. 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. 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 . Did any presidents live elsewhere during their administrations? [Her feats] required superhuman persistence. BookPage. Her international lineage is principally Nigerian and British. I mean, the fact that your ancestors owned and in many ways mistreated horribly some of your other ancestors, and that contradiction lives in you. Sponsor: Monticello TOPIC FREQUENCY Gayle would spend years following clues, tracing her family tree, and scouring historical records. Gayle Jessup White is the Public Relations and Community Engagement Officer at Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's legendary estate. Susan Fales-Hill, television producer and author ofAlways Wear Joy, Reclamationinstantly reverberates with those of us who are desperate to rebuild our family trees, especially for Americans who lived during the colonial era. She is a direct Jefferson descendant, and is also related to two well-documented families enslaved at Monticellothe Hemingses and the Hubbards. Gayle taught journalism at VCU and created training programs for at-risk young adults. For four decades, she researched familial connections to 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. 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 arrival of Europeans. And Richmond has evolved in the past decade or so. I'm very comfortable with who I am and take complete ownership of my place in society and as a descendant of enslaved people. 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. 90.3 Hickory 106.1 Laurinburg, PublishedNovember 10, 2021 at 9:00 AM EST. They were treated as possessions. I didnt have an epiphany. Its important to look at each other and to work through those differences and see ourselves as Americans and recognize the kinship. In her book, The Other Side of Yet, Michelle Hord details the excruciating loss of her beloved seven-year-old daughter, Gabrielle, at the hands of Doctors advise a young mother to abort after they determine her pregnancy is not viable. as a Jefferson descendant. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, 442-H New York Standard Operating Procedures. Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. Her discoveries there opened a window into who her ancestors were: overcomers who helped build America while being oppressed by slavery. Gayle They were able to pass down character, dignity, strength, humanity, love, joy, pain, resilience, to their descendants. Hardcover A graduate of Kenyon College in Ohio, he received a masters degree in American Studies from Fairfield University and is currently pursing his doctorate in U.S. history at Georgetown University. 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. But finding records of enslaved people from the 1700s wouldnt be so easy. That's why I'm at Monticello. Gayle Jessup White is the Public Relations & Community Engagement Officer at Monticello, Thomas Jeffersons legendary estate. And my sister was a little girl when she first heard this from Aunt Peachie. That's sacred ground for me, says Gayle. Gayle Jessup White, a five-times great-granddaughter of Jefferson and four-times great niece to Hemings, Jefferson's slave, will speak during a dinner sponsored by the Mecklenburg Chapter Sons of the American Revolution at the Hilton Charlotte Executive Park Hotel, 5624 Westpark Drive off I-77. They were kin, with one family owning the other. And I went to my dad first, Daddy, how could we be descended from Thomas Jefferson? Two people were injured in a crash involving one of the most iconic vehicles in television history, Missouri officials say. It ended up being a good fit for us. But after years of detective work, aided by advances in DNA technology, she was finally able to piece together her family's past. Gayle Jessup White began her career at The New York Times and was an award-winning TV reporter before becoming Monticellos first community engagement officer in 2016. After she was named a Jefferson Studies Fellow, Jessup White discovered her family lore was correct. Our Facebook Live series, White House Biographer Jeffrey Frank discusses his new book on Harry Truman. It would behoove all of us to be as curious about our heritage as White. But more important, as I began to understand the history, being descended from the people he enslaved and knowing who they were became a more important part of my identity.. Copyright 2023 HarperCollins Publishers. White discovered she is the great-great-great-granddaughter of Peter Hemings, Sally Hemings brother. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. will be especially interesting to amateur genealogists. White, Monticellos first public relations and Trade PB, Format: View the profiles of people named Gayle Jessup White. It serves at a metaphor not just for my family, Gayle says, but for Black families in America to understand - and for all people to acknowledge - that our ancestors helped build this country. 