communications at 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. The Making of Presidents' and First Ladies' Portraits. 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. Hardcover A woman is diagnosed with cancer and its spreading quickly. She is not only a direct Jefferson descendant, but is related to two well-documented families enslaved at Monticello the Hemingses and the Hubbards. You may unsubscribe from these email 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. Download the free myCBN app. 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 JESSUP WHITE: I heard it from my oldest sister, who's about 20 years older than I am. Doing so, will help contribute to a better Americaand, yes, a better world for all who live in it." 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. Find out how she changed paths. It was just enough information out there to keep me aware of the possibility. MARTIN: How do you reconcile for yourself those contradictions which live in you? ortraits by Rembrandt Peale, left, and. 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. 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. And Richmond has evolved in the past decade or so. She is the author of the book, Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and a Descendant's Search for Her Family's Lasting Legacy. 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. We cant become what we want to be, individually and collectively, if we dont know who we are. Because my story is their story, too.. She says, I always felt that if I could determine my ties to Jefferson, I could find out more about my family. there. I didn't know her. Her 30-year career includes pubic relations, news reporting and anchoring, and public speaking. She says, I recognize Jefferson now as being a human being. "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 had long heard the stories passed down from . 2023 The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc., A nonprofit 501 (c)(3) Charitable Organization. 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 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. REQUESTS, https://d2wawpwx3aybf6.cloudfront.net/hc-audio/9780063028685.mp3, privacy 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. And that's how Janice (ph) learned of this story. This browser is no longer supported. Little pieces were coming together, but not enough for me to understand how we could have been descended. from 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 Jefferson's historic home, Monticello, was more than . Executive Mansion as well as the stories of the people who lived and worked though others did not. Through her account, the author fleshes out many of the genealogical questions concerning Jefferson that have emerged in recent decades." Trade PB, Format: Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. She is currently the Foundations public relations & community engagement officer. Her 30-year career includes pubic relations, news reporting and anchoring, and public speaking. 10007, providing information about the products of HarperCollins and its affiliates. 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. NPR's Michel Martin discussed the book with Jessup White, who describes herself as the five times great-granddaughter of Thomas Jefferson. She has written and spoken extensively about her work at Monticello and currently lives in Virginia. It was a privilege and an honor to speak with you. Gayle Jessup White is the first public relations and community engagement officer at the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, the nonprofit that owns and operates Monticello. This doesnt make sense to me. All Daddy said to me was, That's what they say. She has traced her ancestry to Jefferson and two families that were enslaved at his estate, Monticello. Jefferson kept copious notes, so that's how we know that. 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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. 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 is a communications consultant, writer, and realtor. 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 recounts, Well I was shocked. For four decades, she researched familial connections to She and her husband, retired Time Magazine columnist Jack White Jr have a blended family of four sons, one daughter, and seven granddaughters. Time: 8 p.m. She was thirteen when her sister shared a bit of family lore regarding the main author of the Declaration of Independencethey were related. BISAC1 : BISAC2 : BISAC3 : DESK & EXAM Facebook Live series, White House History Live, delves into the history of the . If anything, Reclamation demonstrates how illusory and yes, paradoxical American identity can be. 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. Owning people is sinful. What are some unusual animals that have lived in and around the White House? 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. Skip to main content. She's a native Charlottean. A former award-winning television reporter and anchor, Jessup White started her career at the New York Times. 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. 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.". 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." Gayle Jessup White, thank you so much for joining us. 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.". Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and a Descendant's Search for Her Family's Lasting Legacy, 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. I'm very comfortable with who I am and take complete ownership of my place in society and as a descendant of enslaved people. We are here to help and encourage you! It is my right and the right of every descendant of enslaved people to claim their stake in America.. Skip to main content. (203) 254-4000. I don't apologize for my - the behavior of my ancestors. It was the result of a lifelong search for the truth about who she was, and Americas third president. 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.. 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. Used under license. The Making of Presidents' and First Ladies' Portraits. 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. You could only hear the silver touching the china. In 2014, Gayle was selected for the fellowship program at the international center for Jefferson studies. that they were direct descendants of Thomas Jeffersonlore she firmly believed, Days. White House History Live. Tuesday. 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