Koji Steven Sakai drags Thomas Jefferson into a South Pasadena garage for a long-overdue audit. Using the “Dead Air” signal, Koji cross-examines the Founding Father on the massive plot holes in his legacy—from his 600-person forced labor camp to the massive debts that kept his own children in the service entrance. It’s a deep dive into the man who wrote the script for freedom but couldn't afford to live it.
The Audit Trail (References)
Slavery & Labor:
- The Nailery: Monticello's "Nail Boys"
- Sally Hemings: Life at Monticello | PBS NewsHour
- 1800 Election: The Three-Fifths Clause
Financials & Gadgets:
- Jefferson Bible: The "Razor and Glue" Gospels
- The Mammoth Cheese: 1,200lbs of Symbolism
- The Polygraph: The 18th Century CC Machine
- Weather Logs: 50 Years of Daily Data
Sound Credits
Pixabay: freesound_community, Vicki Hamilton, Hasin Amanda
Freesound.org: Gravel Footsteps by Sassaby (CC0)
13 mins