Gabrielle E.

Zaa'Kirah's Project

I chose to do a letter written by Harriet Hemings to her mother speaking on how her life has changed. What inspired me to do this is Harriet. Throughout the book, she has been struggling to figure out if she wanted to be free, or remain a slave. This letter is kind of showing that she is still a little confused as to who she is. I think it’s going to take a while for Harriet Hemings to know that she is Elizabeth Lacklands, but she's happy to be free.

November 1822

Dear Mama,
It’s been three months since I have left Monticello. Well, I am writing this letter to tell you that I have made it to Washington City safely. I go by the name Elizabeth Lacklands, Mama. I’m working at Washington Orphan Asylum. There are female orphans that live there that are fed, clothe, and need to be educated and I am teaching them. Jane, Thad’s sister, is allowing me to live with herself and her husband until I am able to make out on my own. It is wonderful here so far. I’m getting use to the white world…a little. People work to serve me. I guess I already knew that…but it’s me…or is it really me? Well, the weather up here is a little frigid. Reminds of the times when I saw Bev before he left. He told me information that I’m not quite ready to speak or write about, but I guess I will mention it some other time. I miss you, Mama…Mammy Ursula, Mad, Bev, and Eston, too. I still miss the vegetable garden, the house, the lawns, the trees, Thurston, my good friend, Burwell, telling Mister Jefferson things to put in his Farm Book. Yes, I said Mister Jefferson. Thad told me that I should do my best to upset my natural balance and call him mister. Mister Jefferson. When I left, Mama, he cried. Did you know that? He cried for me. Never will I have ever thought that day will come. He cares about me, Harriet Hemings! At that moment, I felt pain, but I also felt happiness because I am now free. I am now able to do things without anyone holding me back. Thanks Mama. Thanks for everything. I thank Mister Jefferson and Mammy Ursula, too. I couldn’t forget this basket. She told me that it has special stitching that will keep the witches away. Good ol’ Mammy. Speaking of thanks, I have to get ready to write my letter to Mister Randolph. I guess this is a talk to you later. Tell everyone I said hello. I love you, Mama.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Lacklands

Issata's Collage

I decided to design a collage because i wanted my creative response to not only be different from my other classmates,but to also show a visual response of the novel I read. My inspiration for this project was the vivid descriptions that Anna Rinaldi used in the novel. I wanted them to come to life. The scene from the book that i decided to illustrate was the departure of Harriet. To me, this was the most important scene in the book. It shown that Harriet matured from her naive thoughts of life as a slave. She finally became wise to know that it was her own good to leave Monticello and be freed from slavery, whether she was being treated well or not.

Penny's Project

Durrah H. Project on Wolf by the Ears

I choose this project on Wolf by th Ears because I was curious about Jefferson's black family. What inspired me about this project was how Harriet at the end rode away as a free woman. I have learned more creativity from creating this project.

By: Durrah H.

Tiffany's Project

I picked this scene to draw because I think it's one of the most important scene in the book. She's off to the new world and she's not a slave anymore. It's a joyous and a sad moment too. It's joyous because she's off to the new world and not a slave any more but then again she's leaving her family members and the people she loves behind. The book inspired me to draw this scene because it seems like an important event in the book. I learned that it's hard to leave your family members behind but then again you'll know they're happy for you because you're off to a better world where people treats you nicely.


Tho Nguyen 10E

Shanade's Project- Forgetting The Past

The reason why I chose to do an illustration of Wolf by The Ears is because I feel that I could explain the book to others better by using pictures. I also think that using a picture is more interesting because it catches a persons attention more . Color tends to appeal to a persons emotions as well as their attention.ShanadeC.
ShanadeC.

poem-Is He or Is He Not

I chose to write a poem because it shows creativity. It also shows that I have a clear understanding of the story. I was inspired to write a poem because everyone else was doing a collage and I wanted to do something different. It was something to challenge my brain.

Is He or Is He Not?
I don’t know who my father is
And this is where it all begins.
There is a man who treats me well
Like a daughter perhaps but no one tells
Especially my mother, and my oldest brother
They don’t feel the pain deep down under
That lies on my heart
Because I’ve been keep apart
from the man who created me
About this man
His name is Thomas Jefferson
I know him as master
He befriended my mother
Before and after
She had five children
Four boys and one girl
Could this be our father?
Is his love for us real?
He gratifies us more
Then any other slave
Instead of hammy downs and rags
We get nice clothes and books that
No slave ever had
All these things to me is a shock
Could he be my father
Is He or Is He Not?

kiona d.

Mary's project

Khalil's project

Charlotta's project

The reason I decided to do a drawing is because I wanted to show my own ideas of what I thought of the book and use my own imagination. I decided to draw a wolf being held by the ear is because in the story Harriet Hemmings said, “America has a wolf by the ear”. I really like this metaphor and I thought is was very creative.

The reason why i did this project is because a collage would be intresting to do. I thought that the scene i did was intresting. The thing that inspired me to do this project is that i never did a collage before. From doing this scene in my collage i learned slave was being treated fairly.

Response Question: Advice from the Master (182-end)

In the last few pages of the novel, Jefferson gives Sally several distinct pieces of advice. Choose ONE of his statements and analyze what he was saying.
-What was the true message of his advice?
-Do you think he really believed this statement?
-Do you think Sally will follow this piece of advice, or choose to go against it?

Jefferson in Paris

When Jefferson traveled to Paris (before he became president), he took Sally Hemings and other slaves with him. While Hemings could have conceivably stayed in France as a free woman, she chose to return to Monticello with Jefferson and remain a slave.

These events were fictionalized and turned into a film called "Jefferson in Paris," made in 1995. (Pictured are Nick Nolte as Jefferson and Thandie Newton as Sally Hemings.)

Read more about the film here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113463/

Response Question: "not one scrap of paper" (183-end)

Before he leaves, Beverly shares with Harriet that Jefferson keeps no written record of his supposed children -- only in the lists with his other slaves. Why is this relevant to the siblings?

What is the effect of keeping a written record of things? What are some of the ways that you and/or your family write things down?

Response Question: Hemings' "dream world" (182-end)

On page 193, Harriet describes that, for her mother Sally, there is a line "drawn between her dream world and the real one... I don't understand how she can keep them separate. But I think she knows she must or she will go mad."

What does Sally Hemings' "dream world" look like? Give a specific details about what her dream looks like. Do you think her maintaining this dream is a good or bad thing?