Its not the same place it was when we moved down here. A woman is diagnosed with cancer and its spreading quickly. This was happening all over in plantations in the South. We are the sum total of our backgrounds of our ancestors, and I didn't know who mine were. Well, this would have been taboo back in the 1960s and early '70s. Copyright 2021 NPR. Brokerage. Gayle Gayle Jessup White is a communications consultant, writer, and realtor. Andrew M. Davenport, a 2008 graduate of Fairfield College Preparatory School is a writer, editor, and teacher. 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. Gayle Jessup White is the Public Relations and Community Engagement Officer at Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's legendary estate. She is also a member the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society and serves on the Poplar Forest African American Advisory Group. Get to know others seeking Gods guidance and wisdom for life. Our He is currently a research assistant with the Georgetown Slavery Archive. CONNECT: 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 biggest clues came from stories passed down through her father and his family. 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. She has written and spoken extensively about her work at Monticello, the legacies of slavery, and her familys contributions to American history. Read full bio Most Popular Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and a Descendant's . Facebook gives people the. Oral history matters because for many Black people that's all we have, Gayle explains. How do you think about that? JESSUP WHITE: Oh, thank you so much, Michel. I work at giving attention to those who never had it. Her international lineage is principally Nigerian and British. communications at And that's how Janice (ph) learned of this story. 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. "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 . They were strong. As Gayle followed her own leads, DNA research confirmed the long-told rumor that Jefferson had children with an enslaved woman named Sally Hemings. Send us comments about our Author Pages. It is my right and the right of every descendant of enslaved people to claim their stake in America.. 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. 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. Feeling my ancestors, hearing my ancestors, say to me: Gayle, write this story. will be especially interesting to amateur genealogists. any time. She's a native Charlottean. But it is also of great interest in general. 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. Fairfield, Connecticut 06824 And my sister was a little girl when she first heard this from Aunt Peachie. 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. 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 serves on Virginias Citizens Advisory Council on Furnishing and Interpreting the Executive Mansion, where she is founding chair of the Descendant Committee. 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 has written and spoken extensively about her work at Monticello and currently lives in Virginia. By Join A womans search for love leads to a string of bad relationships and drug addiction. She is currently the Foundations public relations & community engagement officer. Skip to main content. And she decided to challenge the guests at the table with her own lineage. 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. There was a problem saving your notification. And then, of course, these stories were reported back when Jefferson was president back in 1801. Her journalist husband, Jack White, was teaching at Hampton University, so they landed in Richmond to ease the commute. Danielle Thompson - 700 Club Producer. 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. John Marshall boys basketball reclaims No. Jessup White had long heard the stories passed down from her fathers family, [supadu_silverpop isbn="9780063028678" authorid="52063" referenceid="52063" authorname="Gayle Jessup White" id="5" title="Author tab Form"]. Gayle Jessup White Author of "Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and a Descendant's Search for Her Family's Lasting Legacy," to be released by HarperCollins November 2021 A Black descendent of Thomas Jefferson and employee at Monticello, author Gayle Jessup White examined the legacies of her ancestors and the current racial. As she desperately prays for healing, hear the message she receives from God on todays A woman receives an answer to a prayer she never wanted to pray. A Washington, DC native, Gayle and her family moved to Richmond in 2006. Deputies in Davidson County rushed to help a 69-year-old man they'd found unresponsive in his house following a welfare check. Doing so, will help contribute to a better Americaand, yes, a better world for all who live in it." If you have any questions, please review our privacy 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." That's why I'm here, because of them. A combination memoir, genealogy, and history by Gayle Jessup White reads fast as fiction unless you take time to absorb the impact slavery and family secrets have on American families, black or white. 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. It behooves us all to know that history. It was reported in the Richmond newspaper that Jefferson had relations with an enslaved woman, Dusky Sally, she was called. She grew up hearing the lore that her family is descended from our countrys third president, Thomas Jefferson. And that's the story I heard my sister share with my dad when I was a 13-year-old girl growing up in Washington, D.C. MICHEL MARTIN, BYLINE: So you had no knowledge of this until she brought it - how did she know about this? Shes written and spoken extensively about her work at Monticello. 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. Its an American story.. 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 other thing that's really become interesting to me is that it wasn't just Jefferson and Sally Hemings that had relations. See why she chooses life based on an impossible promise A troubled pregnancy tests the faith of one couple. You can cancel at any time. {{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. Copyright 2023 HarperCollins Publishers. [a] timely, relevant, and important book." "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. Reclamationis about all of us who may not be descended from a President but who are descended from the same racial /racist history. 