Thomas Jefferson and the Best Hearts in the World

I recently finished The Hemings of Monticello. I heard an interview with the author, Annette Gordon-Reed, years ago and I was extremely fascinated with the complexity and contradictions she mentioned surrounding Jefferson. Anyone trying to paint Jefferson as an exceptionally great or exceptionally terrible person, is either ignorant or misinformed. The remaining writings and evidence of Jefferson's life are difficult to reconcile without acknowledging that Jefferson was a conflicted person. Overall, Jefferson and the Hemings' story are tragic and disappointing.

The book is full of insights into US history, 18th century customs, and of course the US institution of slavery. There were several passages or details I wanted to explore. Below is a quote that sparked my interests and captures the contradictions and conflicting nature of Jefferson:

"[Jefferson] casts doubt on blacks’ equal intellectual capacity, Jefferson expressed his greatest confidence in blacks, besides his opinion that they had better rhythm than whites, in matters of the heart stating with great certainty that nature had done them “justice” in that department. These formulations about people of African origin—skepticism of their equal intellectual capacity and certainty about the quality of their hearts—were ideas from which he apparently never wavered. According to one visitor to Monticello late in Jefferson’s life, he echoed these sentiments, saying that he had not yet found a true “genius” among blacks, but believed that they had the “best hearts of any people in the world.”13 Sally Hemings, then, combined what Jefferson regarded as the best in white people with what he regarded as the best in black people, an evidently appealing blend of the head and the heart."

The source for the "best hearts of any people in the world” was not easy to track down. For one, Gordon-Reed used the wrong title of the article in her references. The "book-peddling visitor of Thomas Jefferson" was Samuel Whitcomb. Whitcomb recorded those notes after an interview with Jefferson on 31 May 1824 (Jefferson died in 1826). The notes were published here, "A Book Peddler Invades Monticello" by William Peden (1949).

"[Jefferson] says the south agrees with the Negroes best-that the experiment
now making at Hayti is very interesting. He hopes well of their [i.e.,
Negroes'] minds though [he] has never seen evidence of genius among them,
but they are possessed of the best hearts of any people in the world. Great
levity of character, etc. On account of the prejudice of our Nation against
the black, he would defer treating with the haytians as long as possible,
but we must certainly acknowledge their independence."

This is one of many issues with Jefferson. Why doesn't Jefferson see evidence of genius in blacks? And while rejecting genius, what does it mean to say black people have "best heart?" Is it because the geniuses Jefferson witnessed were mixed and he attributed their genius to whiteness? Or were black people in Jefferson's day not given enough resources and opportunities to produce geniuses? From the 21st century, it's easy to see how multiple biases were used to discredit the abilities of black people. But how and why does a slave owner claim black people have the "best hearts?" Is the quality of ones' heart greater than their mind? Unfortunately, Jefferson doesn't explain, or if he did no evidence remains.

One of the most interesting things I learned about Jefferson was his avoidance and dislike of confrontations. This trait can account for, not excuse, a lot of Jefferson's contradictions. Jefferson wanted a private life without drama, many people should relate. Jefferson, for many reasons from being extremely intelligent to being extremely influential, knew his time a lot better than you or I did. For that reason I'm not supporting or condemning him. Disappointment is the right word. It's disappointing that Jefferson didn't do more and better.

Anyone interested should read or listen to The Hemings of Monticello. It'll be a lot better than anything I can write or say.

Closing idea:

Racism as a percentile. This can only work as a thought experiment, but what percentile racist would Jefferson be? Among all Americans between 1780-1820, what percentile is Jefferson? 

Think of an objective measure to score. I'm thinking if everyone was put in Jefferson's position when he married Martha Wayles. Would other people sell more or less slaves? Would they treat their slaves better or worse than Jefferson (if black people were given white slaves, if women were given a gender reversal, etc)? 

I don't know my answer yet. I'll have to think about it more. Among white men in Virginia, I think Jefferson is one of the least racist. But when adding women and northerers? It gets a lot harder to say. Just because norther states didn't have slavery or abolished it sooner, doesn't necessarily make them less racist. I also don't think the level of racism would relate well with amount of slaves people owned.

If any readers are feeling bold enough, drop a comment with your percentile for Jefferson. Let's say 100th percentile is the least racist person alive then, and 0 percentile is the most racist person alive at the time.

Take it inward now!

What percent racist are you? I challenge you not to frame this thought experiment in a manner that favors you resulting in a greater outcome. I assume we all think we are a lot less racist than we are.