У очима других: Томас Џеферсон
In the eyes of others: Thomas Jefferson

Summary/Abstract: This paper examines the contradictions between Thomas Jefferson’s Enlightenment ideals and the social reality of slavery that he helped shape and sustain. Through a combination of historical analysis, museological analyses of case studies from museums like Colonial Williamsburg and Monticello, the paper explores how Jefferson’s legacy is interpreted and contested today. Special attention is paid to his relationships with enslaved individuals such as Jupiter Evans and Sally Hemings, as well as his connection with Tadeusz Kościuszko, whose unfulfilled testament reveals Jefferson’s moral inertia. The study also highlights recent museum practices that attempt to “give voice to the silenced” by integrating the lives of the enslaved into public memory. By juxtaposing public commemorations with archival silences, the work questions how institutional memory is constructed. It argues that Jefferson’s life is not merely a symbol of American ideals but also a mirror reflecting the nation’s foundational contradictions. Ultimately, the paper calls for a more nuanced, multi-vocal engagement with Jefferson’s legacy as both a nation-builder and a slaveholder, challenging the boundaries of moral responsibility in historical interpretation.

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