The accidental drowning of her young son shattered Lisa Griffin’s perfect life. She finds her own breath again as she writes the gripping narrative of slave Sally Hemings’ relationship with her white master and eventual president, Thomas Jefferson. As she gives Sally the voice she never had, Lisa finds her own way to freedom from an oppressive marriage to an older African American surgeon.
A contemporary rich, white doctor’s wife. A black colonial slave. Separated by time, race, and money. United by betrayal. Bonded by tragedy. One in their search for freedom.
This controversial novel dares to look realistically at Jefferson's complicated relationship (Master-slave, lover) with Sally Hemings. Granted, he was "progressive" for his time and advocated abolition of slavery, but he never granted his long time lover, Sally Hemings, her freedom and the children he bore with her, although 7/8th caucasian, were nevertheless, his property. "One Drop of Me" refers to the fact that it only took one drop of black blood to make a person a slave.