I'm Jonathan K. Part and welcome to K-Part.

James Madison was one of our nation's founding fathers.

He was the fourth president of the United States, and his Montpelier estate was maintained

by about 300 enslaved people over more than 140 years.

Since 2018, the Montpelier Foundation was considered a leader in how the history of former

plantations could be told with the active involvement and leadership of the descendants

of the enslaved.

But that all fell apart in March when the Foundation stripped the Montpelier Descendants Committee

of its ability to propose future members to the board.

What happened, and is it possible for all voices to be heard in the telling of the complete

history of our nation?

The invisible founders of our country have never had a voice, and we owe it to them.

In this conversation, first recorded on April 14th for Washington Post Live, James French,

chair of the Montpelier Descendants Committee, explains why it's patriotic to accept what

he calls the wholeness and completeness of our shared American history.

Mr. French, welcome to K-PART on Washington Post Live.

Thank you very much.

It's a pleasure to be here.

So before we get into the controversy, tell us who are the members of the Montpelier

Descendants Committee and your specific connection?

Thank you.

Well, the Montpelier Descendants Committee represent the elected organization, the democratically

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