Gayle Jessup White talks with Karen about her book, "Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and a Descendant's Search for Her Family's Lasting Legacy.. 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. And that's how Janice (ph) learned of this story. And she heard it from her over and over and over again for the 20 years she lived with our family. John Marshall boys basketball reclaims No. A former award-winning television reporter and anchor, Gayle started her career at the New York Times. As a young woman in her native Washington gaining an increased awareness of race, being descended from Jefferson became a part of my identity. Trade PB. But finding records of enslaved people from the 1700s wouldnt be so easy. Jessup White had long heard the stories passed down from her fathers family, Tuesday. Through her account, the author fleshes out many of the genealogical questions concerning Jefferson that have emerged in recent decades." Gayle Jessup White is the Public Relations & Community Engagement Officer at Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's legendary estate. Time. 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. They were treated as possessions. You could only hear the silver touching the china. Reclamationis about all of us who may not be descended from a President but who are descended from the same racial /racist history. 1 ranking in country. Gayle Jessup White, thank you so much for joining us. As Gayle followed her own leads, DNA research confirmed the long-told rumor that Jefferson had children with an enslaved woman named Sally Hemings. They were strong. Its an American story.. Did any presidents live elsewhere during their administrations? 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. Senate Minority Leader Norment, Majority Leader Saslaw, among more than a dozen legislators who will not run again. Our Facebook Live series, White House Biographer Jeffrey Frank discusses his new book on Harry Truman. She and her husband, retired Time Magazine columnist Jack White Jr have a blended family of four sons, one daughter, and seven granddaughters. 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. Hardcover Executive Mansion as well as the stories of the people who lived and worked A former award-winning television reporter and anchor, Jessup White started her career at the New York Times. And my grandmother was from Charlottesville. EPUB BISAC1 : BISAC2 : BISAC3 : DESK & EXAM White discovered she is the great-great-great-granddaughter of Peter Hemings, Sally Hemings brother. Because my story is their story, too.. submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email 137 Kindle Edition $1499 Customers Also Bought Items By Share your prayer requests, receive prayer and pray for others! She has written and spoken extensively about her work at Monticello, the legacies of slavery, and her familys contributions to American history. 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. Former NFL star Chad Johnson says he saved money by living inside Cincinnati Bengals stadium for 2 years. there. She also hopes that people see themselves and their families in mine. So the point here is to acknowledge that these families were entangled. My dad was 6'2", had red hair and freckles. Location: The Regina A. She says, For many years I assumed I was descended from Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings. 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. that they were direct descendants of Thomas Jeffersonlore she firmly believed, It ended up being a good fit for us. She's written and spoken extensively about her work at Monticello. The biggest clues came from stories passed down through her father and his family. 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." If you have an immediate prayer need, please call our 24-hour prayer line at 800-700-7000. That history is deeply personal to Gayle Jessup White. See why she chooses life based on an impossible promise A troubled pregnancy tests the faith of one couple. Charlayne Hunter Gault, Armed with her newfound familial truth, the author . And so it's not as if people didn't know, they did back then. 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. Join us in learning more about White House History right from your own home. She attended the citys private and public schools and attended Howard University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications. Why Movieland says you have to be 17 to attend a movie after 7:30 p.m. For listings in Canada, the trademarks REALTOR, REALTORS, and the REALTOR logo are controlled by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and identify real estate professionals who are members of CREA. 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 . She held on to that. Danielle Thompson - 700 Club Producer. She says, We are one people. 5:30pm. GAYLE JESSUP WHITE: I heard it from my oldest sister, who's about 20 years older than I am. Copyright 2023 HarperCollins Publishers. community engagement officer, will join us to discuss her book Reclamation, 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 it is also of great interest in general. I'm not, but you are. I'm very comfortable with who I am and take complete ownership of my place in society and as a descendant of enslaved people. NPR's Michel Martin discussed the book with Jessup White, who describes herself as the five times great-granddaughter of Thomas Jefferson. By Jefferson, ultimately learning that she was not only a descendant of Jefferson The Making of Presidents' and First Ladies' Portraits. After a 25-year career in communications, Gayle seized the opportunity to pursue her passion, history, beginning as an educator at Richmonds Valentine Museum, and ultimately landing a position at the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, the non-profit organization that owns and operates Monticello, her ancestral home. us in learning more about White House History right from your own home. