Williams: 'My story is their story, too': Gayle Jessup White, a descendant of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings, reclaims her heritage. communications Hardcover Audrey Edwards, author of American Runaway: Black and Free in Paris in the Trump Years, "Thanks to Gayle Jessup White who sometimes feels 'battle scarred after another day spent fighting for equal recognitionof Black Historythat for many is an afterthought.' Indeed, it is a homecoming for us all. Cheryl Wills, Emmy Award-winning journalist and author ofThe Emancipation of Grandpa Sandy Wills, "From a girl of Black middle-class privilege to a politically charged race woman driven to unearth the truth of her ancestry, Gayle Jessup White takes us on a journey of self-discovery. Gayle Jessup White's multilayered autobiography, Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and a Descendant's Search for Her Family's Lasting Legacy, is divided into three parts.The first, most directly autobiographical part of Reclamation offers a fascinating look at Black life in a prosperous neighborhood in Washington, D.C., during the 1960s and '70sa neighborhood that has . Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and a Descendant's Search for Her Family's Lasting Legacy, 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. It was reported in the Richmond newspaper that Jefferson had relations with an enslaved woman, Dusky Sally, she was called. MARTIN: Why do you think it is that you - there was a part of you that always believed it and just had faith in it. For four decades, she researched familial connections to Its an American story.. And that's the story I heard my sister share with my dad when I was a 13-year-old girl growing up in Washington, D.C. MICHEL MARTIN, BYLINE: So you had no knowledge of this until she brought it - how did she know about this? See where she turns for help on todays 700 Club. Days. For years, Gayle would dream of one day finding out if what they said was true. About the Author Gayle Jessup White is a third generation Washingtonian whose lineage extends as far back as the indigenous people who inhabited the Chesapeake area before the . Gayle Jessup White of Henrico County, a descendant of the Jefferson and Hemings families, and the PR and community engagement officer at Monticello, stands on Mulberry Row, the home's main. Gayle Jessup White is the Public Relations and Community Engagement Officer at Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's legendary estate. She is currently the Foundations public relations & community engagement officer. Executive Mansion as well as the stories of the people who lived and worked We are here to help and encourage you! And so I don't work at reconciling who my white ancestors were and who my Black ancestors were. Jefferson, ultimately learning that she was not only a descendant of Jefferson And my sister was a little girl when she first heard this from Aunt Peachie. What are some unusual animals that have lived in and around the White House? Well, this would have been taboo back in the 1960s and early '70s. As Gayle followed her own leads, DNA research confirmed the long-told rumor that Jefferson had children with an enslaved woman named Sally Hemings. Bakari Sellers, New York Times best-selling author ofMy Vanishing Country, In her quest to discover the truth behind her family's oral legend of its connection to Thomas Jefferson, Gayle Jessup White reveals the truth of our national history: that 'white' and 'black' are inextricably bound by blood and heritage. Gayle taught journalism at VCU and created training programs for at-risk young adults. They were able to pass down character, dignity, strength, humanity, love, joy, pain, resilience, to their descendants. What are the dimensions of the White House? And then, of course, these stories were reported back when Jefferson was president back in 1801. Copyright 2023 HarperCollins Publishers. And that's how Janice (ph) learned of this story. She says, I always felt that if I could determine my ties to Jefferson, I could find out more about my family. She's a native Charlottean. And it's important to note as well that we know what happened at Monticello, but it wasn't unusual. Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. Gayle Jessup White, author of Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and a Descendant's Search for Her Family's Lasting Legacy. She is the public relations and community engagement officer at Monticello. Charlayne Hunter Gault, Armed with her newfound familial truth, the author . All rights reserved. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. I didn't know her. Gayle spent several years as a TV news reporter and anchor before becoming a public television producer and show host at her undergraduate alma mater, Howard. They were tough. It behooves us all to know that history. With Cinders help, Gayles four decades of research would soon culminate: Thomas Jefferson was her 5-times great grandfather, and Sally Hemings, her 4-times great aunt. Why do you think that was, that there's something about it that stuck with you? When an ultrasound reveals no movement and barely a heartbeat, they fear for their babys life. "Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.". White, Monticellos first public relations and Are you an author? If you have an immediate prayer need, please call our 24-hour prayer line at 800-700-7000. I'm not, but you are. JESSUP WHITE: Well, I feel that I was actually called to do this work. NPR's Michel Martin discussed the book with Jessup White, who describes herself as the five times great-granddaughter of Thomas Jefferson. She also serves on the Poplar Forest African American Advisory Group. She says, For many years I assumed I was descended from Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings. Its a story of people who in ways big and small resisted their circumstances, laid a foundation for their families, and contributed to their nation, she said. 90.3 Hickory 106.1 Laurinburg, PublishedNovember 10, 2021 at 9:00 AM EST. Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. Gayle says, Im proud of my relatives who were enslaved because they were up against so much. White proves that her transformative research and discovery is well worth the journey. Our Facebook Live series, White House History Live, delves into the history of the Executive Mansion as well as the stories of the people who lived and worked there. on his fathers side but also the great-great-great-granddaughter of Peter Gayles son, Charles, lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he attended school. Reclamation with Gayle Jessup White - White House Historical Association Explore the Initiative A Tour of the White House America's Most Famous House Music in the White House A Lyrical History of the American Presidency and People A Reflection of Culture, Values, and Achievements The White House Behind the Scenes Aunt Peachie was given to old wives tales, but the one thing that my sister believed that she said repeatedly was that you're descended from Thomas Jefferson, she would say. Tickets are $20 | Quick Members: $15. Living the Christian life is a journey. helps rewrite the estate's well-known narrative to include the hundreds of enslaved people who worked for Jefferson. The paradox, of course, is that the Founding Father who lyrically articulated Americas grandest expression of equality enslaved more than 600 human beings on his mountaintop plantation, Monticello. Plus, two long lost cousins A woman prays to her Hindu gods for healing, but gets no response. there. Join us in learning more about White House History right from your own home. So were really happy to be here., Having finished this book, she feels whole, gratified and moved by what she called a remarkable journey., The most amazing part for me has been getting the story told. Skip to main content. Senate Minority Leader Norment, Majority Leader Saslaw, among more than a dozen legislators who will not run again. And I've made those connections. Her international lineage is principally Nigerian and British. A former award-winning television reporter and anchor, Jessup White started her career at the New York Times. It was four generations of the Jefferson and Hemings families. You can cancel at any time. Davenport researched Getting Word while a Robert H. Smith Fellow at the International Center for Jefferson Studies in July 2017, and recently served as an adjunct professor of African American Art History at Fairfield University. A Black descendant of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings family explores Americas racial reckoning through the prism of her ancestorsboth the enslaver and the enslaved.Gayle Jessup White had long heard the stories passed down from her fathers family, that they were direct descendants of Thomas Jeffersonlore she firmly believed, though others did not. . And I've found my wholeness., A wholeness she hopes all Americans will soon share. But after years of detective work, aided by advances in DNA technology, she was finally able to piece together her family's past. One relative is a historical figure in her own right. And she announced that we're descended from Thomas Jefferson. As she walks the grounds of Monticello, Gayle Jessup White tells the story of those who once lived there - the enslaver, Thomas Jefferson, who enslaved more than 600 people, and the enslaved families he forced to work there. For four decades the acclaimed journalist and genealogy enthusiast researched her connection to Thomas Jefferson, to confirm its truth once and for all. A Black descendent of Thomas Jefferson and employee at Monticello, author Gayle Jessup White examined the legacies of her ancestors and the current racial. NPR's Michel Martin speaks with Gayle Jessup White about her book, Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and a Descendant's Search for Her Family's Lasting Legacy. communications at Gayle Jessup White, descendant of Thomas Jefferson, searches for her family's legacy By Erin Keever Published November 10, 2021 at 9:00 AM EST Listen 49:25 Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021 America. If we are going to heal as a country then we have to be honest about our complicated history, and it is very complicated and it's very painful. Can God change your life? She says, I recognize Jefferson now as being a human being. EPUB She is not only a direct Jefferson descendant, but is related to two well-documented families enslaved at Monticello - the Hemingses and the Hubbards. Get more than a Sunday sermon. "I couldn't put together in my 13-year-old mind how a little Black kid growing up in Washington, D.C. could be related to the third . And Richmond has evolved in the past decade or so. But it is also of great interest in general. Gayle Jessup White Author of "Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and a Descendant's Search for Her Family's Lasting Legacy," to be released by HarperCollins November 2021 But finding records of enslaved people from the 1700s wouldnt be so easy. We are the sum total of our backgrounds of our ancestors, and I didn't know who mine were. 2023 The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc., A nonprofit 501 (c)(3) Charitable Organization. . Visit Author Central to update your books, profile picture, and biography. JESSUP WHITE: Oh, thank you so much, Michel. privacypolicy@harpercollins.com. For four decades, she researched familial connections to Jefferson, ultimately learning that she was not only a descendant of Jefferson on his fathers side but also the great-great-great-granddaughter of Peter Hemings, Sally Hemings brother. Former NFL star Chad Johnson says he saved money by living inside Cincinnati Bengals stadium for 2 years. America has been undergoing a great reconciliation in which the sins of our past are being brought into the light. We are reconsidering how we remember the institution of slavery, and that includes the historical figures from that period. Please check your information and try again or call us at 1-800-759-0700. It was in 2016 that Gayle came on-staff at Monticello, educating the public about the legacy the good and the bad of one of Americas Founding Fathers. Pastors Rooftop Mission to Save Chicagos Southside, Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and a Descendant's Search for Her Family's Lasting Legacy, Former NBC Exec on Overcoming Overwhelming Tragedy. policy. event will be live streamed on the White House Historical Association's From First Lady Dolley Madison's sister Lucy Payne Washington's wedding in 1812 to the nuptials of President Joseph Biden and First A State Dinner honoring a visiting head of government or reigning monarch is one of the grandest and most glamorous On January 20, 1969, Richard Nixon was inaugurated as the thirty-seventh president of the United States. Although she lives in Richmond, Virginia, she still considers herself a DC girl. A former award-winning TV reporter and anchor, Gayle began her career in journalism at The New York Times, where she interned in the Washington Bureau. 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