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In reply to the discussion: 'Slaves loved their masters': GOP women's club president defends lawmaker's pro-slavery comments [View all]obamanut2012
(26,046 posts)She was actually very anti slavery, and believed all "negroes" should be freed, and she, not her father, freed Sally Hemings after her father's death. Jefferson did free his sons.
Now, she lived off the labors of slaves her entire life, and she sold slaves to keep her out of poverty, although she did not believe in selling slaves. She did keep the families together, a;though just typing those words is icky.
Yes, she was still a slave owner and her values horrify us now, but she believed in the "just" treatment of slaves by owners (as much as you can be just to chattel). And, for all TJ's fault, he would not have allowed either of his daughters to beat their housemaids.
So yeah, they sucked, but they didn't beat their slaves to death.
My ex partner is from Cville, went to UVA, and is related to the Hemings, including some folks who gave their DNA to prove TJ fathered Sally's children.