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. Gayle would spend years following clues, tracing her family tree, and scouring historical records. It was the result of a lifelong search for the truth about who she was, and Americas third president. 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. Unlike previous guides, this one took an interest in Gayles story, and connected her with Monticello historian, Cinder Stanton. 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. 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. "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 . In her book, The Other Side of Yet, Michelle Hord details the excruciating loss of her beloved seven-year-old daughter, Gabrielle, at the hands of Doctors advise a young mother to abort after they determine her pregnancy is not viable. 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. 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. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. 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 . Man died Wednesday. Every family has its secrets and family lore, and often the inheritors of those stories can't separate fact from fiction. 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. Owning people is sinful. As people say, it is what it is. "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. Facebook and YouTube pages starting at 5:30 pm ET on January 10. Audrey Edwards, author of American Runaway: Black and Free in Paris in the Trump Years, "Thanks to Gayle Jessup White who sometimes feels 'battle scarred after another day spent fighting for equal recognitionof Black Historythat for many is an afterthought.' She grew up hearing the lore that her family is descended from our countrys third president, Thomas Jefferson. Gayle serves on Virginias Citizens Advisory Council on Furnishing and Interpreting the Executive Mansion, where she is founding chair of the Descendant Committee. from That's my job. 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. The man's famil. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. It was reported in the Richmond newspaper that Jefferson had relations with an enslaved woman, Dusky Sally, she was called. 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. A Washington, DC native, Gayle and her family moved to Richmond in 2006. 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 that's how Janice (ph) learned of this story. Her international lineage is principally Nigerian and British. 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 the point here is to acknowledge that these families were entangled. 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. She has been with the show since joining the station in 2006. Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. Her family tree traces back to Thomas Jefferson, our third president. White discovered she is the great-great-great-granddaughter of Peter Hemings, Sally Hemings brother. Find out how she changed paths. A former award-winning television reporter and anchor, Jessup White started her career at the New York Times. Plus, two long lost cousins A woman prays to her Hindu gods for healing, but gets no response. 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. [supadu_silverpop isbn="9780063028678" authorid="52063" referenceid="52063" authorname="Gayle Jessup White" id="5" title="Author tab Form"]. Discover steps to bring you closer to Christ. She is not only a direct Jefferson descendant, but is related to two well-documented families enslaved at Monticello - the Hemingses and the Hubbards. Accuracy and availability may vary. Booklist, "Jessup White tells a story that will be meaningful to many readers. Trade PB. They were strong. For generations, historians and the American public alike ignored the stories of descendants of the Founding Fathers enslaved families. Fairfield Universitys Open VISIONS Forum (OVF) will host a compelling and timely discussion on racism, politics, power, and slavery at the Quick Center on Wednesday, February 12, 2020 at 8 p.m. As a young woman in her native Washington gaining an increased awareness of race, being descended from Jefferson became a part of my identity. She has written and spoken extensively about her work at Monticello, the legacies of slavery, and her familys contributions to American history. there. 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. Hardcover But Richmonds proximity to Monticello was fortuitous. And Richmond has evolved in the past decade or so. 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." Jefferson, ultimately learning that she was not only a descendant of Jefferson That history is deeply personal to Gayle Jessup White. If you have any questions, please review our privacy For four decades the acclaimed journalist and genealogy enthusiast researched her connection to Thomas Jefferson, to confirm its truth once and for all. Deputies in Davidson County rushed to help a 69-year-old man they'd found unresponsive in his house following a welfare check. What are the dimensions of the White House? She also serves on the Poplar Forest African American Advisory Group. For decades, she'd been a domestic for a wealthy white family, the McKnews, in Washington, D.C., until she suffered a crippling stroke. This program was held at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. That's why I'm at Monticello. Because they were extraordinary people, and they need to be heard, and their lives have been forgotten. MARTIN: How do you reconcile for yourself those contradictions which live in you? Time: 8 p.m. Erin Keever is Senior Producer of WFAE'sCharlotte Talks with Mike Collins. And so I don't work at reconciling who my white ancestors were and who my Black ancestors were. But after years of detective work, aided by advances in DNA technology, she was finally able to piece together her family's past. Her discoveries there opened a window into who her ancestors were: overcomers who helped build America while being oppressed by slavery. 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. Hardcover Gayle You could only hear the silver touching the china. CONNECT: event will be live streamed on the White House Historical Association's will be especially interesting to amateur genealogists. It ended up being a good fit for us. Two people were injured in a crash involving one of the most iconic vehicles in television history, Missouri officials say. What makes the Justices so elite? 137 Kindle Edition $1499 Customers Also Bought Items By America has been undergoing a great reconciliation in which the sins of our past are being brought into the light. John Marshall boys basketball reclaims No. I needed to know that to feel whole. 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. ortraits by Rembrandt Peale, left, and. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, 442-H New York Standard Operating Procedures. And so it's not as if people didn't know, they did back then. A Black descendent of Thomas Jefferson and employee at Monticello, author Gayle Jessup White examined the legacies of her ancestors and the current racial. Hemings, Sally Hemings brother. God made it possible for you to know. Yet that wasn't good enough for Gayle Jessup White. Using television and the Internet, CBN is proclaiming the Good News in 149 countries and territories, with programs and content in 67 languages. Details. 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. {{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. Her 30-year career includes pubic relations, news reporting and anchoring, and public speaking. Trade PB, Format: Although she lives in Richmond, Virginia, she still considers herself a DC girl. 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