Sally On The Steps

04/14/2019

03/26/2019

Sally Hemings stands here to disrupt your view of the Jefferson Memorial.

In 1787, forty four-year old Thomas Jefferson chose fourteen-year old Sally Hemings, his slave, for a sexual relationship. First pregnant as a teenager, Sally ultimately bore Jefferson six children, four of whom lived to adulthood. Over the course of his political career, Jefferson took Sally Hemings to Paris and enjoyed her in Virginia, but never brought her to Washington D.C., where he and his powerful white male counterparts crafted our perception of American ideals. Jefferson’s eventual death in 1826 resulted in the sale of over 130 slaves to repay his debts. However, after years of negotiating for herself and her children before Jefferson's death, Sally earned legitimate freedom for her children in his will and unofficial freedom for herself.

Was there love in the relationship? Was it r**e? Are these even relevant questions when slavery was the law of the land?

I am here today to proudly support Miss Sally Hemings and all women whose sexual trials are disregarded in American history.

- Elizabeth Alt, Creator and Performer of Sally on the Steps

03/25/2019

Support Sally Hemings and her story this Saturday, March 30th at the Jefferson Memorial for the Sally on the Steps protest!

03/10/2019

After months of working to secure a new permit, Sally On The Steps is officially rescheduled! The protest performance art piece will occur at the Jefferson Memorial on Saturday, March 30th from 10:00AM-6:00PM. In case of inclement weather, the rain date will be Sunday, March 31st. See you on the steps!

11/09/2018

Due to a medical emergency with the primary performer of the piece, Sally on the Steps has been postponed to a later, undecided date. Further updates will be posted on social media when a new weekend is selected. We thank you for your support and patience.

11/06/2018

Vote today.

Voting is a right and privilege many Americans did not have for hundreds of years.

11/05/2018

This weekend come see and support Sally Hemings as she stand on the steps of the Jefferson Memorial, demanding recognition of women's sexual trials in American history and politics.

11/01/2018

We remember Ntozake Shange's incredible playwriting and artistry today. Her work will continue to influence art like Sally On The Steps for years to come.

Ntozake Shange (October 18, 1948 – October 27, 2018) was an American playwright and poet. As a Black feminist, she addressed issues relating to race and Black power in much of her work.

Shange is best known for the Obie Award-winning play for colored girls who have considered su***de / when the rainbow is enuf. She also penned several novels including Sassafrass, Cypress & Indigo (1982), Liliane (1994), and Betsey Brown (1985), a novel about an African-American girl who runs away from home. Among Shange's honors and awards were fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the Lila Wallace Reader's Digest Fund, and a Pushcart Prize.

You will be missed.

10/30/2018

Annette Gordon-Reed's research brought Sally Hemings the recognition she never had before.

https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/05/books/review/Foner-t.html

10/28/2018

Learn more about how Sally Hemings' story was used for performance art in 1989 to incite social change.

“Sally’s R**e is a social experiment in which Robbie McCauley, an African-American female performance artist, performs the black female subject out of victimization. Like any social or theatrical experiment, the results are rather inconceivable to gauge. However, according to my own reception, a...