Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, played a significant role in Black history. Jefferson is best known for drafting the Declaration of Independence, which famously states that “all men are created equal” and are entitled to “certain unalienable rights,” including “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”

However, Jefferson's legacy is complex when it comes to Black history. He owned enslaved people throughout his life, with estimates ranging from about 600 to more than 600 individuals who were enslaved by him at one point. Jefferson's relationship with slavery is a topic of much debate among historians, as he both acknowledged the immorality of slavery and yet participated in and profited from the institution.

One of the most well-known aspects of Jefferson's relationship with Black history is his affair with Sally Hemings, an enslaved woman who was also his wife's half-sister. They had several children together, and Jefferson's paternity of Hemings' children has been confirmed through DNA evidence.

Despite his contradictory views and actions regarding slavery, Thomas Jefferson's contributions to American history and the principles he espoused in the Declaration of Independence have had a lasting impact on the fight for civil rights and equality, including within the Black community.