williams is a descendant of sally hemmings, one of thomas jefferson's slaves with whom he had several children. it was only in recent years she officially learned she is the great great-granddaughter of sally's older brother peter hemmings. a few years ago she traveled to jefferson's plantation in virginia to meet other descendants of monticello's enslaved community. >> the last time i went there was a big reunion and i'd never seen so many people at a reunion, and they were people of every color, shape, complexion. they were from everywhere, and there was camaraderie and warmth and something pleasant. and it was almost spiritual because we didn't know each other and yet everybody felt close, both whites and blacks. >> ms. williams tells us she'd always heard stories from relatives about descending from the african-american community and that one female in each jen ration of their family was supposed to be named sally for sally hemmings. her mother she said was named sally. although she has lived in oakland for decades there's something about virginia when she travels there that alway

williams is a descendant of sally hemmings, one of thomas jefferson's slaves with whom he had severalhildren. it was only in recent years ms. williams officially learned she is the great great-granddaughter of sally's old brother peter hemmings. a few years ago she traveled to jefferson's plantation in virginia to meet other descendants of monticello's enslaved community. >> the last time i website there was a big reunion, and there were people of every color, shape, complexion. they were from everywhere. and there was camaraderie and warmth and something pleasant, and it was almost spiritual because we didn't know each other and yet everybody felt close, both whites and blacks. >> ms. williams tells us she'd always heard stories from relatives and that one female in each generation of her family was supposed to be named sally for sally hemmings. her mother she says was named sally. there's something about virginia when she travels there that always makes her feel right at home. >> i ms. williams will be included in monticello's virtual independence day commemoration starting online a

he's a descendant of sally hemmings. one of thomas jefferson's slaves with whom he had several children. and officially learned she's the great great granddaughter of sally's older brother peter hemmings. a few years ago mr. williams traveled to jefferson's plantation in virginia mo monticello to meet other descendants. >> the last time i went there was a big reunion and i've never seen so many people at a reunion. and people of every colo shape, cop flexion. they were from everywhere. and there was camaraderie and warmth and something pleasant and it was almost spiritual. because we didn't know each other. and yet everybody felt close. both whites and blacks. >> reporter: she had always heard stories about descendant from there. and her mother was named sally. although she's lived in oakland for decades, there is something about virginia when she travel there is that always makes her feel right at home. >> and at 8:00 this morning, monticello's virtual independence day commemoration got under way which did include miss w

they have uncovered sally hemmings' bedroom which is a cave-like structure under one of the wings ofy brother and i used to play in that room when we were boys, and they put it on display as part of the history of mont chillo. this is where sal hedges lived. this is the woman who had six of jefferson's children lived, and you can take tours that -- that just explore slave life, so i think that it gives a picture of jefferson in full with his flaws and his greatness intact. >> your argument is the jefferson memorial should come down because it doesn't do that. let me bring in shannon monaire. this is you dressed like your great great great grandfather, and you say they owned people and i'm here because of it. my ancestors had a dream and a now it's up to all of us living in america today that no one section concluded from the promise of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. what does the jefferson memorial represent to you as you argue for it to come down? >> well, i think a lot of these public statues were put in place for the wrong reasons and to glorify people who are flawed,

that onel research such slaveowner was thomas jefferson who fathered children with his slave, sally hemmings. continued ton serve him. hypocrisy -- it is more than hypocrisy, it is rape. it is part of the history and the dna of the united states. some of this is not addressed in books. it is veiled by statues. the documentated we are celebrating today as an expression of hope and , that everyone has since enshrined and embrace. but jefferson didn't believe that all men were created equal, as we know. fortunately his words spoke louder than his attitudes. remained -- wes can all agree on this independence day weekend, the expression of the great possibility that this country is supposed to be is still. the only country that was founded on an idea not on race, ash -- nationality or ethnicity. it was founded on an idea. if we have not yet created a perfect union, i think we have created a more perfect union. we should escape from the shadows of statues that say otherwise and continue moving forward. host: harold holzer is the public policy introduced -- institute director, and a lincoln form ch

i wonder as a defendant of sally hemming, how that sits with you. >> it's the same thing, one of my whiteferson cousins, lucius k. tresscot said, put harriet tubman there, she represented freedom. i think it's a great thing to show a diverse group of people helped found this country. i think it's a great option. i also think people will find quarl quarrels out there with anybody, even jesus, people who aren't christian will say this and that. maybe we should do something that's a representation of freedom, maybe it's not a person, maybe it's a peace sign. one of the things this president really needs to do, but i don't think it's going to happen, is to bring this country together, to unify people and stop being divisive and dividing people. we need peace and unity. some of our leadership won't be able to do that, so you can do it in your own neighborhoods, with your own family and friends and the people you meet on the corner. this is the opportunity to be the change we want to see in the world. >> shannon, thank you for your time. >>> that wraps it up for this hour. i'm alicia menendez.

never thought we would see that happen sally hemmings had six children fathered by thomas jefferson >e they are descendants of thomas jefferson and the slave sa hemmings >> are you proud to be a hemming? >> i'm proud very proud >> tell us a story about our family connects us to our ancestors, it brings light and life to the enslaved families here. >> reporter: jefferson's place in their family history is the source of continual debate his legacy is very much alive. do you think there's a connection between the protests that are happening now and what happened here a couple hundred years ago? >> absolutely. us growing up here in monticello, we were saying these slave families mattered to this property when you come and look at all of jefferson's accomplishments, these people mattered. right now the movement is black lives matter >> reporter: brenda believes jefferson was a hypocrite. >> i just don't think that he really truly believes that all men are created equal. >> reporter: jefferson declared slavery a moral depravity and a hideous blot but was often silent when it came to persona

that onel research such slaveowner was thomas jefferson who fathered children with his slave, sally hemmingscontinued ton serve him. hypocrisy -- it is more than hypocrisy, it is rape. it is part of the history and the dna of the united states. some of this is not addressed in books. it is veiled by statues. the documentated we are celebrating today as an expression of hope and , that everyone has since enshrined and embrace. but jefferson didn't believe that all men were created equal, as we know. fortunately his words spoke louder than his attitudes. remained -- wes can all agree on this independence day weekend, the expression of the great possibility that this country is supposed to be is still. the only country that was founded on an idea not on race, ash -- nationality or ethnicity. it was founded on an idea. if we have not yet created a perfect union, i think we have created a more perfect union. we should escape from the shadows of statues that say otherwise and continue moving forward. host: harold holzer is the public policy introduced -- institute director, and a lincoln form chai