Although Thomas Jefferson is primarily known as one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and the third President of the country, his legacy is complicated when it comes to Black history.

Jefferson was a slaveholder who owned over 600 enslaved individuals throughout his lifetime, including Sally Hemings, with whom he had a long-term relationship and several children. This aspect of his personal life has been the subject of much debate and controversy.

In terms of policy, Jefferson's views on race and slavery were also complex. While he publicly criticized slavery as a moral issue and called for its eventual abolition, he did not take significant action to end slavery during his time in office. He advocated for gradual emancipation, but did not believe in full racial equality.

Jefferson's legacy in Black history is therefore a nuanced one, with many historians and scholars grappling with the contradictions between his stated beliefs in liberty and equality and his personal and political actions regarding slavery and race.