If you think Jefferson would be surprised at having a black descendant, then you don’t know about Jefferson. lol
BlackIroh on
Unpopular take. Jefferson probably wouldn’t be pissed. Jefferson was definitely a complicated and conflicted guy. I don’t think this absolves him of his crimes agency humanity by being a slaveholder. But I do think the context matters. He was born into a slaveholding society and he was a slave holder. There’s actually a deleted part of the declaration of independence that he wrote condemning slavery and saying it was evil and it was Britain’s fault for perpetuating the slave trade. But the less conflicted slave holders made him take that part out.
I guess my point here is…I look at Jefferson the same way I view myself when it comes to eating meat. I 100% believe factory farming is morally disgusting. And yet I still eat meat and thus support the industry. It’s pure hypocrisy I know. But me personally abstaining won’t end the practice…. And I enjoy a good burger as much as the next person. But I would be super happy one day factory farming practices were illegal.
I’m short, Jefferson participated in slavery but he was certainly conflicted about it. I think it’s important to have distinctions for people like him and his contemporaries. And it’s my personal opinion that Jefferson would be happier knowing slavery ended than the alternative.
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If you think Jefferson would be surprised at having a black descendant, then you don’t know about Jefferson. lol
Unpopular take. Jefferson probably wouldn’t be pissed. Jefferson was definitely a complicated and conflicted guy. I don’t think this absolves him of his crimes agency humanity by being a slaveholder. But I do think the context matters. He was born into a slaveholding society and he was a slave holder. There’s actually a deleted part of the declaration of independence that he wrote condemning slavery and saying it was evil and it was Britain’s fault for perpetuating the slave trade. But the less conflicted slave holders made him take that part out.
I guess my point here is…I look at Jefferson the same way I view myself when it comes to eating meat. I 100% believe factory farming is morally disgusting. And yet I still eat meat and thus support the industry. It’s pure hypocrisy I know. But me personally abstaining won’t end the practice…. And I enjoy a good burger as much as the next person. But I would be super happy one day factory farming practices were illegal.
I’m short, Jefferson participated in slavery but he was certainly conflicted about it. I think it’s important to have distinctions for people like him and his contemporaries. And it’s my personal opinion that Jefferson would be happier knowing slavery ended than the alternative.