Warning: Undefined variable $num in /home/shroutdo/public_html/courses/wp-content/plugins/single-categories/single_categories.php on line 126
Warning: Undefined variable $posts_num in /home/shroutdo/public_html/courses/wp-content/plugins/single-categories/single_categories.php on line 127
Lauren F. Klein’s article discusses issues surrounding the social network analysis of Thomas Jefferson’s letters as president. Klein brings interesting points into account, such as the power relations evident in the relationships among various figures in Jefferson’s letters. For example, the subject most prominent in this article is Jefferson’s chef, James Hemings. Seen in several letters written by Jefferson, Hemings is continually referred to indirectly due to his status as an enslaved African American. Although Jefferson and Hemings shared a uniquely close relationship, from master to slave, Jefferson still referred to him and wrote about him as any other slave on paper. Phrases such as “servant James” were used by Jefferson to write to or about Hemings, despite Hemings’ ability to speak and write in two different languages. It’s intriguing that a search for “James Hemings” in the archives of Jefferson’s letters shows no results. This is because even after Hemings was emancipated, Jefferson referred to him in writing as “former servant James”. Jefferson would even ask to “receive him” or ask for someone to “send for” him. Through language that we can see with the text mining exercised with the letters that Klein brings into discussion, Jefferson shows a consistent position of power over Hemings regardless of his emancipation and true loyalty as a servant.