Monticello was a site of enslavement for over four hundred men, women, and children. This livestream focuses on how we talk about slavery at Monticello, and on our efforts to foster honest and direct dialogue about slavery’s lasting impacts.
Veteran historical actor-interpreter Bill Barker, who is widely recognized as the foremost interpreter of Thomas Jefferson, discusses the challenges of talking about slavery “in character,” how the interpretation of slavery and race has changed during his long career, and how current events impact his work.
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.