90.7 Charlotte 93.7 Southern Pines Gayle Jessup White is the Public Relations & Community Engagement Officer at Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's legendary estate. Her family tree traces back to Thomas Jefferson, our third president. Gayle Jessup White had long heard the stories passed down from . But it is also of great interest in general. We are the sum total of our backgrounds of our ancestors, and I didn't know who mine were. She also hopes that people see themselves and their families in mine. CONNECT: In her book, Reclamation, Gayle chronicles her journey to find her heritage, and more. What makes the Justices so elite? They were strong. You have permission to edit this article. I needed to know that to feel whole. In a real-life version of Roots,GayleJessupWhites compelling exploration of her family ties to Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings family demonstrates that Americas complex racial history is written in our DNA. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. "Reclamationis a quintessential American story that should be required reading for anyone who doesn't understand the true contributions of African-Americans to this nation and how vital our presence was and remains to the core principles of democracy and freedom." ALBEMARLE Gayle Jessup White spent four decades of her life exploring her connection to Thomas Jefferson, a passion born out of her family's oral history that they were his direct. Hardcover For four decades the acclaimed journalist and genealogy enthusiast researched her connection to Thomas Jefferson, to confirm its truth once and for all. Tickets are $20 | Quick Members: $15. Getting Word has significantly changed the interpretation of African-American life during enslavement under Thomas Jefferson. Her 30-year career includes pubic relations, news reporting and anchoring, and public speaking. JESSUP WHITE: Well the person who told my sister this was a woman in the family called Aunt Peachie (ph). God made it possible for you to know. Are you an author? Open VISIONS Forum: Gayle Jessup White and Andrew M. Davenport MA'17 A Report from Monticello: Restoring African American Narratives to Thomas Jeffersons Plantation", Date: Wednesday, February 12, 2020 It was reported in the Richmond newspaper that Jefferson had relations with an enslaved woman, Dusky Sally, she was called. Time. Her curiosity about how her Black family could be related to Jefferson drove her to study her familys genealogy. Used under license. A Black descendent of Thomas Jefferson and employee at Monticello, author Gayle Jessup White examined the legacies of her ancestors and the current racial. If anything, Reclamation demonstrates how illusory and yes, paradoxical American identity can be. Gayle Jessup White is a communications consultant, writer, and realtor. So there was no way that I could have pieces to the puzzle such as I did not and pursue it, not to want to put it together. It also traces back to Sally Hemings, Jefferson's slave who . Thousands of Images covering the History of the White House, Official White House Ornaments, Books & More. 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MARTIN: I want to mention that you are now working at Monticello, which must be a kind of a head-snapping experience. Discover steps to bring you closer to Christ. How do you think about that? Facebook Live series, White House History Live, delves into the history of the She is currently the Foundations public relations & community engagement officer. Oral history matters because for many Black people that's all we have, Gayle explains. As people say, it is what it is. Thousands of Images covering the History of the White House, Official White House Ornaments, Books & More, White House History Live: Reclamation with Gayle Jessup White. Zillow Group is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for individuals with disabilities. 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. It is my right and the right of every descendant of enslaved people to claim their stake in America.. *This is a promotional service of HarperCollins She has written and spoken extensively about her work at Monticello and currently lives in Virginia. We are reconsidering how we remember the institution of slavery, and that includes the historical figures from that period. And Sallie Hemmans Whites great-great-grandmother was the daughter of Peter Hemings, an older brother of Sally Hemings. Because they were extraordinary people, and they need to be heard, and their lives have been forgotten. Former NFL star Chad Johnson says he saved money by living inside Cincinnati Bengals stadium for 2 years. She grew up hearing the lore that her family is descended from our countrys third president, Thomas Jefferson. 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.' I didn't know her. NPR's Michel Martin discussed the book with Jessup White, who describes herself as the five times great-granddaughter of Thomas Jefferson. And my grandmother was from Charlottesville. JESSUP WHITE: I had some facts before me. We have the documentary evidence because every time Jefferson returned home from being in Washington during his administration as president, Sally Hemings would have a baby nine months later. (l-r) Andrew M. Davenport and Gayle Jessup White. Download the free myCBN app. If you wish to report an issue or seek an accommodation, please let us know. She lives in Virginia. 