Its a story of people who in ways big and small resisted their circumstances, laid a foundation for their families, and contributed to their nation, she said. 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. Those of us who are not black can never fully experience the impact of systemic racism. 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. 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. 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. There was a problem saving your notification. us in learning more about White House History right from your own home. "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. CONNECT: . I can't imagine being anyplace else. The other thing that's really become interesting to me is that it wasn't just Jefferson and Sally Hemings that had relations. 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 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. How are we doing? Through her account, the author fleshes out many of the genealogical questions concerning Jefferson that have emerged in recent decades." They survived. Because they were extraordinary people, and they need to be heard, and their lives have been forgotten. She grew up hearing the lore that her family is descended from our countrys third president, Thomas Jefferson. She is the author of the book, Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and a Descendants Search for Her Familys Lasting Legacy. Its important to look at each other and to work through those differences and see ourselves as Americans and recognize the kinship. For 20. Discover steps to bring you closer to Christ. It also traces back to Sally Hemings, Jefferson's slave who . communications It was reported in the Richmond newspaper that Jefferson had relations with an enslaved woman, Dusky Sally, she was called. community engagement officer, will join us to discuss her book Reclamation, It was the result of a lifelong search for the truth about who she was, and Americas third president. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. I didnt have an epiphany. And I went to my dad first, Daddy, how could we be descended from Thomas Jefferson? But what I am committed to doing is to raise the visibility of those people who didn't have a voice. She says, I always felt that if I could determine my ties to Jefferson, I could find out more about my family. She is also a member the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society and serves on the Poplar Forest African American Advisory Group. 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. 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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. But it is also of great interest in general. 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. She has written and spoken extensively about her work at Monticello and currently lives in Virginia. View the profiles of people named Gayle Jessup White. Trade PB. The Making of Presidents' and First Ladies' Portraits. CBN is a global ministry committed to preparing the nations of the world for the coming of Jesus Christ through mass media. 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. This was happening all over in plantations in the South. They were able to pass down character, dignity, strength, humanity, love, joy, pain, resilience, to their descendants. This Open VISIONS Forum is generously sponsored by TV Eyes, the Artisan, Moffly Media, Delamar Southport, and Delamar Spa. 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.' Write this story. . 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. If anything, Reclamation demonstrates how illusory and yes, paradoxical American identity can be. And so it's not as if people didn't know, they did back then. We are continuously working to improve the accessibility of our web experience for everyone, and we welcome feedback and accommodation requests. Join us in learning more about White House History right from your own home. Get to know others seeking Gods guidance and wisdom for life. Get daily or weekly highlights from The 700 Club delivered to your inbox. It behooves us all to know that history. And then, of course, these stories were reported back when Jefferson was president back in 1801. It was a privilege and an honor to speak with you. 2023 The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc., A nonprofit 501 (c)(3) Charitable Organization. . Andrew M. Davenport, a 2008 graduate of Fairfield College Preparatory School is a writer, editor, and teacher. With tax cuts unresolved, his session wins included movement on workforce development and his losses included the 15-week abortion bill. Gayle Jessup White had long heard the stories passed down from . Discover God's peace now. A Black descendant of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings family explores Americas racial reckoning through the prism of her ancestorsboth the enslaver and the enslaved.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. They were tough. 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. She also hopes that people see themselves and their families in mine. Days. She also serves on the Poplar Forest African American Advisory Group. Visit Author Central to update your books, profile picture, and biography. In her book, Reclamation, Gayle chronicles her journey to find her heritage, and more. I don't apologize for my - the behavior of my ancestors. For years, Gayle would dream of one day finding out if what they said was true. Zillow, Inc. holds real estate brokerage licenses in multiple states. Fairfield, Connecticut 06824 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. 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. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Deputies in Davidson County rushed to help a 69-year-old man they'd found unresponsive in his house following a welfare check. As people say, it is what it is. 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. Her new book, Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, And A Descendant's Search For Her Family's Lasting Legacy," is out now. Read full bio Most Popular Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and a Descendant's . And that's why I wrote this book. Zillow Group is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for individuals with disabilities. What are the dimensions of the White House? Gayle Jessup White is the first public relations and community engagement officer at the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, the nonprofit that owns and operates Monticello. event will be live streamed on the White House Historical Association's 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. 69-year-old suffers stroke in his N.C. home; Realtor showing house leaves him there. 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. White House History Live. . 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.. Digital Audiobook Unabridged Why do you think that was, that there's something about it that stuck with you? Skip to main content. She says, We are one people. She attended the citys private and public schools and attended Howard University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications. Facebook gives people the. If you have an immediate prayer need, please call our 24-hour prayer line at 800-700-7000. from What makes the Justices so elite? What are some unusual animals that have lived in and around the White House? The Making of Presidents' and First Ladies' Portraits. And my grandmother was from Charlottesville. Gayle Jessup White is the Public Relations and Community Engagement Officer at Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's legendary estate. . Davenport researched Getting Word while a Robert H. Smith Fellow at the International Center for Jefferson Studies in July 2017, and recently served as an adjunct professor of African American Art History at Fairfield University. 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. Her American roots are in Virginia going back to the Jamestown settlement, and in Maryland. They were kin, with one family owning the other. Digital Audiobook Unabridged What are the dimensions of the White House? 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. Skip to main content. Everyone at the table at the party was discussing their lineage with great pride. A Washington, DC native, Gayle and her family moved to Richmond in 2006. They were treated as possessions. 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. A former award-winning television reporter and anchor, Jessup White started her career at the New York Times. Are you an author? And they were the only Blacks there. 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.". 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. You may unsubscribe from these email They were the guests of honor. Gayle Jessup White is a communications consultant, writer, and realtor. A former award-winning television reporter and anchor, Gayle started her career at the New York Times. America has been undergoing a great reconciliation in which the sins of our past are being brought into the light. I'm not, but you are. Senate Minority Leader Norment, Majority Leader Saslaw, among more than a dozen legislators who will not run again. Shes written and spoken extensively about her work at Monticello. She says, For many years I assumed I was descended from Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings. When I'm in that space where I feel the presence of my ancestors. . Its an American story.. 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. I didn't know her. And she announced that we're descended from Thomas Jefferson. 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 . Her journalist husband, Jack White, was teaching at Hampton University, so they landed in Richmond to ease the commute. [Her feats] required superhuman persistence. BookPage. Erin Keever is Senior Producer of WFAE'sCharlotte Talks with Mike Collins. 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