JOURNAL ARTICLE

Hiding in Plain Sight: What happens when a progressive city is forced to reckon with its connections to an unjust past?

  • Published In: American Scholar, 2025, v. 94, n. 3. P. 3 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: COLEMAN, JONATHAN 3 of 3

Abstract

The article focuses on the installation of a dress sculpture by artist Todd Murphy, which served as a tribute to Sally Hemings, and its implications within the context of Charlottesville, Virginia's complex history regarding race and Thomas Jefferson. The dress, displayed on a mannequin atop the Coal Tower, was intended to provoke thought about Hemings's legacy and the historical truths surrounding Jefferson's relationship with her. The piece reflects on the community's reactions to the revelation of Jefferson fathering children with Hemings, the subsequent societal upheaval, and the ongoing struggle for historical acknowledgment and healing in the wake of racial tensions, particularly highlighted by the events of the 2017 white supremacist rally in Charlottesville. The article concludes with a reflection on the importance of confronting history to foster understanding and progress. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:American Scholar. 2025/07, Vol. 94, Issue 3, p3
  • Document Type:Interview
  • Subject Area:Literature and Writing
  • Publication Date:2025
  • ISSN:0003-0937
  • Accession Number:186232705
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