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. Essence, "One of November's Eagerly Anticipated Reads" Ms. magazine, Gayle Jessup Whites multilayered autobiography . Bookperk and other HarperCollins services. You have permission to edit this article. Gayle would spend years following clues, tracing her family tree, and scouring historical records. JESSUP WHITE: I had some facts before me. 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. JESSUP WHITE: Well the person who told my sister this was a woman in the family called Aunt Peachie (ph). Gayle Jessup White is a communications consultant, writer, and realtor. A former award-winning television reporter and anchor, Jessup White started her career at the New York Times. Tickets are $20 | Quick Members: $15. This doesnt make sense to me. All Daddy said to me was, That's what they say. It also traces back to Sally Hemings, Jefferson's slave who . Plus, two long lost cousins A woman prays to her Hindu gods for healing, but gets no response. Her 30-year career includes pubic relations, news reporting and anchoring, and public speaking. And my sister, who's a very elegant woman, was at a dinner party with her husband. But Richmonds proximity to Monticello was fortuitous. Feeling my ancestors, hearing my ancestors, say to me: Gayle, write this story. Using television and the Internet, CBN is proclaiming the Good News in 149 countries and territories, with programs and content in 67 languages. See her moment of surrender, and the miracle of life. This Open VISIONS Forum is generously sponsored by TV Eyes, the Artisan, Moffly Media, Delamar Southport, and Delamar Spa. 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. It was four generations of the Jefferson and Hemings families. Two years later, she joined the staff as Community Engagement Officer, becoming a principal spokesperson and the first descendant of Jefferson and the families he enslaved to work for the Foundation. 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.". White has written and spoken extensively about her work at Monticello and about her familys ties to Jefferson, his extended family, and the enslaved community. Time: 8 p.m. Gayle Jessup White is the Public Relations & Community Engagement Officer at Monticello, Thomas Jeffersons legendary estate. Send a prayer request now, or call 18007007000. What are the dimensions of the White House? . Getting Word has significantly changed the interpretation of African-American life during enslavement under Thomas Jefferson. She left the Times for Northwestern Universitys Medill School of Journalism, earning a Master of Science in Journalism. This And Sallie Hemmans Whites great-great-grandmother was the daughter of Peter Hemings, an older brother of Sally Hemings. A Washington, DC native, Gayle and her family moved to Richmond in 2006. 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. Get to know others seeking Gods guidance and wisdom for life. Gayle taught journalism at VCU and created training programs for at-risk young adults. 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. Quick Center for the Arts, Fairfield University, Tags: "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. MARTIN: That is Gayle Jessup White. Accuracy and availability may vary. Skip to main content. They were tough. Write this story. . . In a 2018 article for Smithsonian magazine, Davenport wrote, The research that has come out of the 25 years of Getting Words existence has in many ways been the invisible hand behind the visitor experience at Monticello where about 400 enslaved laborers worked at one point in their lives.. 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. I don't apologize for my - the behavior of my ancestors. MARTIN: This was a long journey for you, and also a very long journey into public acceptance of these facts, right? Did any presidents live elsewhere during their administrations? [Her feats] required superhuman persistence. BookPage. on his fathers side but also the great-great-great-granddaughter of Peter And Richmond has evolved in the past decade or so. Zillow Group is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for individuals with disabilities. And she decided to challenge the guests at the table with her own lineage. It started when she was a young girl growing up in 1970s Washington D.C. At the time Jefferson was my favorite president because he'd written the Declaration, and I believed and still believe in the principles put forth in that document, says Gayle. That's my job. She is also a member of the Council of Historic Richmond, and the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society. 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. 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. 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 Can God change your life? In 1993, the Getting Word oral history project at Jeffersons Monticello plantation began identifying descendants and recording their oral histories. communications at I needed to know that to feel whole. will be especially interesting to amateur genealogists. 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. And I've found my wholeness., A wholeness she hopes all Americans will soon share. Gayle explains, I'm actually descended from her brother, Peter Hemings, who was a cook at Monticello. She writes about it in a new book titled "Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, And A Descendant's Search For Her Family's Lasting Legacy." I work at giving attention to those who never had it. policy. Her international lineage is principally Nigerian and British. 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 And then, of course, these stories were reported back when Jefferson was president back in 1801. Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. She is the author of the book, Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and a Descendant's Search for Her Family's Lasting Legacy. ortraits by Rembrandt Peale, left, and. 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