‘I wish he had done more to free enslaved people’: Thomas Jefferson’s descendant on his family’s complex legacy

The Guardian UK Wednesday 01 July 2026, 11:00 UTC By David Smith in Washington 1 min read

Key Points

Shannon LaNier, Jefferson’s sixth great-grandson, reflects on his lineage and the role of African Americans in the nation’s foundingWhen the US turns 250 years old on Saturday, Shannon LaNier will be reckoning with a fundamental contradiction in its origin story – and his own. LaNier is the sixth great-grandson of Thomas Jefferson, the founding father who wrote the Declaration of Independence and became the third president.

Shannon LaNier, Jefferson’s sixth great-grandson, reflects on his lineage and the role of African Americans in the nation’s founding

When the US turns 250 years old on Saturday, Shannon LaNier will be reckoning with a fundamental contradiction in its origin story – and his own.

LaNier is the sixth great-grandson of Thomas Jefferson, the founding father who wrote the Declaration of Independence and became the third president.

Thomas Jefferson’s (PERSON) Shannon LaNier (PERSON) Jefferson (LOCATION) African Americans (ORG) US (LOCATION) LaNier (PERSON) Thomas Jefferson (PERSON)

Originally published by The Guardian UK Read original →

MAGA advocate calls for ban on pregnant women traveling to US and ‘sterilization of all foreign visitors’ MAGA influencer Sean Davis made the ‘unhinged’ suggestions following Trump’s Supreme Court defeat on birthright citizenship - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments A fierce MAGA advocate has called for a ban on all pregnant foreigners and the “sterilization” of all visitors to the United States in a meltdown after the Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s executive order seeking...

The Independent World 5m ago

Several people dead after blaze breaks out at Antwerp apartment block, police say

Police warned locals affected by the smoke to close windows and doors and to shut off ventilation systems if necessary. Several people have died after a fire broke out at an apartment block in Antwerp on Wednesday, Belgian police said. A report came in of a blaze on the eighth floor of a building in the city's Linkeroever neighborhood at 9:53 am, Antwerp police said in a statement.

Euronews 6m ago

After Trading Attacks, U.S. and Iran Edge Back Toward Diplomacy

Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, advisers to President Trump, in Islamabad, Pakistan, in April. The met with Qatar’s prime minister on Tuesday to discuss the U.S.-Iran deal.

NYT World 8m ago

‘I wish he had done more to free enslaved people’: Thomas Jefferson’s descendant on his family’s complex legacy

Related Stories

Which WNBA players should be All-Star starters?

MAGA advocate calls for ban on pregnant women traveling to US and ‘sterilization of all foreign visitors’

Several people dead after blaze breaks out at Antwerp apartment block, police say

After Trading Attacks, U.S. and Iran Edge Back Toward Diplomacy