Page 2 Television Focus A Focus > ------------- ¡Xlyf ^liuUauh ©baerrier April 19, 2000 S U P P L E M E N T O F CONTRIBUTED STORY ^ o rtla n ù (©baerUer E ditor in Chief, Publisher Charles H. W ashington Editor Larry J. Jackson, Sr. Copy Editor Joy Ramos Business Manager G ary A nn Taylor Creative Director Shawn Strahan 4747 NE M artin Luther King, Jr., Blvd. Portland, O R 97211 503-288-0033 Fax 503-288-0015 e-mail: thefocus@portlandobserver.com subscriptiont'iportlandobserver.com Deadlines lor subm itted material: Articles: Friday by 5 p . m . Ads: Monday by Noon Focus welcomes freelance submissions. M anuscripts and photographs can be returned if accompanied by a self- addressed stamped envelope. All created display ads become the sole property of the newspaper and cannot be used in oth er publications or personal usage w ithout the w ritten consent of the general manager, unless the client has purchased the com position of th e ad. 1 W T V Porttead Observer In January 2000, the Thom as Jefferson Memorial Foundation issued a one-inch thick report stating that an exhaustive historical and forensic investigation “indicates a high p ro b a b ility that T hom as Jefferson fathered Eston Hemings, and that he most likely was the father o f all six o f Sally Hemings’ children...” The report supported what DNA tests had already suggested, and what descendants o f the slave Sally Hemings had been saying for nearly 200 years: that the famed Founding Father and author of the Declaration o f Independence had a long-term sexual relationship with his slave that resulted in six children, four of whom lived to adulthood. But w ith the paternity o f the Hemings children all but confirmed, the controversy is far from over. As the Monticello Association prepares to readdress the Jefferson- Hem ings issue at its May 6-7 annual meeting, FRONTLINE presents “Jefferson’s Blood,” a documentary produced by Thomas Lennon and narrated by a u th o r S h e lb y S te e le a irin g Tuesday, May 2 at 10 pm. on PBS (check local listings). Moving back and forth between Jefferson’s 18lh century world and the present day, the film recounts both the history of the Jefferson-Hemings relationship and the modern-day repercussions o f that relationship for the late presidents’ descendants-both black and white. Through interviews with historians an d J e f f e r s o n ’s 2 1 “ cen tu ry p ro g en y , “Je ffe rs o n ’s B lo o d ” examines how the issue o f the president’s paternity continues to divide families and spark national debate. The film also explores how Jefferson’s lifelong denial o f his “ shad o w fa m ily ” illu stra te s America’s continuing struggle with issues o f race and identity. Through interviews with historians and J e f f e r s o n ’s 2 1 “ cen tu ry p ro g en y , “J e ffe rs o n ’s B lo o d ” exam ines how the issue o f the president’s paternity continues to divide families and spark national debate. The film also explores how Jefferson’s lifelong denial o f his “ shad o w fa m ily ” illu stra te s America’scontinuing struggle with issues o f race and identity. “Jefferson represents a classic white problem,” author Steele says in the documentary. “How to live with an Shay Banks Young, a descendant o f Sally's son Madison, places flowers at , Jefferson's grave. P h o t o by T o r e B e r c s a k e r / Y2K spring Cleanup CORBIS SYGMA Martin Cleaning Service open evil (slavery) and yet maintainasenseofone’so w n , decency.” “Jefferson’s Blood” traces the racial divide am ong Additional Services C arpet cleaning includes I Hall Jefferson’s kin to the present • Auto * Boat Free day, where descendants both • R.V. Cleaning* Deodorizing Pre-Spray Traffic Area at no extra black and white continue to • Pet Odor Treatment cost * Stairs $1.50 Ea. grapple with issues o f race, • Dirt Resistant (Teflon) Protectior Upholstery Cleaning identity, and family. 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