They were kin, with one family owning the other. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. The McKnew family put her out and ours took her in. She was thirteen when her sister shared a bit of family lore regarding the main author of the Declaration of Independencethey were related. [Her feats] required superhuman persistence. BookPage. 2023 The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc., A nonprofit 501 (c)(3) Charitable Organization. Jefferson kept copious notes, so that's how we know that. And I've found my wholeness., A wholeness she hopes all Americans will soon share. Are you an author? This doesnt make sense to me. All Daddy said to me was, That's what they say. Doing so, will help contribute to a better Americaand, yes, a better world for all who live in it." Send us comments about our Author Pages. Leslie Greene Bowman, president of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, lauded White and Reclamation during a Nov. 16 book launch event at Monticello. 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. JESSUP WHITE: Well, it really is representative of who we are as Americans and how we've at times mistreated each other. Because they were extraordinary people, and they need to be heard, and their lives have been forgotten. 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 Her epic family legacy, interwoven with one of the nation's founding fathers, is an emotional trip back in time. John Marshall boys basketball reclaims No. Publishers, 195 Broadway, New York, NY JESSUP WHITE: I had some facts before me. See why she chooses life based on an impossible promise A troubled pregnancy tests the faith of one couple. The Spotsylvania County Sheriffs Office has decided to end its participation on a national television show, at least for now. Journalist Gayle Jessup White and historian Andrew M. Davenport MA17, cousins and descendants of families enslaved by Founding Father and third U.S. President Thomas Jefferson, will present A Report from Monticello: Restoring African American Narratives to Thomas Jeffersons Plantation," in a discussion to be moderated by Professor Philip Eliasoph, PhD, OVF founder and director. Growing up, she had heard that her African American family was somehow descended from Thomas Jefferson, but with limited records and tight-lipped relatives, there was no proof. Join Gayle Jessup White is a communications consultant, writer, and realtor. This was happening all over in plantations in the South. A former award-winning television reporter and anchor, Jessup White started her career at the New York Times. Gayle Jes. Thousands of Images covering the History of the White House, Official White House Ornaments, Books & More. As a young woman in her native Washington gaining an increased awareness of race, being descended from Jefferson became a part of my identity. Gayle Jessup White is the Public Relations & Community Engagement Officer at Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's legendary estate. Well, this would have been taboo back in the 1960s and early '70s. How do you think about that? She also serves on the Poplar Forest African American Advisory Group. Error: There was an internal error submitting your form. Top Stories, 1073 North Benson Road A Washington, DC native, Gayle and her family moved to Richmond in 2006. Join Facebook to connect with Gayle Jessup White and others you may know. Feeling my ancestors, hearing my ancestors, say to me: Gayle, write this story. Little pieces were coming together, but not enough for me to understand how we could have been descended. In her book, Reclamation, Gayle chronicles her journey to find her heritage, and more. America has been undergoing a great reconciliation in which the sins of our past are being brought into the light. 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. 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. 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 . And Sallie Hemmans Whites great-great-grandmother was the daughter of Peter Hemings, an older brother of Sally Hemings. She is the author of the book, Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and a Descendants Search for Her Familys Lasting Legacy. And my grandmother was from Charlottesville. They were tough. She has traced her ancestry to Jefferson and two families that were enslaved at his estate, Monticello. . 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? Her journalist husband, Jack White, was teaching at Hampton University, so they landed in Richmond to ease the commute. "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. Accuracy and availability may vary. And it's important to note as well that we know what happened at Monticello, but it wasn't unusual. will be especially interesting to amateur genealogists. Zillow, Inc. holds real estate brokerage licenses in multiple states. She has written and spoken extensively about her work at Monticello and currently lives in Virginia. I work at giving attention to those who never had it. In so doing, she 'reclaims' our common humanity and gives new meaning to 'one nation, indivisible.'" Share your prayer requests, receive prayer and pray for others! . I needed to know that to feel whole. Read full bio Most Popular Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and a Descendant's . View and manage who you follow on Amazon. {{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. 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. EPUB Skip to main content. The other thing that's really become interesting to me is that it wasn't just Jefferson and Sally Hemings that had relations. Find out how she changed paths. 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. Through her account, the author fleshes out many of the genealogical questions concerning Jefferson that have emerged in recent decades." Her 30-year career includes pubic relations, news reporting and anchoring, and public speaking. [a] timely, relevant, and important book." A former award-winning television reporter and anchor, Jessup White started her career at the New York Times. The Making of Presidents' and First Ladies' Portraits. Her international lineage is principally Nigerian and British. ortraits by Rembrandt Peale, left, and. View the profiles of people named Gayle Jessup White. 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. 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. I grew up as a Black American and proud of it. I feel that the ancestors pulled me out of my hometown, my beloved hometown, Washington, D.C., to come to Richmond Virginia, which is just 70 miles from Charlottesville, so that I could become a vehicle for them, so that I could express as well as I possibly could what they were not able to. 