AN 1804 POLITICAL CARTOON MOCKING THOMAS JEFFERSON and SALLY HEMINGS

There had been speculation about Thomas and Sally, but it would seem discretion was used by his friendly peers and he in writing to each other about their lives, families, and politics.  But Thomas Jefferson had his detractors, those who thought the relationship scandalous either because they thought he should have fought against slavery, or because they thought it was wrong to mix with slaves.  The question of how willing Sally was to be his Mistress looms large and one that I myself have struggled with. In this cartoon we see an image of Sally in which she is dark but her facial features including her nose are not stereotypically "African" and I do wonder if this image is actually accurate, based on the testimony of those who actually saw the woman.


Missy