Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton: Silenced Women’s Voices and Founding Mothers of Color: A Critical Race Theory Counterstory

Chill and swaggering colorbent Founding Fathers have been blowing away Hamilton audiences since 2015. And there is no doubt that Lin-Manuel Miranda created an artistic monumental vessel of empowerment for people of Color whose stories have been left out. Yet, when we dig deeper into the historical evidence that Hamilton is based on, we come across a treasure trove of questions regarding the women in the musical. Was Angelica really a feminist? What is Theodosia’s connection to the duel? Did Eliza know about her husband’s affair with Maria? Were Alexander and Angelica in love? And why is Sally voiceless as the one character who is based on a person of Color? These questions are explored using a Critical Race Theory intersectional lens as well as feminist and anti-racist scholarship.

Vanessa Vollmann holds a Ph.D. in American Studies. Her research focuseson voices that have been lost in dominant discourses at the intersection of race and gender. This includes critically investigating blockbuster popular cultural scripts, marginalization in legal structures, and reframing established storytelling of historical events.