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." She says, We are one people. Please check your information and try again or call us at 1-800-759-0700. Gayle Jessup White is the first public relations and community engagement officer at the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, the nonprofit that owns and operates Monticello. And she decided to challenge the guests at the table with her own lineage. communications She lives in Virginia. I found not just the history, but I found my family. They were treated as possessions. How had she heard this? I'm very comfortable with who I am and take complete ownership of my place in society and as a descendant of enslaved people. And so I don't work at reconciling who my white ancestors were and who my Black ancestors were. 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. Her American roots are in Virginia going back to the Jamestown settlement, and in Maryland. 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 homes main plantation street. MARTIN: How do you reconcile for yourself those contradictions which live in you? In 2014, Gayle was selected for the fellowship program at the international center for Jefferson studies. It was four generations of the Jefferson and Hemings families. She is not only a direct Jefferson descendant, but is related to two well-documented families enslaved at Monticello the Hemingses and the Hubbards. For generations, historians and the American public alike ignored the stories of descendants of the Founding Fathers enslaved families. . A Black descendent of Thomas Jefferson and employee at Monticello, author Gayle Jessup White examined the legacies of her ancestors and the current racial debates. 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. She's a native Charlottean. Her very personal chronicle of a decades-long search for her family's connection to Jefferson and Monticello began with a thread of a story from an elderly relative who . Plus, two long lost cousins A woman prays to her Hindu gods for healing, but gets no response. She held on to that. Active listings data currently unavailable. We are the sum total of our backgrounds of our ancestors, and I didn't know who mine were. A former award-winning television reporter and anchor, Jessup White started her career at the New York Times. Gayle serves on Virginias Citizens Advisory Council on Furnishing and Interpreting the Executive Mansion, where she is founding chair of the Descendant Committee. So the point here is to acknowledge that these families were entangled. But finding records of enslaved people from the 1700s wouldnt be so easy. They survived. . Her 30-year career includes pubic relations, news reporting and anchoring, and public speaking. Brokerage. Gayle Jessup White has American history running through her veins. I can't imagine being anyplace else. Why Movieland says you have to be 17 to attend a movie after 7:30 p.m. MARTIN: I want to mention that you are now working at Monticello, which must be a kind of a head-snapping experience. If you have any questions, please review our privacy And my sister, who's a very elegant woman, was at a dinner party with her husband. 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 But Richmonds proximity to Monticello was fortuitous. Our Gayle Jessup White is a communications consultant, writer, and realtor. For years, Gayle would dream of one day finding out if what they said was true. We are reconsidering how we remember the institution of slavery, and that includes the historical figures from that period. Executive Mansion as well as the stories of the people who lived and worked 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. 137 Kindle Edition $1499 Customers Also Bought Items By Its important to look at each other and to work through those differences and see ourselves as Americans and recognize the kinship. She and her husband, retired Time Magazine columnist Jack White Jr have a blended family of four sons, one daughter, and seven granddaughters. CONNECT: A womans search for love leads to a string of bad relationships and drug addiction. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. 1 ranking in country. Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. White, Monticellos first public relations and If you have an immediate prayer need, please call our 24-hour prayer line at 800-700-7000. She began at the Foundation in 2014 as a Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies fellow, combing through old letters, documents, and records for clues to her familys past. Erin Keever is Senior Producer of WFAE'sCharlotte Talks with Mike Collins. That's why I'm here, because of them. And I've made those connections. though others did not. What are the dimensions of the White House? 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. We cant become what we want to be, individually and collectively, if we dont know who we are. Gayle Jessup White is the Public Relations and Community Engagement Officer at Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's legendary estate. Her curiosity about how her Black family could be related to Jefferson drove her to study her familys genealogy. Its an American story.. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Jefferson, ultimately learning that she was not only a descendant of Jefferson MARTIN: This was a long journey for you, and also a very long journey into public acceptance of these facts, right? Sponsor: Monticello TOPIC FREQUENCY Whites narrative is a metaphor for our nations contradictions and secrets some of her family members chose to pass as white. 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 Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. Join us in learning more about White House History right from your own home. CBN's ministry is made possible by the support of our CBN Partners. In the 90s, when Gayle was out of college and building a career in journalism, she got serious about her search. She says, For many years I assumed I was descended from Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings. A former award-winning television reporter and anchor, Gayle started her career at the New York Times. Gayle Jessup White will be in Charlotte to speak at the Mecklenburg Chapter Sons of the American Revolution on Nov. 11. Former NFL star Chad Johnson says he saved money by living inside Cincinnati Bengals stadium for 2 years. He is currently a research assistant with the Georgetown Slavery Archive. Unlike previous guides, this one took an interest in Gayles story, and connected her with Monticello historian, Cinder Stanton. We are continuously working to improve the accessibility of our web experience for everyone, and we welcome feedback and accommodation requests. 90.3 Hickory 106.1 Laurinburg, PublishedNovember 10, 2021 at 9:00 AM EST. 