America. There were many ways that the mixed slaves were treated differently than other slaves. The author’s thesis is clear throughout the text and provides many pieces of evidence. The author Annette Gordon-Reed has written several books; Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: An American Controversy, edited Race on Trial: Law and Justice in American History, and is the co-author of Vernon Can Read: A Memoir. Gordon-Reed’s experience with writing books may have been the reason this book was easy to read and follow, although the first several chapters were more difficult, as I had to get used to the plot, people, and time period. While reading I noticed that Gordon-Reed never used the term, Caucasian. She would use the word white, instead. Gordon-Reed may have some bias, since she is African American, and may have sided more towards the African Americans. Gordon-Reed is a professor of law at New York Law School and a professor of history at Rutgers University. These titles may have contributed to the quality of her book.
The Hemings of Monticello is mainly about how one African woman and one sailor helped change the world and future. Elizabeth Hemings was the daughter of sailor Captain Hemings and an African woman. Elizabeth (Betty) Hemings played a major part in slavery, Monticello, and the history of mixed people. Elizabeth Hemings had Mary in 1753, Martin in 1755, Betty in 1759 and Nancy in 1761. Then, with John Wayles, her master, she had Robert 1762, James 1765, Thenia 1467, Critta 1769, Peter 1770, and Sarah (also known as Sally) in 1773. Once John Wayles had died, Elizabeth had John Hemings. Elizabeth was 37 when