KSU SALEM 'Jefferson's Children' co-author to speak about his experiences

The book began with a Monticello reunion photo, for which some Jefferson descendants refused to pose.
SALEM -- In 1999, Shannon Lanier attended a family gathering at Monticello. Some of the white descendants of Thomas Jefferson greeted him with open arms. One woman shuddered at his extended hand.
Lanier, 21, whose family members say the nation's third president was their ancestor through his slave Sally Hemings, is co-author with photojournalist Jane Feldman, of the Random House book "Jefferson's Children: The Story of an American Family."
The experience spurred Lanier to retrace the steps of his ancestors. He traveled across the United States, interviewing historians and descendants of the Jeffersons and Hemings.
He will speak about the book and his experiences at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the lecture hall at the Kent State University Salem Campus. The lecture is free.
How it began: Lanier and Feldman crossed paths when Feldman showed up at the Jefferson reunion, hoping to take a family photograph. Feldman told Publisher's Weekly that although the media present had been told to disperse after the keynote speaker's address, Lanier, then 19, grabbed a microphone and asked all the Hemingses to gather for the photograph.
Feldman said she was stunned when more than 80 people jumped in for the photo. She captured the moment on film, much to the horror of some of the Jeffersons who stood aside.
The moment was an emotional one for Feldman and the family photo proved to be the launching pad for the book.
Lanier is an electronic media production student at Kent State University. In his hometown of Cincinnati, he was the host of the Emmy Award-winning television show "Real Exchange," which explored issues important to today's young people. He was also the host of "Good Morning Kent," a live daily broadcast from KSU.
Lanier has also been a leader and mentor with Teen Institute Drug Free Program, a national nonprofit group which promotes a drug-free lifestyle for teen-agers and provides counseling and guidance for teen-agers in need.