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 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. In so doing, she 'reclaims' our common humanity and gives new meaning to 'one nation, indivisible.'" For four decades the acclaimed journalist and genealogy enthusiast researched her connection to Thomas Jefferson, to confirm its truth once and for all. I grew up as a Black American and proud of it. A former award-winning television reporter and anchor, Jessup White started her career at the New York Times. She is not only a direct Jefferson descendant, but is related to two well-documented families enslaved at Monticello the Hemingses and the Hubbards. NPR's Michel Martin discussed the book with Jessup White, who describes herself as the five times great-granddaughter of Thomas Jefferson. *This is a promotional service of HarperCollins Her 30-year career includes pubic relations, news reporting and anchoring, and public speaking. We are the sum total of our backgrounds of our ancestors, and I didn't know who mine were. Its important to look at each other and to work through those differences and see ourselves as Americans and recognize the kinship. . So the point here is to acknowledge that these families were entangled. 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. 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 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. And I went to my dad first, Daddy, how could we be descended from Thomas Jefferson? Man died Wednesday. White proves that her transformative research and discovery is well worth the journey. 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. Owning people is sinful. We cant become what we want to be, individually and collectively, if we dont know who we are. Hardcover JESSUP WHITE: Well, I feel that I was actually called to do this work. But finding records of enslaved people from the 1700s wouldnt be so easy. 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 behooves us all to know that history. What was the breakthrough in public acceptance of the fact that Thomas Jefferson - and now we're finding out that any number of Founding Fathers also had Black families. that they were direct descendants of Thomas Jeffersonlore she firmly believed, It was reported in the Richmond newspaper that Jefferson had relations with an enslaved woman, Dusky Sally, she was called. CONNECT: She's a native Charlottean. For more information or to reserve your seat, visit www.quickcenter.com or call the Box Office at 203-254-4010, or toll free at 1-877-ARTS-396. I needed to know that to feel whole. That history is deeply personal to Gayle Jessup White. And my sister was a little girl when she first heard this from Aunt Peachie. ADRIAN FLORIDO,. Active listings data currently unavailable. She is not only a direct Jefferson descendant, but is related to two well-documented families enslaved at Monticello - the Hemingses and the Hubbards. She says, For many years I assumed I was descended from Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings. It also traces back to Sally Hemings, Jefferson's slave who . community engagement officer, will join us to discuss her book Reclamation, MARTIN: This was a long journey for you, and also a very long journey into public acceptance of these facts, right? Read full bio Most Popular Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and a Descendant's . She grew up hearing the lore that her family is descended from our countrys third president, Thomas Jefferson. {{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. 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. Unlike previous guides, this one took an interest in Gayles story, and connected her with Monticello historian, Cinder Stanton. 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." 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. Did any presidents live elsewhere during their administrations? [Her feats] required superhuman persistence. BookPage. For decades, she'd been a domestic for a wealthy white family, the McKnews, in Washington, D.C., until she suffered a crippling stroke. Her family tree traces back to Thomas Jefferson, our third president. Every family has its secrets and family lore, and often the inheritors of those stories can't separate fact from fiction. 5:30pm. Get daily or weekly highlights from The 700 Club delivered to your inbox. It is my right and the right of every descendant of enslaved people to claim their stake in America.. "Shes a totally charming and frank memoirist, and I loved her candid, sometimes difficult to read story,"--Rumaan Alam, author of Leave the World Behind on the Best December 2021 Books Today Show. A Guide to Reducing Your Health Care Costs, Breaking Barriers: Challenges and opportunities for Latino students, EQUALibrium: An exploration of race and equity in Charlotte, Falling short: Why Democrats keep losing most statewide races, EQUALibrium Live: Conversations on Race & Equity, WFAE 2023 TINDOL SUBARU CROSSTREK RAFFLE, NPR's Founding Mothers In Conversation With WFAE's Lisa Worf, Journalist Stephanie Foo's memoir 'What My Bones Know' shares story of healing from childhood trauma, What widespread legal sports betting would mean for North Carolina, Local News Roundup: NC House votes to end pistol permit requirements; Neighborhood Theatre building sold; Ella Scarborough honored; warm winter temps. Copyright 2023 HarperCollins Publishers. White and Davenports illustrated presentation will deepen our understanding of U.S. history, and will serve as a model for all those curious and courageous enough to examine their own personal histories. White discovered she is the great-great-great-granddaughter of Peter Hemings, Sally Hemings brother. from But what I am committed to doing is to raise the visibility of those people who didn't have a voice. We are continuously working to improve the accessibility of our web experience for everyone, and we welcome feedback and accommodation requests. And so it's not as if people didn't know, they did back then. So Jefferson represents the full complexity of this country and how it was founded. Gayle says, Im proud of my relatives who were enslaved because they were up against so much. They were strong. Because my story is their story, too.. The man's famil. 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 Gayle Jessup White is a communications consultant, writer, and realtor. Facebook Live series, White House History Live, delves into the history of the 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. She is also a member the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society and serves on the Poplar Forest African American Advisory Group. Why Movieland says you have to be 17 to attend a movie after 7:30 p.m. Trade PB. Join us in learning more about White House History right from your own home. And she announced that we're descended from Thomas Jefferson. She is currently the Foundations public relations & community engagement officer. Jefferson, ultimately learning that she was not only a descendant of Jefferson What are the dimensions of the White House? (203) 254-4000. 