It also traces back to Sally Hemings, Jefferson's slave who . And so we had the DNA evidence. Time. She's written and spoken extensively about her work at Monticello. It was in 2016 that Gayle came on-staff at Monticello, educating the public about the legacy the good and the bad of one of Americas Founding Fathers. See where she turns for help on todays 700 Club. Hemings, Sally Hemings brother. . 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. She is the author of the book, Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and a Descendants Search for Her Familys Lasting Legacy. . If you have an immediate prayer need, please call our 24-hour prayer line at 800-700-7000. Two people were injured in a crash involving one of the most iconic vehicles in television history, Missouri officials say. from 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. And so I don't work at reconciling who my white ancestors were and who my Black ancestors were. 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. This program was held at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. Details. That's sacred ground for me, says Gayle. *This is a promotional service of HarperCollins which chronicles her remarkable journey to understand and reclaim her heritage Her international lineage is principally Nigerian and British. God made it possible for you to know. Oral history matters because for many Black people that's all we have, Gayle explains. A womans search for love leads to a string of bad relationships and drug addiction. Time: 8 p.m. We are here to help and encourage you! 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. 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. Whites story is singular, yet somehow pervasive the most honest of American narratives. You have permission to edit this article. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. 69-year-old suffers stroke in his N.C. home; Realtor showing house leaves him there. 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. Gayle serves on Virginias Citizens Advisory Council on Furnishing and Interpreting the Executive Mansion, where she is founding chair of the Descendant Committee. 90.3 Hickory 106.1 Laurinburg, PublishedNovember 10, 2021 at 9:00 AM EST. "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 . Andrew M. Davenport, a 2008 graduate of Fairfield College Preparatory School is a writer, editor, and teacher. But after years of detective work, aided by advances in DNA technology, she was finally able to piece together her family's past. 2023 The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc., A nonprofit 501 (c)(3) Charitable Organization. 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 not only a direct Jefferson descendant, but is related to two well-documented families enslaved at Monticello - the Hemingses and the Hubbards. 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. (l-r) Andrew M. Davenport and Gayle Jessup White. 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. There are times when her honest accounting of her experience has taught us about our blind spots, she said of White. They were possessions. Gayle Jessup White, author of Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and a Descendant's Search for Her Family's Lasting Legacy. She is the public relations and community engagement officer at Monticello. 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.. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. Discover steps to bring you closer to Christ. 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. It was a privilege and an honor to speak with you. 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. JESSUP WHITE: I had some facts before me. It was just enough information out there to keep me aware of the possibility. Facebook Live series, White House History Live, delves into the history of the They were treated as possessions. White House History Live. 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 that's why I wrote this book. 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 Copyright 2023 HarperCollins Publishers. 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. CONNECT: She is also a member of the Council of Historic Richmond, and the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society. 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. Facebook gives people the. 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 Gayle followed her own leads, DNA research confirmed the long-told rumor that Jefferson had children with an enslaved woman named Sally Hemings. Her new book, Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, And A Descendant's Search For Her Family's Lasting Legacy," is out now. 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. 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. Because my story is their story, too.. It was the result of a lifelong search for the truth about who she was, and Americas third president. Gayle Jessup White is the Public Relations & Community Engagement Officer at Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's legendary estate. MARTIN: How do you reconcile for yourself those contradictions which live in you? I found not just the history, but I found my family. She has been with the show since joining the station in 2006. Read full bio Most Popular Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and a Descendant's . The Making of Presidents' and First Ladies' Portraits. Download the free myCBN app. But again, it took decades and decades for scholars and the public to accept the truth. MARTIN: That is Gayle Jessup White. Hardcover EPUB 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 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. 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.. They were kin, with one family owning the other. Gayle recounts, Well I was shocked. See why she chooses life based on an impossible promise A troubled pregnancy tests the faith of one couple. Publishers, 195 Broadway, New York, NY Used under license. They were able to pass down character, dignity, strength, humanity, love, joy, pain, resilience, to their descendants. Has the White House ever been renovated or changed? 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. She has traced her ancestry to Jefferson and two families that were enslaved at his estate, Monticello. View the profiles of people named Gayle Jessup White. Join I can't imagine being anyplace else. She held on to that. 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. Bookperk and other HarperCollins services. Whites relentless pursuit of her family lore led her to a fellowship at the International Center for Jefferson Studies and, ultimately, as Monticellos first community engagement officer. For four decades the acclaimed journalist and genealogy enthusiast researched her connection to Thomas Jefferson, to confirm its truth once and for all. She also serves on the Poplar Forest African American Advisory Group. Jefferson, ultimately learning that she was not only a descendant of Jefferson I'm not, but you are. We are reconsidering how we remember the institution of slavery, and that includes the historical figures from that period. 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. Gayle serves on Virginias Citizens Advisory Council on Furnishing and Interpreting the Executive Mansion, where she is founding chair of the Descendant Committee. Gayles son, Charles, lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he attended school. How had she heard this? 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. Her 30-year career includes pubic relations, news reporting and anchoring, and public speaking. As a young woman in her native Washington gaining an increased awareness of race, being descended from Jefferson became a part of my identity. . But what I am committed to doing is to raise the visibility of those people who didn't have a voice. Active listings data currently unavailable. Feeling my ancestors, hearing my ancestors, say to me: Gayle, write this story. The man's famil. 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. Zillow, Inc. holds real estate brokerage licenses in multiple states. 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. Her journalist husband, Jack White, was teaching at Hampton University, so they landed in Richmond to ease the commute. Gayle Jessup White had long heard the stories passed down from . 