Education & Dialogue

“Jefferson’s Children [is] not only a compulsively readable book but also an invaluable catalyst for discussion. Adults and children who read it will find themselves thinking about race, history and family in a new way.”
     
—Pittsburgh Post Gazette

Together, coauthors LaNier and Feldman have expanded upon their book to create an interactive presentation that serves as a catalyst for discussion on Race, Heritage, History, Sociology, Science, Conflict Resolution, and more. LaNier, a member of the nation’s most well known and provocative inter-racial family tree, interwove his observations with narratives of black, white and multi-racial family members, historians, scientists presenting varied points of view. Beautifully photographed and coauthored by Jane Feldman, known for her photographic work with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela, and Amnesty International, Jefferson’s Children, both the book as well as presentation, is a compelling exploration of race and culture in America. Lanier and Feldman give an inside view of the family bonds, heartfelt connections, and unexpected discoveries while creating the book, and throughout the decade that followed—shattering cultural stereotypes and illustrating the cultural richness and inspiring strengths inherent in America’s racial identity, Jefferson’s Children marks the first time that the intimate stories of the Jefferson’s and Hemings’s families have been told in-depth and in their own words.

“Jane Feldman’s photos are as fascinating as the text…”  —New York Times Book Review
 
  • “This is a wonderful book that helps to humanize our sometimes opaque third president. When the fuss subsides, all of us will realize how fortunate we are to share this complicated legacy.”
    — Ken Burns
  • “…An extraordinary extended family!”
    — Publishers Weekly
  • “…It is a fascinating story and the authors are remarkably courageous and magnanimous. The world is a slightly better place for it.”
    — Archbishop Desmond Tutu
  • “…The more one reads the heartfelt, at times searing, oral histories and looks at the portraits of black people who look white and white people who have black ancestors, the more artificial and meaningless the construct of race becomes.”
    — Chicago Tribune
  • “… A visual and verbal dialogue worthy of the complex feelings engendered when issues of race and racial diversity within families arise, especially when they have been hidden in family history.”
    — Black Issues Book Review