I'm Jenna Wortham.

I'm Wesley Morris.

We're two culture writers at the New York Times.

This is still processing.

As you know, I went to the University of Virginia for undergrad and during my time there and

especially in the years after, I've become both fascinated and a little horrified by the

relationship of the University to the legacy of slavery.

And in particular, everything that Monticello, which is Thomas Jefferson's plantation,

represents, looks over the University, all built by slave labor.

A few years ago, I read that Monticello was going to start integrating more of the narrative

of the enslaved folks that were in bondage at Monticello.

And in particular, they were going to restore the living quarters of Sally Hemings and include

them as part of the tour.

I'm always really interested in what we choose to remember and how that allows us to decide

what to forget.

Do you mean like there's just only so much space?

No, I mean like what is selected for the historical record and what those emissions allow us to

overlook and in the case of Charlottesville, you know, it's allowed the University of Monticello

and honestly just the historical narrative to carry on this kind of facade that there

was some sort of romantic affair between Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings.

I mean, she's always called his mistress.

How can you be a mistress if you're in slave?

...