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. Her family tree traces back to Thomas Jefferson, our third president. 90.7 Charlotte 93.7 Southern Pines Please subscribe to keep reading. We are here to help and encourage you! Essence, "One of November's Eagerly Anticipated Reads" Ms. magazine, Gayle Jessup Whites multilayered autobiography . It was reported in the Richmond newspaper that Jefferson had relations with an enslaved woman, Dusky Sally, she was called. In 1993, the Getting Word oral history project at Jeffersons Monticello plantation began identifying descendants and recording their oral histories. Yet that wasn't good enough for Gayle Jessup White. There was a problem saving your notification. It behooves us all to know that history. For four decades the acclaimed journalist and genealogy enthusiast researched her connection to Thomas Jefferson, to confirm its truth once and for all. Trade PB. But again, it took decades and decades for scholars and the public to accept the truth. Gayle Jessup White had long heard the stories passed down from . 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. 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. 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. from This browser is no longer supported. Tickets are $20 | Quick Members: $15. After she was named a Jefferson Studies Fellow, Jessup White discovered her family lore was correct. 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 is a direct Jefferson descendant, and is also related to two well-documented families enslaved at Monticellothe Hemingses and the Hubbards. Its not the same place it was when we moved down here. 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.. 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.". 69-year-old suffers stroke in his N.C. home; Realtor showing house leaves him there. 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. White is related to both families. And so it's not as if people didn't know, they did back then. 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. For Gayle Jessup White, landing the job of Public Relations and Community Engagement Officer at Thomas Jeffersons historic home, Monticello, was more than a chance to share her passion for American history. There are times when her honest accounting of her experience has taught us about our blind spots, she said of White. Along the way, she learned more about her connections to Jefferson and Hemings through research and DNA testing, with an assist from Lucia Cinder Stanton, the groundbreaking Monticello historian who has published several books on the history of slavery there. She is also a member of the Council of Historic Richmond, and the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society. All rights reserved. 01/10/2023. I didnt have an epiphany. JESSUP WHITE: Frankly, I think it was DNA evidence. 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.. 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.". Gayle taught journalism at VCU and created training programs for at-risk young adults. 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. One relative is a historical figure in her own right. Send a prayer request now, or call 18007007000. Facebook and YouTube pages starting at 5:30 pm ET on January 10. Shes written and spoken extensively about her work at Monticello. I don't apologize for my - the behavior of my ancestors. A Black descendent of Thomas Jefferson and employee at Monticello, author Gayle Jessup White examined the legacies of her ancestors and the current racial. 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.. 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 the book, she describes their horror upon driving down Monument Avenue and seeing its Confederate statues. And Richmond has evolved in the past decade or so. Why do you think that was, that there's something about it that stuck with you? that they were direct descendants of Thomas Jeffersonlore she firmly believed, It was a privilege and an honor to speak with you. Follow to get new release updates, special offers (including promotional offers) and improved recommendations. They were strong. Oral history matters because for many Black people that's all we have, Gayle explains. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, 442-H New York Standard Operating Procedures. We have more in common than not. 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. That's sacred ground for me, says Gayle. God made it possible for you to know. 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. JESSUP WHITE: Well, I feel that I was actually called to do this work. Gayle Jessup White, thank you so much for joining us. She is the author of the book, Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and a Descendant's Search for Her Family's Lasting Legacy. which chronicles her remarkable journey to understand and reclaim her heritage Hardcover as a Jefferson descendant. This 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. . "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 . Gayles son, Charles, lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he attended school. Those of us who are not black can never fully experience the impact of systemic racism. White discovered she is the great-great-great-granddaughter of Peter Hemings, Sally Hemings brother. Days. And she heard it from her over and over and over again for the 20 years she lived with our family. Used under license. 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. For four decades, she researched familial connections to Gayle serves on Virginias Citizens Advisory Council on Furnishing and Interpreting the Executive Mansion, where she is founding chair of the Descendant Committee. White, a Henrico County resident, and the public relations and community engagement officer at Monticello, describes her four-decade effort to reclaim her family heritage in her recently released book, Reclamation., Or as she wrote: It was always my goal to uncover my roots, to understand my familys place in American history, and to restore them to the nations narrative. A Black descendent of Thomas Jefferson and employee at Monticello, author Gayle Jessup White examined the legacies of her ancestors and the current racial. Get daily or weekly highlights from The 700 Club delivered to your inbox. And I went to my dad first, Daddy, how could we be descended from Thomas Jefferson? Teaching at Hampton University, so they landed in Richmond to ease the commute people named Jessup. At least for now Bengals stadium for 2 years form and may be impacted 's important to note Well! Updated or revised in the 1960s and early '70s they need to be individually! 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