As a community and a people, Black Americans face unique obstacles to discovering more truth about our family histories. Those truths also relate to other Americans, some of whom simply do not want to know.

This history is related by blood to millions of white Americans and American Indians.

The case of U.S. president Thomas Jefferson and his "slave", Sally Hemings is the tip of a social iceberg waiting for us just under the surface in all societies of the Americas: South, Central, North, and the Caribbean.

Jefferson, lover of freedom in the abstract, held Sally Hemings as a chattel slave. Along with oral family history of dozens of Black Jefferson-Hemings descendants, growing numbers of historians are finding and examining evidence suggesting that, along with being the "father" of his country, Thomas Jefferson also fathered Sally Hemings' numerous children. DNA evidence from living descendants of a few of Sally Hemings' known descendants shows that "a male" in Thomas Jefferson's family did father certain of Sally Hemings' children.

A non-specific conclusion regarding Mr. Jefferson is hardly surprising, as the concept of "plausible deniability" - among white men/fathers - has been a top priority in the actual and largely "undocumented" practice of miscegenationist (race mixing) sexual practices in the Americas.

As a country and region - the United States and the Americas/las Americas, and as communities - the majority of we _TRI RACIAL_ descendants - of mixed African/African American, Native and European origin - are struggling to locate the truth(s) about our mixed race family origins, and to reject old habits of dishonest denial and feigned ignorance of common roots.

How shall we accomplish this important task through scholarly and family history research?

Please read on. Following my open letter, Teira Covington's original remarks are included. Then follow the link to Public Broadcasting Service's website for Macky Alston's powerful documentary about race & American families - FAMILY NAME.
"Is something a secret if everyone knows about it, but no one talks about it?"

An open reply to family history researcher Teira Covington from Marian Douglas: Teira, thank you so much for your contribution on the Virginia Afrigeneas email list regarding problems you and most of us face as Black American family history researchers. I believe what you wrote is so powerful, and the truth is, this truth hurts. As we struggle to find and share more of our family history findings and questions, denials and claimed ignorance of historic connection with us come from many white descendants related to us, but thankfully not all - for their sake as well as our own.The denials and claimed ignorance also come from some of the communities where our families originate, from some of their community institutions, and even from some rather well-known family history research groups.As bad as feigned ignorance is what I've named the _INDIFFERENT UNWILLINGNESS_ to take the "clues" we keep finding in historical records and evidence - including that which is in possession of our white cousins as well as our own research - and use them to dig further for historical fact and truth.The issues we face are not about "chasing after white folks", as some people may prefer to think or believe. It is about our basic human right - after all these centuries and all the immeasurable suffering, toil and sacrifice for the material - but definitely not the spiritual - advantage of others; it is our turn to finally speak the truth and question freely as our ancestors of all colors could not... even into the recent past and often on pain of death, loss, harm or exile.This is all about our right and ability finally to be allowed to reflect freely and openly on who we are and the circumstances unique in human history that made us and the United States of America, as Black Americans and as Americans in both the national and hemispheric sense: America/Las Americas. This is about our right to search for and find when we can, and finally to be able to talk respectfully and knowledgably with anyone else who is interested - anywhere in the world - about the truth about the lives of our ancestors, our lives and our families, and the social foundations of our country.Any honest lover of mathematics will tell you: 2+3 can NEVER equal 4. Never.In the same way, lies and illusions, no matter how polished, no matter how often published or told - and whether about things done or lies of omission, i.e., deliberately leaving out people and events - the previously accepted lies, half-truths and silencesabout our families and our country will never bring anyone to Truth. We should also remember taht not everyone seeks truth. It is often a hard thing; often uncompromising.In addition to my life at home in the USA, my work in other places has given me the opportunity to observe effects of something called "Ethnic Cleansing".On balance, from home, combined with what I have witnessed overseas, one thing I have learned is there is more than one kind of "ethnic cleansing". What else should we call what has happened to almost all traces of our people - our families - in the places: the states, counties, towns and cities most Black Americans came from over nearly four hundred years? (Since 1619.)Thank you, Teira, for the research published on your website and for asking for input from the rest of us. Marian Douglas Author:GUDGER-RICE Mixed Race Family HistoryMadison County, North Carolina Heritage BookVolume 2 - published 2000Madison County Genealogical SocietyMARSHALL, western North Carolina, the Smoky MountainsBlack Smoky Mountain FamiliesBSMF-Afrigeneas - www.afrigeneas.comTeira Covington wrote:" When I was in high school, I was told that there was not enough Black history to have an entire course. It was those words that remained with me and brought me to researching my own family and the study of our history. " ------------------------------------------------ From Teira Covington To Virginia AfriGeneas at yahoogroups.comWednesday, June 5, 2002 Re: White descendants who do not acknowledge black descendantsI am hoping that someone out there could give me some insight. I researched my grandmother's family. Her father was a white farmer who grew up with her African American mother. Their union was never recognized in VA of course. They moved to [Steelton] PA with their 3 children. When my g-grandmother got ill, the children were brought back to VA where they were raised by their aunt. Recently, I got correspondence from one of the descendants of my g-grandfather(white) who is having a hard time with this. He saw my website and was very unhappy about it. He has sent me two letters both of which seem to deny this history and he has even suggested me getting a lawyer! He seems to feel that I have made this up. I spent a lot of time researching and talking to older family members who told me this history. When I started researching I found it to be true .I have detailed the story of my ggrandparents on [here's the link to Teira's website] my website I am not backing down because I feel that I am standing up for all those who may face a situation like this in the future due to a romanticized Anglo perspective of slavery, and the treatment of people of color in the 1800's. I am saddened by the treament of the descendants of Sally Hemmings who are still not being accepted as descendants even though it has been proven. If anyone would like to read these letters sent by my "cousin" and my response you may email me privately. I do not want to tie up the list with the letters, but would like to start a discussion. It is really too bad that the color of a person's skin makes the difference of how they are treated. It just seems so ridiculous to me. I believe that the iniquities of the past must be acknowledged to change the tone of the future. I also believe that there are two types of history in America: the history that avoids truth in documentation nd "Real History" which includes the rich history of African American life. When I was in high school, I was told that there was not enough Black history to have an entire course. It was those words that remained with me and brought me to researching my own family and the study of our history.Sincerely,Teira Covington