Opening Up

Most importantly, is the adjustment in the narrative told to the general public. Curious about the scandal and mystery surrounding the expansive grounds of Monticello, the estate sees over half a million visitors. You’d want to hope all these people are told the most realistic version of events! The gradual shift now portrays a more holistic story, with the details of slaves which were once glossed over, now brought to light.

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Tom Nash, one of the expert guides at Monticello made the candid remark to his visitors “this is a spectacular view from this mountaintop.”“But not for the enslaved people who worked these fields. This was a tough job and some of them – even young boys 10 to 16 years old – felt the whip.” Whilst these days Monticello is green pastures and sprawling lawns, it was not enjoyed in that way hundreds of years ago. Conditions for the enslaved were harsh, cruel even; these people were considered as sub-human, and whilst were perhaps afforded better living conditions than many slaves in the U.S., were still treated in a manner which was almost intolerable.