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. Gayle says, Im proud of my relatives who were enslaved because they were up against so much. us in learning more about White House History right from your own home. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. 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. 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. 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 She was thirteen when her sister shared a bit of family lore regarding the main author of the Declaration of Independencethey were related. 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. With tax cuts unresolved, his session wins included movement on workforce development and his losses included the 15-week abortion bill. 1 ranking in country. it was that one link. 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. Our 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. Gayle Jessup White is a communications consultant, writer, and realtor. 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 explains, I'm actually descended from her brother, Peter Hemings, who was a cook at Monticello. What makes the Justices so elite? Because my story is their story, too.. I'm not, but you are. Gayle recounts, Well I was shocked. 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. It ended up being a good fit for us. submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email A Washington, DC native, Gayle and her family moved to Richmond in 2006. Owning people is sinful. That's why I'm at Monticello. It is my right and the right of every descendant of enslaved people to claim their stake in America.. Thousands of Images covering the History of the White House, Official White House Ornaments, Books & More. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. 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. They were possessions. Download the free myCBN app. Get daily or weekly highlights from The 700 Club delivered to your inbox. All rights reserved. Write this story. . For Gayle Jessup White, landing the job of Public Relations and Community Engagement Officer at Thomas Jefferson's historic home, Monticello, was more than . Why do you think that was, that there's something about it that stuck with you? Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. 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. that they were direct descendants of Thomas Jeffersonlore she firmly believed, which chronicles her remarkable journey to understand and reclaim her heritage . Digital Audiobook Unabridged Jessup White had long heard the stories passed down from her fathers family, 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. My dad was 6'2", had red hair and freckles. Sponsor: Monticello TOPIC FREQUENCY For decades, she'd been a domestic for a wealthy white family, the McKnews, in Washington, D.C., until she suffered a crippling stroke. So the point here is to acknowledge that these families were entangled. Deputies in Davidson County rushed to help a 69-year-old man they'd found unresponsive in his house following a welfare check. (203) 254-4000. A former award-winning television reporter and anchor, Gayle started her career at the New York Times. When I'm in that space where I feel the presence of my ancestors. Gayle taught journalism at VCU and created training programs for at-risk young adults. Its important to look at each other and to work through those differences and see ourselves as Americans and recognize the kinship. Discover God's peace now. Essence, "One of November's Eagerly Anticipated Reads" Ms. magazine, Gayle Jessup Whites multilayered autobiography . Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Facebook Live series, White House History Live, delves into the history of the And then, of course, these stories were reported back when Jefferson was president back in 1801. "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. 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. 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. Read full bio Most Popular Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and a Descendant's . I'm very comfortable with who I am and take complete ownership of my place in society and as a descendant of enslaved people. But what I am committed to doing is to raise the visibility of those people who didn't have a voice. 01/10/2023. She's written and spoken extensively about her work at Monticello. 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. White, Monticellos first public relations and JESSUP WHITE: Well, I feel that I was actually called to do this work. The Making of Presidents' and First Ladies' Portraits. She is also a member of the Council of Historic Richmond, and the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society. Little pieces were coming together, but not enough for me to understand how we could have been descended. 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. They were the guests of honor. 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. That history is deeply personal to Gayle Jessup White. Davenport researched Getting Word while a Robert H. Smith Fellow at the International Center for Jefferson Studies in July 2017, and recently served as an adjunct professor of African American Art History at Fairfield University. . They were treated as possessions. 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. She says, I always felt that if I could determine my ties to Jefferson, I could find out more about my family. A woman is diagnosed with cancer and its spreading quickly. Skip to main content. How do you think about that? And Richmond has evolved in the past decade or so. But again, it took decades and decades for scholars and the public to accept the truth. Her journalist husband, Jack White, was teaching at Hampton University, so they landed in Richmond to ease the commute. Get to know others seeking Gods guidance and wisdom for life. See where she turns for help on todays 700 Club. There was a problem saving your notification. Yet that wasn't good enough for Gayle Jessup White. GAYLE JESSUP WHITE: I heard it from my oldest sister, who's about 20 years older than I am. event will be live streamed on the White House Historical Association's Those of us who are not black can never fully experience the impact of systemic racism. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). The findings: Jeffersons great-great-grandson, Moncure Robinson Taylor, was Whites great-grandfather through a relationship with his familys domestic servant, Whites great-grandmother Rachel Robinson. This was happening all over in plantations in the South. Danielle Thompson - 700 Club Producer. 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. Her new book, Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, And A Descendant's Search For Her Family's Lasting Legacy," is out now. Tickets are $20 | Quick Members: $15. Brokerage. 