Jefferson's Children

The Story of One American Family (Random House)
Book/Press/Speaking Tour and more

* Diversity * Family * Genealogy * History * Conflict Resolution
* The Legacy of Slavery * Identity * Human Rights
* Women’s Studies * Sociology * African American Studies

These are issues important to all of us. Along with coauthor and Jefferson/Hemings descendant, Shannon Lanier, we have worked to create our book Jefferson’s Children, The Story of One American Family (Random House)

The book is an exploration of race and culture in America that we have told through interviews with and photographs of family members, historians, scientists on all sides of the family debate.

We are proud that the book has become a powerful catalyst for discussion on issues of Race and Family. We both feel that the only way to confront racism is to discuss it, by learning to celebrate our differences and our commonalties. When people see how closely we are all related… their perceptions really change!

We have also expanded on the book by producing an interactive multimedia presentation that helps to demystify race and explore our interconnectedness. This works calls upon our shared background in Conflict Resolution work with young people.

To learn more about our book, press and speaking engagements please enjoy this section of the website.

“It just kind of dawned on me that day, with our family there together, that this was really what Dr. King was speaking of.  He had dreamed of a day when this would happen, when ‘the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.’  Forty years ago, people were dreaming about it and here it was happening in our family.  It wasn’t anything that I had prepared to say, it was just something that God had kind of showed me in that moment, and when I prayed I was just thankful to participate in that.”

- Rev. William Douglas Banks