by James A. Bacon

So much for civil discourse at the University of Virginia. So much for empathetic listening. Soothing aspirations emanate from the President’s Office, but it appears that many members of the University community haven’t gotten the message — or just plain reject it.

A week ago, The Cavalier Daily student newspaper published an article reporting that the UVA administration had suspended the Student Guides from giving historical and student-orientation tours. By way of context, the article noted that Bert Ellis, a Board of Visitors member and former president of The Jefferson Council, had been a vocal critic of the Guides, some of whom gave what amounted to half-hour walking tours of the history of racial oppression at UVA.

The article then quoted Ellis as follows:

“​​The University Guides now seem intent on ‘contextualizing’ Mr. Jefferson as a slave holder and rapist, and to completely undermine his part of the Founding of America and our University,” Ellis said in a 2021 article published to The Jefferson Council’s website.

Ellis has been labeled as a racist and a homophobe by people who disagree with his political views, and he has shrugged off the slurs. But even he was unprepared for this response.

Whether one regards Thomas Jefferson as president, polymath, author of the Declaration of Independence and founder of UVA or prefers to think of him as a slave holder who impregnated (or “raped”) his slave Sally Hemings, one would hope that in a collegial atmosphere like UVA people could discuss their disagreements with appeals to facts and reason.

Not all of the 75 to 100 people who contacted him after the article was published were disagreeable, Ellis tells me. Several agreed with him. Many insisted that Jefferson was a slave holder and did father Sally Hemings’ children without engaging in insults and ad hominem attacks. But a disheartening number were just vile.

How sure can we be that these responses came from members of the UVA community? We can’t know for certain. Authors of the nastygrams invariably declined to provide their names, and they used anonymous email addresses. But The Cavalier Daily was the only media outlet covering the controversy that mentioned Ellis by name, and it is only at UVA where Ellis is an object of scorn and derision. So, I’d say the burden of proof is on those who might suggest that most authors of the profane, hate-filled screeds to follow are not affiliated with the University.

If you are offended by vulgar profanity, read no farther. What follows are verbatim extracts from the emails to Ellis.

Thomas Jefferson was a slave owner. He fathered children with more than one of his slaves. You’re a disgrace of a human being.

The roots of US history are in slavery. That’s a fact no matter how far your head is up your ass.

Thomas Jefferson owned slaves, you useless racist fat fuck. 

It’s a historical fact that Thomas Jefferson was a slave owner. Sorry if that offends you! Maybe you should stop being such a triggered snowflake.

I’m gonna guess you’re jealous it’s not culturally acceptable to both own and rape children these days. At least that’s the vibe your headshot brings. 

Asshole, Thomas Jefferson was a Slaveholder. 

You’re a complete fucktard. Eat shit bitch and prepare yourself for the misery to come, you twisted, delusional cunt.

 Hey Snowflake…No escaping facts. Our Founders were largely un-evolved 18th Century patriarchal types that did some despicable things. Frankly the fact that Mr. Jefferson was a slave holder and rapist, doesn’t undermine his part of the Founding of America and our University, but shows that social progress is possible, something people of your ilk are willing to suppress.

Disgusting that you, as a member of the Board of Visitors for an institution of higher learning, an institution of EDUCATION, is afraid of the truth. 

Thomas Jefferson Was A Slaveholder
Thomas Jefferson Raped His Slaves
Thomas Jefferson Was a Slaveholder
Thomas Jefferson Raped His Slaves
Thomas Jefferson Was A Slaveholder
Thomas Jefferson Raped His Slaves

I’m writing to inform you that Thomas Jefferson was, in fact, a slaveholder who repeatedly raped a child he owned as property. In fact, Sally Hemmings — the enslaved woman Jefferson famously raped for many years — was actually half-sister to Jefferson’s wife Martha, meaning that his father-in-law John Wayles sold his own daughter into sexual slavery, and Martha Jefferson stood by as her own sister spent her life preyed upon by Thomas. Accurately reporting this history is commendable, and you are a twat. lol you

Thmas Jefferson was a racist slaveholder.   fascist shitheel lmao

weirdo.   real universities teach history.

You are a slavery apologist POS.   Shame on you. Resign from the board immediately.

Thomas Jefferson was a slaveholder.  He owned slaves and fucked at least one of them often enough to have four enslaved children who survived.

Jefferson was a slave holder and chud.  You wish you could be like Jefferson but instead you’ll have to settle with being a chud! Hahaha you’re so obese you’ll die from a massive heart attack in about 5 years. Cunt! 

I heard you were a big, dumb, racist piece of shit who doesn’t know jack shit about history. Good thing you’re rich, cause you’re very fucking dumb. Anyway, Thomas Jefferson was a slaveholder. He raped his slaves. If you’d had a quality education you would have learned this but happy to help fill the gap as an educator.

James A. Bacon is contributing editor to The Jefferson Council, which upholds the Jeffersonian legacy of free speech, civil dialogue, and viewpoint diversity.