lafayette questions jefferson about slavery and the declaration of independence

One of America's most complex and enduring figures, Thomas Jefferson struggled personally and publicly with an issue that would come to define our nation. Examining the possible relationship between Jefferson and Monticello slave Sally Hemings, the program includes comments from such noted historians as Pulitzer Prize-winner Gordon Wood, former Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, noted Jefferson biographer Merrill Peterson, and others. Featuring the voices of Edward Herrmann, Sissy Spacek, Danny Glover, and Robert Prosky.

"John Laurens' War" is the fight for freedom by John Laurens from South Carolina, for every slave in America along with every colonist. During the War for American freedom, John told his slave-owning father, "We have sunk the Africans...below the Standard of Humanity." Along with his freed slave, he defies his father and becomes a trusted top aide to George Washington, willing to risk everything to create liberty in the new nation. As a an extraordinary warrior, brilliant visionary, charming enigma, John takes on the British army, his father, the new congress and before his death at 27, becomes one of our greatest abolitionists ninety years before slavery ended in America.