Born in the same year on the same plantation, Thomas Jefferson and an enslaved manservant, Jupiter (whose surname may have been Evans), grew up alongside each other, met their respective wives in Williamsburg, and lived out the rest of their days at Monticello. Yet Jupiter was enslaved by Jefferson, and this imbalance of power fundamentally shaped their lives and relationship in countless ways.
This live Q&A featured Thomas Jefferson, interpreted by Bill Barker, and Jupiter, interpreted by @colonialwmsburg's Jamar Jones. These two veteran interpreters discusses the relationship between Jefferson and Jupiter in character before taking a step back to share insight into the challenges that first-person interpreters face when sharing difficult history.
Live Q&A: Thomas Jefferson & Jupiter Evans
This livestream was made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.