5:30pm. That's why I'm here, because of them. For generations, historians and the American public alike ignored the stories of descendants of the Founding Fathers enslaved families. Gayle explains, I'm actually descended from her brother, Peter Hemings, who was a cook at Monticello. But Richmonds proximity to Monticello was fortuitous. America has been undergoing a great reconciliation in which the sins of our past are being brought into the light. And so we had the DNA evidence. Whites story is singular, yet somehow pervasive the most honest of American narratives. Because my story is their story, too.. 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. . Get daily or weekly highlights from The 700 Club delivered to your inbox. We are continuously working to improve the accessibility of our web experience for everyone, and we welcome feedback and accommodation requests. He is currently a research assistant with the Georgetown Slavery Archive. Gayle Jessup White is the author of the upcoming book, "Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and a Descendant's Search for Her Family's Lasting Legacy.". JESSUP WHITE: Oh, thank you so much, Michel. Next A Washington, DC native, Gayle and her family moved to Richmond in 2006. See why she chooses life based on an impossible promise A troubled pregnancy tests the faith of one couple. 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. Back in 1998, there was a study called The Foster study which proved that the nephews of Jefferson whom the family had claimed had fathered children with Sally Hemings could not have been the father of her children. The trademarks MLS, Multiple Listing Service and the associated logos are owned by CREA and identify the quality of services provided by real estate professionals who are members of CREA. by Gayle Jessup White On Sale: 11/16/2021 Format: Price: $14.99 DESK & EXAM REQUESTS PURCHASE AT HC.com Book Overview Author Info About the Book A Black descendant of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings' family explores America's racial reckoning through the prism of her ancestorsboth the enslaver and the enslaved. Facebook and YouTube pages starting at 5:30 pm ET on January 10. As she desperately prays for healing, hear the message she receives from God on todays A woman receives an answer to a prayer she never wanted to pray. Quick Center for the Arts, Fairfield University, Tags: And that's how Janice (ph) learned of this story. A Washington, DC native, Gayle and her family moved to Richmond in 2006. But what I am committed to doing is to raise the visibility of those people who didn't have a voice. And it's important to note as well that we know what happened at Monticello, but it wasn't unusual. Top Stories, 1073 North Benson Road there. 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. Well, this would have been taboo back in the 1960s and early '70s. She is also a member the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society and serves on the Poplar Forest African American Advisory Group. The man's famil. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. So the point here is to acknowledge that these families were entangled. In the 90s, when Gayle was out of college and building a career in journalism, she got serious about her search. GAYLE JESSUP WHITE: I heard it from my oldest sister, who's about 20 years older than I am. We are here to help and encourage you! helps rewrite the estate's well-known narrative to include the hundreds of enslaved people who worked for Jefferson. She is also a member of the Council of Historic Richmond, and the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society. That's my job. White, Monticellos first public relations and community engagement officer, joins us to discuss her book Reclamation, which chronicles her remarkable journey to understand and reclaim her heritage as a Jefferson descendant. The backdrop for the early part of Whites story is Black, middle-class Washington. EPUB I found not just the history, but I found my family. All rights reserved. She has traced her ancestry to Jefferson and two families that were enslaved at his estate, Monticello. Fairfield Universitys Open VISIONS Forum (OVF) will host a compelling and timely discussion on racism, politics, power, and slavery at the Quick Center on Wednesday, February 12, 2020 at 8 p.m. She is the author of the book, Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and a Descendant's Search for Her Family's Lasting Legacy. Details. 01/10/2023. [supadu_silverpop isbn="9780063028678" authorid="52063" referenceid="52063" authorname="Gayle Jessup White" id="5" title="Author tab Form"]. Her American roots are in Virginia going back to the Jamestown settlement, and in Maryland. Gayle Jessup White is a communications consultant, writer, and realtor. See where she turns for help on todays 700 Club. Error: There was an internal error submitting your form. During his time in the White For Teachers {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Independent Contractor (Newspaper Carrier), Youngkin's Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow resigns, Nebraska cheerleader competes by herself at state competition, but crowd doesn't let her feel alone, Spotsylvania Sheriff's Office ends affiliation with Reelz TV show 'On Patrol: Live', Former Virginia basketball coach Terry Holland dies after battling Alzheimer's. Everyone at the table at the party was discussing their lineage with great pride. On the other hand he gave us those soaring words that I amend to say All humans are created equal that have served as inspiration for hundreds of years now, for people to fight for their freedom and liberty, and justice for all. 