I think the picture is incomplete without these facts: Sally Hemings was also the half-sister of Jefferson's late (and only) wife Martha. She was actually only 1/4 African; the rest of her DNA was of Welsh/English origin. Not to excuse what he did about it, but while in Paris Jefferson was probably still grieving over his wife who had died in 1782. I wonder how much Hemings may have resembled her half-sister.