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. 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. 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. With tax cuts unresolved, his session wins included movement on workforce development and his losses included the 15-week abortion bill. If you have an immediate prayer need, please call our 24-hour prayer line at 800-700-7000. CBN's ministry is made possible by the support of our CBN Partners. 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 has traced her ancestry to Jefferson and two families that were enslaved at his estate, Monticello. 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. But again, it took decades and decades for scholars and the public to accept the truth. For years, Gayle would dream of one day finding out if what they said was true. 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. 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. MARTIN: Why do you think it is that you - there was a part of you that always believed it and just had faith in it. 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. 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. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. See why she chooses life based on an impossible promise A troubled pregnancy tests the faith of one couple. . 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. This was happening all over in plantations in the South. *This is a promotional service of HarperCollins Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. In the 90s, when Gayle was out of college and building a career in journalism, she got serious about her search. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. 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. A woman is diagnosed with cancer and its spreading quickly. policy. Little pieces were coming together, but not enough for me to understand how we could have been descended. There are times when her honest accounting of her experience has taught us about our blind spots, she said of White. That's why I'm here, because of them. It was the result of a lifelong search for the truth about who she was, and Americas third president. Gayles son, Charles, lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he attended school. It was reported in the Richmond newspaper that Jefferson had relations with an enslaved woman, Dusky Sally, she was called. 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. As a young woman in her native Washington gaining an increased awareness of race, being descended from Jefferson became a part of my identity. privacypolicy@harpercollins.com. MARTIN: I want to mention that you are now working at Monticello, which must be a kind of a head-snapping experience. They survived. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Discover steps to bring you closer to Christ. We are the sum total of our backgrounds of our ancestors, and I didn't know who mine were. Visit Author Central to update your books, profile picture, and biography. In so doing, she 'reclaims' our common humanity and gives new meaning to 'one nation, indivisible.'" And my sister, who's a very elegant woman, was at a dinner party with her husband. 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. Gayle serves on Virginias Citizens Advisory Council on Furnishing and Interpreting the Executive Mansion, where she is founding chair of the Descendant Committee. You may unsubscribe from these email JESSUP WHITE: I had some facts before me. 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. So Jefferson represents the full complexity of this country and how it was founded. 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. But it is also of great interest in general. How do you think about that? 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. communications at Kirkus Reviews, "19 Books We Can't Wait to Curl Up with This Fall!" Whites story is singular, yet somehow pervasive the most honest of American narratives. 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 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. communications 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. And Sallie Hemmans Whites great-great-grandmother was the daughter of Peter Hemings, an older brother of Sally Hemings. She is also a member the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society and serves on the Poplar Forest African American Advisory Group. Her discoveries there opened a window into who her ancestors were: overcomers who helped build America while being oppressed by slavery. It ended up being a good fit for us. For decades, she'd been a domestic for a wealthy white family, the McKnews, in Washington, D.C., until she suffered a crippling stroke. that they were direct descendants of Thomas Jeffersonlore she firmly believed, Used under license. Williams: 'My story is their story, too': Gayle Jessup White, a descendant of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings, reclaims her heritage. Next 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. She is a direct Jefferson descendant, and is also related to two well-documented families enslaved at Monticellothe Hemingses and the Hubbards. Hardcover 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 weren't even considered human beings. 2023 The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc., A nonprofit 501 (c)(3) Charitable Organization. Every family has its secrets and family lore, and often the inheritors of those stories can't separate fact from fiction. 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. Details. it was that one link. Living the Christian life is a journey. JESSUP WHITE: Frankly, I think it was DNA evidence. Get more than a Sunday sermon. 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.. The Spotsylvania County Sheriffs Office has decided to end its participation on a national television show, at least for now. And so we had the DNA evidence. They were able to pass down character, dignity, strength, humanity, love, joy, pain, resilience, to their descendants. For Gayle Jessup White, landing the job of Public Relations and Community Engagement Officer at Thomas Jefferson's historic home, Monticello, was more than . She is not only a direct Jefferson descendant, but is related to two well-documented families enslaved at Monticello - the Hemingses and the Hubbards. . Our Facebook Live series, White House Biographer Jeffrey Frank discusses his new book on Harry Truman. Top Stories, 1073 North Benson Road Her new book, Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, And A Descendant's Search For Her Family's Lasting Legacy," is out now. The man's famil. Getting Word has significantly changed the interpretation of African-American life during enslavement under Thomas Jefferson. Gayle Jessup White, thank you so much for joining us. I'm not, but you are. Gayle would spend years following clues, tracing her family tree, and scouring historical records. She attended the citys private and public schools and attended Howard University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications. from Thousands of Images covering the History of the White House, Official White House Ornaments, Books & More. Time. Gayle Jessup White began her career at The New York Times and was an award-winning TV reporter before becoming Monticellos first community engagement officer in 2016. If anything, Reclamation demonstrates how illusory and yes, paradoxical American identity can be. 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. MARTIN: This was a long journey for you, and also a very long journey into public acceptance of these facts, right? I didnt have an epiphany. Essence, "One of November's Eagerly Anticipated Reads" Ms. magazine, Gayle Jessup Whites multilayered autobiography . Her family tree traces back to Thomas Jefferson, our third president. She is the author of the book, Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and a Descendants Search for Her Familys Lasting Legacy. We cant become what we want to be, individually and collectively, if we dont know who we are. Find out how she changed paths. Send a prayer request now, or call 18007007000. A former award-winning television reporter and anchor, Gayle started her career at the New York Times. Senate Minority Leader Norment, Majority Leader Saslaw, among more than a dozen legislators who will not run again. Publishers, 195 Broadway, New York, NY And she heard it from her over and over and over again for the 20 years she lived with our family. Trade PB, Format: 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. And it's important to note as well that we know what happened at Monticello, but it wasn't unusual. as a Jefferson descendant. A graduate of Kenyon College in Ohio, he received a masters degree in American Studies from Fairfield University and is currently pursing his doctorate in U.S. history at Georgetown University. White, Monticellos first public relations and Gayle Jessup White has American history running through her veins. Write this story. . She says, We are one people. After she was named a Jefferson Studies Fellow, Jessup White discovered her family lore was correct. Through her account, the author fleshes out many of the genealogical questions concerning Jefferson that have emerged in recent decades." Those of us who are not black can never fully experience the impact of systemic racism. 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 It was just enough information out there to keep me aware of the possibility. 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. Discover God's peace now. "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. She lives in Virginia. (203) 254-4000. It is my right and the right of every descendant of enslaved people to claim their stake in America.. 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. A former award-winning television reporter and anchor, Jessup White started her career at the New York Times. Get daily or weekly highlights from The 700 Club delivered to your inbox. John Marshall boys basketball reclaims No. Share your prayer requests, receive prayer and pray for others! Join us in learning more about White House History right from your own home. Its an American story.. This program was held at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. They were treated as possessions. And they were the only Blacks there. What are some unusual animals that have lived in and around the White House? How are we doing? Well, this would have been taboo back in the 1960s and early '70s. America has been undergoing a great reconciliation in which the sins of our past are being brought into the light. Her curiosity about how her Black family could be related to Jefferson drove her to study her familys genealogy. 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. 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. 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. Her international lineage is principally Nigerian and British. 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 so I don't work at reconciling who my white ancestors were and who my Black ancestors were. As people say, it is what it is. Gayle serves on Virginias Citizens Advisory Council on Furnishing and Interpreting the Executive Mansion, where she is founding chair of the Descendant Committee. There was a problem saving your notification. 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. 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