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 arrival of Europeans. What are some unusual animals that have lived in and around the White House? Get to know others seeking Gods guidance and wisdom for life. You may unsubscribe from these email The authoritative record of NPRs programming is the audio record. In the book, she describes their horror upon driving down Monument Avenue and seeing its Confederate statues. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. 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 Digital Audiobook Unabridged Trade PB. Little pieces were coming together, but not enough for me to understand how we could have been descended. They were possessions. 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. It is my heartfelt wish that when people finish this story, they understand better the contribution of our ancestors, our enslaved ancestors and those that followed them their endurance, their strength, their character and their resilience. Every family has its secrets and family lore, and often the inheritors of those stories can't separate fact from fiction. Send us comments about our Author Pages. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. She says, I recognize Jefferson now as being a human being. Reclamationis about all of us who may not be descended from a President but who are descended from the same racial /racist history. Danielle Thompson - 700 Club Producer. White's memoir not only proves her ancestral connection to Thomas Jefferson but is a more graphic and sweeping look at how the politics of race and class play out at the highest and the lowest levels of American life." 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. A womans search for love leads to a string of bad relationships and drug addiction. She is the author of the book, Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and a Descendants Search for Her Familys Lasting Legacy. When I'm in that space where I feel the presence of my ancestors. ADRIAN FLORIDO,. And they were the only Blacks there. Skip to main content. Her international lineage is principally Nigerian and British. Hemings, Sally Hemings brother. She is not only a direct Jefferson descendant, but is related to two well-documented families enslaved at Monticello - the Hemingses and the Hubbards. 1 ranking in country. though others did not. White proves that her transformative research and discovery is well worth the journey. 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. Essence, "One of November's Eagerly Anticipated Reads" Ms. magazine, Gayle Jessup Whites multilayered autobiography . She and her husband, retired Time Magazine columnist Jack White Jr have a blended family of four sons, one daughter, and seven granddaughters. Feb 17, 2022 Gayle Jessup White, center, is a descendant of President Thomas Jefferson and she is also Sally Hemings' great-grandniece four times over. Fairfield, Connecticut 06824 Executive Mansion as well as the stories of the people who lived and worked MARTIN: That is Gayle Jessup White. (203) 254-4000. 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. A Black descendent of Thomas Jefferson and employee at Monticello, author Gayle Jessup White examined the legacies of her ancestors and the current racial. One relative is a historical figure in her own right. 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 Whites narrative is a metaphor for our nations contradictions and secrets some of her family members chose to pass as white. You could only hear the silver touching the china. My dad was 6'2", had red hair and freckles. Skip to main content. By . What are the dimensions of the White House? 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. Jefferson kept copious notes, so that's how we know that. Gayle serves on Virginias Citizens Advisory Council on Furnishing and Interpreting the Executive Mansion, where she is founding chair of the Descendant Committee. Time: 8 p.m. I'm not, but you are. I can't imagine being anyplace else. 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. The biggest clues came from stories passed down through her father and his family. It behooves us all to know that history. communications Digital Audiobook Unabridged There are times when her honest accounting of her experience has taught us about our blind spots, she said of White. The other thing that's really become interesting to me is that it wasn't just Jefferson and Sally Hemings that had relations. Shes written and spoken extensively about her work at Monticello. 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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. A former award-winning television reporter and anchor, Gayle started her career at the New York Times. Has the White House ever been renovated or changed? Write this story. . Jefferson was 6'2", had red hair and freckles. Why do you think that was, that there's something about it that stuck with you? 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. Doing so, will help contribute to a better Americaand, yes, a better world for all who live in it." 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