This book is a comprehensive and scholarly work that delves into the lives of the Hemings family, who were enslaved at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. Annette Gordon-Reed reconstructs the intricate and often fraught relationships between the Hemingses and Jefferson, providing a detailed historical context and challenging previous narratives. The book won the National Book Award and is praised for its extensive research and nuanced portrayal of the Hemings family's experiences.

In 'On Juneteenth', Annette Gordon-Reed delves into the complex history of Texas and the event of Juneteenth, which marks the day when Major General Gordon Granger announced the end of slavery in Texas on June 19, 1865. The book is a blend of historical essays and memoir, examining the treatment of African Americans in Texas from the Spanish conquest to the present. Gordon-Reed challenges the myth of heroic white Texans and highlights the integral role of slavery in the formation of the Republic of Texas. She also shares her personal experiences growing up in a segregated Texas and her role in integrating public schools. The book explores the ongoing struggle for racial equality and the significance of Juneteenth as a national holiday, symbolizing the long journey towards racial justice in America.