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. It ended up being a good fit for us. Her American roots are in Virginia going back to the Jamestown settlement, and in Maryland. And my grandmother was from Charlottesville. We are here to help and encourage you! The biggest clues came from stories passed down through her father and his family. Gayle Jessup White is the Public Relations and Community Engagement Officer at Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's legendary estate. JESSUP WHITE: Frankly, I think it was DNA evidence. Gayle Jessup White is the Public Relations & Community Engagement Officer at Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's legendary estate. communications at 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. ortraits by Rembrandt Peale, left, and. Yet that wasn't good enough for Gayle Jessup White. So that I'm able to work at Monticello, that I'm able to accentuate because I'm a physical presence of who those people who were in prison there were, then it is the greatest privilege and honor of my life to be able to do so. Copyright 2021 NPR. on his fathers side but also the great-great-great-granddaughter of Peter That's why I'm here, because of them. Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and a Descendant's Search for Her Family's Lasting Legacy, 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. 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. Danielle Thompson - 700 Club Producer. I found not just the history, but I found my family. That's my job. White, Monticellos first public relations and 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 don't apologize for my - the behavior of my ancestors. 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. Whites narrative is a metaphor for our nations contradictions and secrets some of her family members chose to pass as white. Two people were injured in a crash involving one of the most iconic vehicles in television history, Missouri officials say. The Making of Presidents' and First Ladies' Portraits. View the profiles of people named Gayle Jessup White. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. Please check your information and try again or call us at 1-800-759-0700. 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. 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 Oral history matters because for many Black people that's all we have, Gayle explains. 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. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, 442-H New York Standard Operating Procedures. There are times when her honest accounting of her experience has taught us about our blind spots, she said of White. Why do you think that was, that there's something about it that stuck with you? 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. helps rewrite the estate's well-known narrative to include the hundreds of enslaved people who worked for Jefferson. Sponsor: Monticello TOPIC FREQUENCY She and her husband, retired Time Magazine columnist Jack White Jr have a blended family of four sons, one daughter, and seven granddaughters. Her epic family legacy, interwoven with one of the nation's founding fathers, is an emotional trip back in time. Gayle Jes. They were kin, with one family owning the other. In the 90s, when Gayle was out of college and building a career in journalism, she got serious about her search. A woman is diagnosed with cancer and its spreading quickly. Share your prayer requests, receive prayer and pray for others! 01/10/2023. As people say, it is what it is. I just felt the energy and the urgency from our ancestors to tell this story, White said during a recent interview as she headed to Washington for an appearance on CNN. We, like many Americans, are sometimes unaware of those blind spots, and like our nation, we need to face them and change., Bowman called the book an important one for Monticello and for our country as we work to tell a more honest and complicated history of our past.. And Sallie Hemmans Whites great-great-grandmother was the daughter of Peter Hemings, an older brother of Sally Hemings. This doesnt make sense to me. All Daddy said to me was, That's what they say. And my sister, who's a very elegant woman, was at a dinner party with her husband. It was a privilege and an honor to speak with you. Used under license. Gayle recounts, Well I was shocked. 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. He is currently a research assistant with the Georgetown Slavery Archive. 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. Bookperk and other HarperCollins services. Shes written and spoken extensively about her work at Monticello. Deputies in Davidson County rushed to help a 69-year-old man they'd found unresponsive in his house following a welfare check. Has the White House ever been renovated or changed? MARTIN: That is Gayle Jessup White. You can cancel at any time. She also hopes that people see themselves and their families in mine. But again, it took decades and decades for scholars and the public to accept the truth. And so we had the DNA evidence. Details. One relative is a historical figure in her own right. For years, Gayle would dream of one day finding out if what they said was true. Please subscribe to keep reading. Location: The Regina A. Fairfield, Connecticut 06824 And Richmond has evolved in the past decade or so. Join A former award-winning television reporter and anchor, Jessup White started her career at the New York Times. A combination memoir, genealogy, and history by Gayle Jessup White reads fast as fiction unless you take time to absorb the impact slavery and family secrets have on American families, black or white. An insatiable desire to learn her familys story landed Gayle Jessup White at Monticello, a place she describes as the epicenter of the American paradox.. Then in 2010, while with her son on one of many visits to Monticello, Gayle says, We go on the tour and the guide says, Well, Sally Hemings and Thomas Jefferson had children together. And I raised my hand as I always did, We're descended from Sally Hemings and Thomas Jefferson. And the guide says, Well, you're dignitaries, you're family. Well, this would have been taboo back in the 1960s and early '70s. White is related to both families. Write this story. . 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. Get to know others seeking Gods guidance and wisdom for life. 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. Zillow (Canada), Inc. holds real estate brokerage licenses in multiple provinces. 442-H New York Standard Operating Procedures New York Fair Housing NoticeTREC: Information about brokerage services, Consumer protection noticeCalifornia DRE #1522444Contact Zillow, Inc. A Black descendent of Thomas Jefferson and employee at Monticello, author Gayle Jessup White examined the legacies of her ancestors and the current racial. Accuracy and availability may vary. It was the result of a lifelong search for the truth about who she was, and Americas third president. 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. Gayle Jessup White began her career at The New York Times and was an award-winning TV reporter before becoming Monticello's first community engagement officer in 2016. there. 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. The Making of Presidents' and First Ladies' Portraits. She was thirteen when her sister shared a bit of family lore regarding the main author of the Declaration of Independencethey were related. 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