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 ortraits by Rembrandt Peale, left, and. They weren't even considered human beings. Her discoveries there opened a window into who her ancestors were: overcomers who helped build America while being oppressed by slavery. 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. He is currently a research assistant with the Georgetown Slavery Archive. though others did not. 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. It ended up being a good fit for us. 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 former award-winning television reporter and anchor, Gayle started her career at the New York Times. 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 . JESSUP WHITE: Well, it really is representative of who we are as Americans and how we've at times mistreated each other. For generations, historians and the American public alike ignored the stories of descendants of the Founding Fathers enslaved families. It would behoove all of us to be as curious about our heritage as White. Its not the same place it was when we moved down here. They survived. She was thirteen when her sister shared a bit of family lore regarding the main author of the Declaration of Independencethey were related. Skip to main content. White proves that her transformative research and discovery is well worth the journey. Unlike previous guides, this one took an interest in Gayles story, and connected her with Monticello historian, Cinder Stanton. Gayle Jessup White, thank you so much for joining us. . In the 90s, when Gayle was out of college and building a career in journalism, she got serious about her search. 5:30pm. communications This Open VISIONS Forum is generously sponsored by TV Eyes, the Artisan, Moffly Media, Delamar Southport, and Delamar Spa. Her 30-year career includes pubic relations, news reporting and anchoring, and public speaking. 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. Digital Audiobook Unabridged JESSUP WHITE: Frankly, I think it was DNA evidence. Shes written and spoken extensively about her work at Monticello. My dad was 6'2", had red hair and freckles. 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. They were the guests of honor. Next Gayle Her family tree traces back to Thomas Jefferson, our third president. 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. Its an American story.. Using television and the Internet, CBN is proclaiming the Good News in 149 countries and territories, with programs and content in 67 languages. We cant become what we want to be, individually and collectively, if we dont know who we are. there. I needed to know that to feel whole. She is not only a direct Jefferson descendant, but is related to two well-documented families enslaved at Monticello the Hemingses and the Hubbards. Those of us who are not black can never fully experience the impact of systemic racism. Little pieces were coming together, but not enough for me to understand how we could have been descended. 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." And I've found my wholeness., A wholeness she hopes all Americans will soon share. 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 was reported in the Richmond newspaper that Jefferson had relations with an enslaved woman, Dusky Sally, she was called. 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.. 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. 90.7 Charlotte 93.7 Southern Pines JESSUP WHITE: Well the person who told my sister this was a woman in the family called Aunt Peachie (ph). 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.". Please subscribe to keep reading. When I'm in that space where I feel the presence of my ancestors. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. 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. Zillow Group is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for individuals with disabilities. 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. JESSUP WHITE: Oh, thank you so much, Michel. The McKnew family put her out and ours took her in. A former award-winning television reporter and anchor, Jessup White started her career at the New York Times. ADRIAN FLORIDO,. The other thing that's really become interesting to me is that it wasn't just Jefferson and Sally Hemings that had relations. She says, I always felt that if I could determine my ties to Jefferson, I could find out more about my family. {{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. She says, I recognize Jefferson now as being a human being. 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. any time. You can cancel at any time. Erin Keever is Senior Producer of WFAE'sCharlotte Talks with Mike Collins. If anything, Reclamation demonstrates how illusory and yes, paradoxical American identity can be. Sponsor: Monticello TOPIC FREQUENCY Top Stories, 1073 North Benson Road Everyone at the table at the party was discussing their lineage with great pride. Whites narrative is a metaphor for our nations contradictions and secrets some of her family members chose to pass as white. Through her account, the author fleshes out many of the genealogical questions concerning Jefferson that have emerged in recent decades." 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.. Leslie Greene Bowman, president of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, lauded White and Reclamation during a Nov. 16 book launch event at Monticello. She lives in Virginia. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. If you wish to report an issue or seek an accommodation, please let us know. Gayle taught journalism at VCU and created training programs for at-risk young adults. 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? Yet that wasn't good enough for Gayle Jessup White. Every family has its secrets and family lore, and often the inheritors of those stories can't separate fact from fiction. Send us comments about our Author Pages. [supadu_silverpop isbn="9780063028678" authorid="52063" referenceid="52063" authorname="Gayle Jessup White" id="5" title="Author tab Form"]. He was a flawed human being who made some horrible decisions,sinful decisions. 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. 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. Digital Audiobook Unabridged Gayle Jes. 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. How do you think about that? Gayle Jessup White has American history running through her veins. And I've made those connections. 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. 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 Danielle Thompson - 700 Club Producer. We are continuously working to improve the accessibility of our web experience for everyone, and we welcome feedback and accommodation requests. 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. Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and a Descendant's Search for Her Family's Lasting Legacy, 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Fairfield, Connecticut 06824 The backdrop for the early part of Whites story is Black, middle-class Washington. 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. 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. Gayle explains, I'm actually descended from her brother, Peter Hemings, who was a cook at Monticello. She also hopes that people see themselves and their families in mine. Jefferson was 6'2", had red hair and freckles. She attended the citys private and public schools and attended Howard University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications. 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.. A Black descendent of Thomas Jefferson and employee at Monticello, author Gayle Jessup White examined the legacies of her ancestors and the current racial. Facebook and YouTube pages starting at 5:30 pm ET on January 10. A former award-winning television reporter and anchor, Jessup White started her career at the New York Times. She says, We are one people. 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. CBN's ministry is made possible by the support of our CBN Partners. MARTIN: I want to mention that you are now working at Monticello, which must be a kind of a head-snapping experience. Error: There was an internal error submitting your form. Copyright 2021 NPR. 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