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. 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. But it is also of great interest in general. Can God change your life? Are you an author? And so it's not as if people didn't know, they did back then. The Making of Presidents' and First Ladies' Portraits. Please switch to a supported browser or download one of our Mobile Apps. After she was named a Jefferson Studies Fellow, Jessup White discovered her family lore was correct. 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? Plus, two long lost cousins A woman prays to her Hindu gods for healing, but gets no response. Gayle Jessup White is the first public relations and community engagement officer at the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, the nonprofit that owns and operates Monticello. By Copyright 2021 NPR. Gayle Jessup White had long heard the stories passed down from . [a] timely, relevant, and important book." We are reconsidering how we remember the institution of slavery, and that includes the historical figures from that period. Gayle Jessup White is the Public Relations & Community Engagement Officer at Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's legendary estate. 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. 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. 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 attended the citys private and public schools and attended Howard University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications. The McKnew family put her out and ours took her in. 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. Its not the same place it was when we moved down here. White House History Live. Active listings data currently unavailable. Facebook and YouTube pages starting at 5:30 pm ET on January 10. Has the White House ever been renovated or changed? 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. And she announced that we're descended from Thomas Jefferson. 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 speaks with Gayle Jessup White about her book, Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and a Descendant's Search for Her Family's Lasting Legacy. Accuracy and availability may vary. Gayle Jessup White, thank you so much for joining us. But Richmonds proximity to Monticello was fortuitous. You have permission to edit this article. 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.. policy. 90.3 Hickory 106.1 Laurinburg, PublishedNovember 10, 2021 at 9:00 AM EST. 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. Please check your information and try again or call us at 1-800-759-0700. But after years of detective work, aided by advances in DNA technology, she was finally able to piece together her family's past. any time. Every family has its secrets and family lore, and often the inheritors of those stories can't separate fact from fiction. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. She held on to that. Skip to main content. Send a prayer request now, or call 18007007000. And that's why I wrote this book. She says, I recognize Jefferson now as being a human being. As people say, it is what it is. Get more than a Sunday sermon. Follow to get new release updates, special offers (including promotional offers) and improved recommendations. In the 90s, when Gayle was out of college and building a career in journalism, she got serious about her search. 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 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. This program was held at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. That's sacred ground for me, says Gayle. She is not only a direct Jefferson descendant, but is related to two well-documented families enslaved at Monticello the Hemingses and the Hubbards. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. Former NFL star Chad Johnson says he saved money by living inside Cincinnati Bengals stadium for 2 years. That's my job. If you wish to report an issue or seek an accommodation, please let us know. We are here to help and encourage you! [Her feats] required superhuman persistence. BookPage. Her curiosity about how her Black family could be related to Jefferson drove her to study her familys genealogy. They were tough. 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. 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.. A Black descendent of Thomas Jefferson and employee at Monticello, author Gayle Jessup White examined the legacies of her ancestors and the current racial. as a Jefferson descendant. White is related to both families. With Cinders help, Gayles four decades of research would soon culminate: Thomas Jefferson was her 5-times great grandfather, and Sally Hemings, her 4-times great aunt. Erin Keever is Senior Producer of WFAE'sCharlotte Talks with Mike Collins. 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. We are the sum total of our backgrounds of our ancestors, and I didn't know who mine were. 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 She is a direct Jefferson descendant, and is also related to two well-documented families enslaved at Monticellothe Hemingses and the Hubbards. Its an American story.. Error: There was an internal error submitting your form. Charlayne Hunter Gault, Armed with her newfound familial truth, the author . Living the Christian life is a journey. You may unsubscribe from these email CONNECT: They were kin, with one family owning the other. Its a story of people who in ways big and small resisted their circumstances, laid a foundation for their families, and contributed to their nation, she said. Location: The Regina A. Jefferson was 6'2", had red hair and freckles. Feeling my ancestors, hearing my ancestors, say to me: Gayle, write this story. Her epic family legacy, interwoven with one of the nation's founding fathers, is an emotional trip back in time. There are times when her honest accounting of her experience has taught us about our blind spots, she said of White. Why Movieland says you have to be 17 to attend a movie after 7:30 p.m. Jefferson, ultimately learning that she was not only a descendant of Jefferson Gayle Jes. So you might find information about them on tax records, on wills, but you won't find them in the census record for the most part until 1870. Her 30-year career includes pubic relations, news reporting and anchoring, and public speaking. 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 Reclamation she chronicles her remarkable journey to definitively understand her heritage and reclaim it, and offers a compelling portrait of what it means to be a black woman in America, to pursue the American dream, to reconcile the legacy of racism, and to ensure the nation lives up to the ideals advocated by her legendary ancestor. She has written and spoken extensively about her work at Monticello and currently lives in Virginia. In the book, she describes their horror upon driving down Monument Avenue and seeing its Confederate statues. She also serves on the Poplar Forest African American Advisory Group. . Classroom Resource Packet: Slavery, Freedom, and the White HouseJames Madison's Montpelier: Fate in the BalanceThe Enslaved Household of Dr. Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell, author of "Red, White and Blue on the Runway: The 1968 White House Fashion Show and the Politics Join historian and Pat Nixon biographer Heath Lee and former Nixon White House staffer Barbara Franklin as they discuss the Join us in learning more about White House History right from your own home. 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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 . 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.. MARTIN: I want to mention that you are now working at Monticello, which must be a kind of a head-snapping experience. Her international lineage is principally Nigerian and British. 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." NPR's Michel Martin discussed the book with Jessup White, who describes herself as the five times great-granddaughter of Thomas Jefferson. Hardcover She has traced her ancestry to Jefferson and two families that were enslaved at his estate, Monticello. It was a privilege and an honor to speak with you. 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 former award-winning television reporter and anchor, Jessup White started her career at the New York Times. Williams: 'My story is their story, too': Gayle Jessup White, a descendant of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings, reclaims her heritage. MARTIN: That is Gayle Jessup White. 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. Days. EPUB Andrew M. Davenport, a 2008 graduate of Fairfield College Preparatory School is a writer, editor, and teacher. What are the dimensions of the White House? Its a contradiction that courses through Whites bloodstream and inhabits her DNA as a descendant of both Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings, the enslaved Black woman with whom he had at least six children. A Black descendent of Thomas Jefferson and employee at Monticello, author Gayle Jessup White examined the legacies of her ancestors and the current racial. The man's famil. Senate Minority Leader Norment, Majority Leader Saslaw, among more than a dozen legislators who will not run again. And Sallie Hemmans Whites great-great-grandmother was the daughter of Peter Hemings, an older brother of Sally Hemings. JESSUP WHITE: Well the person who told my sister this was a woman in the family called Aunt Peachie (ph). A former award-winning television reporter and anchor, Jessup White started her career at the New York Times. In so doing, she 'reclaims' our common humanity and gives new meaning to 'one nation, indivisible.'" Did any presidents live elsewhere during their administrations? I found not just the history, but I found my family. communications America has been undergoing a great reconciliation in which the sins of our past are being brought into the light. 90.7 Charlotte 93.7 Southern Pines It was four generations of the Jefferson and Hemings families. Quick Center for the Arts, Fairfield University, Tags: 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. Her 30-year career includes pubic relations, news reporting and anchoring, and public speaking. She is the author of the book, Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and a Descendant's Search for Her Family's Lasting Legacy. Facebook gives people the. And it's important to note as well that we know what happened at Monticello, but it wasn't unusual. Jefferson kept copious notes, so that's how we know that. In 2014, Gayle was selected for the fellowship program at the international center for Jefferson studies. And so I don't work at reconciling who my white ancestors were and who my Black ancestors were. 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. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. As Gayle followed her own leads, DNA research confirmed the long-told rumor that Jefferson had children with an enslaved woman named Sally Hemings. And the whole room went into shock, she said. So Jefferson represents the full complexity of this country and how it was founded. 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 . 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. Our Facebook Live series, White House Biographer Jeffrey Frank discusses his new book on Harry Truman. Her international lineage is principally Nigerian and British. Gayle Jessup White is the Public Relations and Community Engagement Officer at Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's legendary estate. How are we doing? Whites narrative is a metaphor for our nations contradictions and secrets some of her family members chose to pass as white. She's a native Charlottean. 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. A former award-winning television reporter and anchor, Jessup White started her career at the New York Times. privacypolicy@harpercollins.com. Top Stories, 1073 North Benson Road JESSUP WHITE: Frankly, I think it was DNA evidence. What are some unusual animals that have lived in and around the White House? I grew up as a Black American and proud of it. And she starts by explaining how she first learned about this possible connection. And she heard it from her over and over and over again for the 20 years she lived with our family. It also traces back to Sally Hemings, Jefferson's slave who . Fairfield, Connecticut 06824 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.". And she decided to challenge the guests at the table with her own lineage. How had she heard this? Monticello, once the home of Thomas Jefferson and 400 enslaved men, women and children, is a testament to America's legacy of freedom and slavery. Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and a Descendant's Search for Her Family's Lasting Legacy, 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Zillow, Inc. holds real estate brokerage licenses in multiple states. She also hopes that people see themselves and their families in mine. 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 . 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. , they did back then my dad was 6 ' 2 '', had red hair and freckles Peter... Of November 's Eagerly Anticipated Reads '' Ms. magazine, gayle jessup white husband started her career at the international center for Studies. Privilege and an honor to speak with you do n't work at reconciling who my Black ancestors.. Communications consultant, writer, editor, and realtor her Black family could be related to drove... Dozen legislators who will not run again follow to get New release updates special! Jeffersonlore she firmly believed, which chronicles her remarkable journey to understand and reclaim her heritage Ms. magazine, started... 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