Her American roots are in Virginia going back to the Jamestown settlement, and in Maryland. She left the Times for Northwestern Universitys Medill School of Journalism, earning a Master of Science in Journalism. A Black descendent of Thomas Jefferson and employee at Monticello, author Gayle Jessup White examined the legacies of her ancestors and the current racial. Doing so, will help contribute to a better Americaand, yes, a better world for all who live in it." 69-year-old suffers stroke in his N.C. home; Realtor showing house leaves him there. It also traces back to Sally Hemings, Jefferson's slave who . 90.3 Hickory 106.1 Laurinburg, PublishedNovember 10, 2021 at 9:00 AM EST. 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. If you have an immediate prayer need, please call our 24-hour prayer line at 800-700-7000. And I went to my dad first, Daddy, how could we be descended from Thomas Jefferson? 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. Gayle Jessup White will be in Charlotte to speak at the Mecklenburg Chapter Sons of the American Revolution on Nov. 11. Senate Minority Leader Norment, Majority Leader Saslaw, among more than a dozen legislators who will not run again. CONNECT: Well, this would have been taboo back in the 1960s and early '70s. I needed to know that to feel whole. We cant become what we want to be, individually and collectively, if we dont know who we are. They were the guests of honor. View the profiles of people named Gayle Jessup White. Whites narrative is a metaphor for our nations contradictions and secrets some of her family members chose to pass as white. Gayle taught journalism at VCU and created training programs for at-risk young adults. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. EPUB But after years of detective work, aided by advances in DNA technology, she was finally able to piece together her family's past. 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. Top Stories, 1073 North Benson Road What are some unusual animals that have lived in and around the White House? And so I don't work at reconciling who my white ancestors were and who my Black ancestors were. 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. America has been undergoing a great reconciliation in which the sins of our past are being brought into the light. 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. The kitchen where Peter worked came to be one of Gayles favorite rooms at Monticello. MARTIN: This was a long journey for you, and also a very long journey into public acceptance of these facts, right? And then, of course, these stories were reported back when Jefferson was president back in 1801. NPR's Michel Martin discussed the book with Jessup White, who describes herself as the five times great-granddaughter of Thomas Jefferson. Digital Audiobook Unabridged In the 90s, when Gayle was out of college and building a career in journalism, she got serious about her search. JESSUP WHITE: Well, it really is representative of who we are as Americans and how we've at times mistreated each other. 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." In so doing, she 'reclaims' our common humanity and gives new meaning to 'one nation, indivisible.'" He was a flawed human being who made some horrible decisions,sinful decisions. She lives in Virginia. 2023 The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc., A nonprofit 501 (c)(3) Charitable Organization. event will be live streamed on the White House Historical Association's She has written and spoken extensively about her work at Monticello and currently lives in Virginia. Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. That's sacred ground for me, says Gayle. She is also a member the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society and serves on the Poplar Forest African American Advisory Group. So Jefferson represents the full complexity of this country and how it was founded. Zillow Group is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for individuals with disabilities. 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. Those of us who are not black can never fully experience the impact of systemic racism. on his fathers side but also the great-great-great-granddaughter of Peter We are reconsidering how we remember the institution of slavery, and that includes the historical figures from that period. See where she turns for help on todays 700 Club. The Making of Presidents' and First Ladies' Portraits. How do you think about that? Man died Wednesday. 90.7 Charlotte 93.7 Southern Pines
And Richmond has evolved in the past decade or so. You could only hear the silver touching the china. Please check your information and try again or call us at 1-800-759-0700. For 20. A former award-winning television reporter and anchor, Gayle started her career at the New York Times. Send us comments about our Author Pages. All rights reserved. Zillow, Inc. holds real estate brokerage licenses in multiple states. 01/10/2023. 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. 5:30pm. Deputies in Davidson County rushed to help a 69-year-old man they'd found unresponsive in his house following a welfare check. White, Monticellos first public relations and Brokerage. The backdrop for the early part of Whites story is Black, middle-class Washington. John Marshall boys basketball reclaims No. Plus, two long lost cousins A woman prays to her Hindu gods for healing, but gets no response. 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." 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. Her American roots are in Virginia going back to the Jamestown settlement, and in Maryland. (l-r) Andrew M. Davenport and Gayle Jessup White. She is the author of the book, Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and a Descendants Search for Her Familys Lasting Legacy. When an ultrasound reveals no movement and barely a heartbeat, they fear for their babys life. "Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.". For four decades, she researched familial connections to They survived. She also serves on the Poplar Forest African American Advisory Group. It ended up being a good fit for us. community engagement officer, will join us to discuss her book Reclamation, White's memoir not only proves her ancestral connection to Thomas Jefferson but is a more graphic and sweeping look at how the politics of race and class play out at the highest and the lowest levels of American life." And I've found my wholeness., A wholeness she hopes all Americans will soon share. What makes the Justices so elite? Unlike previous guides, this one took an interest in Gayles story, and connected her with Monticello historian, Cinder Stanton. Her international lineage is principally Nigerian and British. But what I am committed to doing is to raise the visibility of those people who didn't have a voice. EPUB Error: There was an internal error submitting your form. 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.. Please subscribe to keep reading. 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. She says, We are one people. 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 They were possessions. And the whole room went into shock, she said. A Black descendent of Thomas Jefferson and employee at Monticello, author Gayle Jessup White examined the legacies of her ancestors and the current racial. And so we had the DNA evidence. Gayle Jessup White is the first public relations and community engagement officer at the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, the nonprofit that owns and operates Monticello. Erin Keever is Senior Producer of WFAE'sCharlotte Talks with Mike Collins. Gayle explains, I'm actually descended from her brother, Peter Hemings, who was a cook at Monticello. 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. 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. Gayle serves on Virginias Citizens Advisory Council on Furnishing and Interpreting the Executive Mansion, where she is founding chair of the Descendant Committee. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. They weren't even considered human beings. Everyone at the table at the party was discussing their lineage with great pride. Did any presidents live elsewhere during their administrations? Our Facebook Live series, White House Biographer Jeffrey Frank discusses his new book on Harry Truman. A former award-winning television reporter and anchor, Jessup White started her career at the New York Times. By 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. This was happening all over in plantations in the South. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. 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. It was the result of a lifelong search for the truth about who she was, and Americas third president. Jefferson was 6'2", had red hair and freckles. We have more in common than not. I don't apologize for my - the behavior of my ancestors. 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. Its not the same place it was when we moved down here. 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. 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. 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. Fairfield, Connecticut 06824 One relative is a historical figure in her own right. And they were the only Blacks there. Reclamationis about all of us who may not be descended from a President but who are descended from the same racial /racist history. 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. Can God change your life? BISAC1 : BISAC2 : BISAC3 : DESK & EXAM Did any presidents live elsewhere during their administrations? 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. 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. ( c ) ( 3 ) Charitable Organization and collectively, if dont... 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