James Madison's Montpelier We The People Spring 2017 Montpelier_WTP_Spring2017_FINAL-1-web | Page 10

WE THE PEOPLE
DESCENDANTS SHAPE INTERPRETATION OF SLAVERY
In 2007, as the Descendants Community was
The project, funded by a generous $10 million
established and growing, a small group of African
leadership gift from patriotic philanthropist David
American visitors toured the newly renovated
M. Rubenstein, underpins Montpelier’s most
mansion on the grounds of Montpelier. Looking out daring and transformative initiative: to tell an
from the terrace onto the South Yard, Iris Ford, a
honest and unabridged American story that relates
cultural anthropologist whose ancestors were enslaved to many of the wide-ranging social and cultural
at the adjoining Bloomfield plantation and whose
issues we face today.
grandfather worked at Montpelier for the duPonts,
asked a pointed question: “You spent $24 million on
“In order to be a relevant and valuable cultural
the Madisons, and all my people get are dead grass
institution,” says Montpelier President and CEO
and railroad ties?” So much emphasis had been put
Kat Imhoff, “our site cannot remain a monument
on the House, the Madison family, and the history
to half-truths. We have to tell the full story, one
of their achievements as people and political figures,
that every American who comes up that long
that the legacy of slavery and the African American
driveway, regardless of age, gender, or race, feels
contribution felt like a footnote. In the intervening
a part of, even though it’s complex and often
decade, Montpelier has worked diligently to bring
uncomfortable. The story of race in America and
the African American stories to the fore, committed
how we got to where we are today is as much a
to a more honest retelling of our Founding Era.
part of that as the story of how the Constitution
“We aren’t in the business of hero
was created. In fact, those two
worship,” insists Chew. “Instead
We have to tell the full story, one stories are inextricably linked.”
we must acknowledge that our
that every American who comes By genuinely engaging with and
founders were flawed humans.
up that long driveway, regardless seeking out African American
It is our job to celebrate these
of age, gender, or race, feels a
men and hold them accountable
descendants, Montpelier is
in equal measure.”
part of, even though it’s complex moving ever closer to creating
and articulating a more complete
and often uncomfortable.
The culmination of this work is
American story.
the groundbreaking exhibition
The Mere Distinction of Colour, slated to open to the
For Montpelier to become a relevant cultural
public on June 5, 2017. With its title inspired by a
institution that is able to connect the past to the
Madison quote, the exhibition is the fruit of 17 years present, the formula is simple: engage with African
of archaeological excavation, documentary research,
American stakeholders to tell a more holistic
and oral history and cultural exploration. This unique story of people and place and not shrink from the
experience examines the institution of slavery in the
uncomfortable realities about the construction of
Founding Era, celebrates the forgotten humanity
our nation. “I’m sorry if it hurts you for a moment,”
of Montpelier’s enslaved people, and confronts the
pronounces Montpelier descendant Lillie Pitchford,
legacies of slavery in today’s world.
“but it’s the truth.”
The Descendants Community has been active at
every step of the exhibition’s creation, providing
valuable information to Montpelier archaeologists
and museum staff regarding the interpretation of
their ancestral history. “As descendants, we provide
valuable perspective,” reminds Margaret Jordan,
Montpelier board secretary and descendant of
Paul Jennings. “[Our ancestors] helped to make
Montpelier what it was.”
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Hugh Alexander, a cousin of Margaret Jordan
and descendant of Paul Jennings, sums it up
best. Standing in the South Yard in front
of reconstructed slave quarters, he looks off
thoughtfully and says, “This isn’t African American
history. This is American history.”