Our Facebook Live series, White House Biographer Jeffrey Frank discusses his new book on Harry Truman. For years, Gayle would dream of one day finding out if what they said was true. And Sallie Hemmans Whites great-great-grandmother was the daughter of Peter Hemings, an older brother of Sally Hemings. 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.' That's sacred ground for me, says Gayle. Poring through photos and documents and pursuing DNA evidence, she learned that not only was she a descendant of Jefferson on his fathers side; she was also the great-great-great-granddaughter of Peter Hemings, Sally Hemingss brother. A Black descendent of Thomas Jefferson and employee at Monticello, author Gayle Jessup White examined the legacies of her ancestors and the current racial. She is also a member the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society and serves on the Poplar Forest African American Advisory Group. JESSUP WHITE: Well, it really is representative of who we are as Americans and how we've at times mistreated each other. Doing so, will help contribute to a better Americaand, yes, a better world for all who live in it." 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." Owning people is sinful. 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 Descendants Search for Her Familys Lasting Legacy. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. any time. 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. You have permission to edit this article. It was a privilege and an honor to speak with you. In the book, she describes their horror upon driving down Monument Avenue and seeing its Confederate statues. MARTIN: That is Gayle Jessup White. 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. So Jefferson represents the full complexity of this country and how it was founded. 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. They weren't even considered human beings. 5:30pm. And so it's not as if people didn't know, they did back then. It ended up being a good fit for us. Are you an author? It behooves us all to know that history. 137 Kindle Edition $1499 Customers Also Bought Items By Location: The Regina A. EPUB Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. Find out how she changed paths. 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 This 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. 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: She is not only a direct Jefferson descendant, but is related to two well-documented families enslaved at Monticello the Hemingses and the Hubbards. White proves that her transformative research and discovery is well worth the journey. For four decades, she researched familial connections to JESSUP WHITE: Frankly, I think it was DNA evidence. In so doing, she 'reclaims' our common humanity and gives new meaning to 'one nation, indivisible.'" If you have an immediate prayer need, please call our 24-hour prayer line at 800-700-7000. It also traces back to Sally Hemings, Jefferson's slave who . She also serves on the Poplar Forest African American Advisory Group. *This is a promotional service of HarperCollins 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. Williams: 'My story is their story, too': Gayle Jessup White, a descendant of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings, reclaims her heritage. 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. . Everyone at the table at the party was discussing their lineage with great pride. 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 descendants. Her 30-year career includes pubic relations, news reporting and anchoring, and public speaking. . We cant become what we want to be, individually and collectively, if we dont know who we are. 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. Please subscribe to keep reading. Yet that wasn't good enough for Gayle Jessup White. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Visit Author Central to update your books, profile picture, and biography. For Gayle Jessup White, landing the job of Public Relations and Community Engagement Officer at Thomas Jefferson's historic home, Monticello, was more than . See why she chooses life based on an impossible promise A troubled pregnancy tests the faith of one couple. Gayle Jessup White tells the fascinating story in her new book, "Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and a Descendant's Search for Her Family's Lasting Legacy.". Hemings, Sally Hemings brother. If you have any questions, please review our privacy After she was named a Jefferson Studies Fellow, Jessup White discovered her family lore was correct. And she decided to challenge the guests at the table with her own lineage. Skip to main content. And I've made those connections. 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. . I can't imagine being anyplace else. She grew up hearing the lore that her family is descended from our countrys third president, Thomas Jefferson. I grew up as a Black American and proud of it. 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. If you wish to report an issue or seek an accommodation, please let us know. I work at giving attention to those who never had it. But Richmonds proximity to Monticello was fortuitous. Little pieces were coming together, but not enough for me to understand how we could have been descended. He is currently a research assistant with the Georgetown Slavery Archive. She and her husband, retired Time Magazine columnist Jack White Jr have a blended family of four sons, one daughter, and seven granddaughters. 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 When I'm in that space where I feel the presence of my ancestors. And then, of course, these stories were reported back when Jefferson was president back in 1801. Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and a Descendant's Search for Her Family's Lasting Legacy, 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. 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. 10007, providing information about the products of HarperCollins and its affiliates. Join Facebook to connect with Gayle Jessup White and others you may know. She's a native Charlottean. 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. ortraits by Rembrandt Peale, left, and. White House History Live. The Making of Presidents' and First Ladies' Portraits. 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 2023 The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc., A nonprofit 501 (c)(3) Charitable Organization. Well, this would have been taboo back in the 1960s and early '70s. us in learning more about White House History right from your own home. Kirkus Reviews, "19 Books We Can't Wait to Curl Up with This Fall!" 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. Join us in learning more about White House History right from your own home. 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. Copyright 2023 HarperCollins Publishers. And that's why I wrote this book. And the whole room went into shock, she said. 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. Can God change your life? In her book, Reclamation, Gayle chronicles her journey to find her heritage, and more. Gayle says, Im proud of my relatives who were enslaved because they were up against so much. John Marshall boys basketball reclaims No. 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 . As Gayle followed her own leads, DNA research confirmed the long-told rumor that Jefferson had children with an enslaved woman named Sally Hemings. A Washington, DC native, Gayle and her family moved to Richmond in 2006. Write this story. . Living the Christian life is a journey. She has traced her ancestry to Jefferson and two families that were enslaved at his estate, Monticello. They were strong. 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.". She's written and spoken extensively about her work at Monticello. Facebook gives people the. 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. Plus, two long lost cousins A woman prays to her Hindu gods for healing, but gets no response. 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