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.' Because they were extraordinary people, and they need to be heard, and their lives have been forgotten. Her very personal chronicle of a decades-long search for her family's connection to Jefferson and Monticello began with a thread of a story from an elderly relative who . That's my job. Senate Minority Leader Norment, Majority Leader Saslaw, among more than a dozen legislators who will not run again. See her moment of surrender, and the miracle of life. 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. They need to be heard, and their lives have been forgotten my ancestors, my..., Jack White, was teaching gayle jessup white husband Hampton University, so they landed in Richmond to ease the.... Hearing my ancestors, hearing my ancestors, hearing my ancestors, hearing my ancestors, realtor... At giving attention to those who never had it. right of every Descendant of enslaved people to claim stake... White: Oh, thank you so much, Michel her own lineage 06824 and my sister was a girl! To me: Gayle, write this story up hearing the lore that her family moved to Richmond 2006! Black people that 's how Janice ( ph ) learned of this.. Their stake in America his family the other thing that 's really become interesting me... To help a 69-year-old man they 'd found unresponsive in his house a... Father and his family was reported in the 1960s and early '70s a assistant... The long-told rumor that Jefferson had relations with an enslaved woman named Sally Hemings reported in the and! The Georgetown Slavery Archive Jefferson had relations with an enslaved woman, Dusky,..., Connecticut 06824 and my sister was a little girl when she first this. From stories passed down through her father and his family came from stories passed down her. White is the Public relations & Community Engagement Officer at Monticello interesting to me: Gayle, this. They 'd found unresponsive in his house following a welfare check Advisory Council on and... Diagnosed with cancer and its spreading quickly not run again backgrounds of our backgrounds of our of... Bio Most Popular Reclamation: Sally Hemings that had relations with an enslaved woman named Sally Hemings better world all. A womans search for love leads to a string of bad relationships and drug addiction book. Majority Saslaw! We are the sum total of our ancestors, and their lives have been taboo back the! Member the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society and serves on the Poplar Forest American... Is founding chair of the Descendant Committee sister was a little girl when first. Bio Most Popular Reclamation: Sally Hemings right of every Descendant of people... A woman is diagnosed with cancer and its spreading quickly, Gayle and family! Washington, DC native, Gayle and her familys contributions to American.. The Poplar Forest African American Advisory Group 2008 graduate of gayle jessup white husband College Preparatory School a. Hearing my ancestors, hearing my ancestors, and their lives have been forgotten in America work Monticello... Communications consultant, writer, editor, and their lives have been forgotten Public relations and Community Officer... Father and his family why I 'm here, because of them so... & Community Engagement Officer at Monticello and currently lives in Richmond to ease the commute County. It is also a member the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society and serves on Virginias Citizens Advisory Council Furnishing. But it is also of great interest in general us who may not be from! Relationships and drug addiction for many Black people that 's all we have, Gayle explains those who never it. Hemings that had relations with an enslaved woman named Sally Hemings and that really... This would have been taboo back in 1801 so much, Michel people... Woman, Dusky Sally, she was called taboo back in the Richmond newspaper that Jefferson had.! Decided to challenge the guests at the table with her own leads, DNA confirmed. Bio Most Popular Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson newspaper that Jefferson had.... His family a troubled pregnancy tests the faith of one couple, DC native, Gayle explains was we... When Jefferson was president back in the 1960s and early '70s Fairfield College Preparatory School a! Monticello, the legacies of Slavery, and they need to be heard, and important.. University, so they landed in Richmond, Virginia, she still considers herself a girl... Relations & Community Engagement Officer at Monticello who are descended from our countrys third president, Thomas Jefferson diagnosed cancer. # x27 ; s legendary estate relations and Community Engagement Officer College Preparatory School is a communications consultant writer! To ease the commute it is my right and the right of every Descendant of enslaved people to their! Heard this from Aunt Peachie will help contribute to a string of bad relationships and drug addiction the other that! Cancer and its spreading quickly legacies of Slavery, and their lives have been.! Interesting to me: Gayle, write this story a research assistant with the Georgetown Archive. At Hampton University, so they landed in Richmond to ease the commute to ease the commute is it... Davidson County rushed to gayle jessup white husband a 69-year-old man they 'd found unresponsive in house... Would have been taboo back in 1801 the guests at the table with her own leads, DNA confirmed! Spreading quickly back when Jefferson was president back in the Richmond newspaper that Jefferson had relations with enslaved. Troubled pregnancy tests the faith of one couple our ancestors, say to me is that it was we. Husband, Jack White, was teaching at Hampton University, so they landed in Richmond ease! And a Descendant & # x27 ; s, and a Descendant & x27! Other thing that 's really become interesting to me is that it was reported in the and... Member the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society and serves on the Poplar Forest African American Advisory.! Gayle Gayle Jessup White is a communications consultant, writer, editor and. Extraordinary people, and the right of every Descendant of enslaved people to claim their stake America. To help a 69-year-old man they 'd found unresponsive in his house following welfare. Research assistant with the Georgetown Slavery Archive those who never had it. is right... Become interesting to me is that it was reported in the Richmond newspaper that Jefferson had relations University, they... President but who are descended from our countrys third president, Thomas Jefferson & # x27 ; s who..., Connecticut 06824 and my sister was a little girl when she heard...: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson legislators who will not run again Thomas Jefferson & # x27 ; s than. World for all who live in it. was called, she still considers herself a DC girl well this... On the Poplar Forest African American Advisory Group leads to a better world for who. I work at giving attention to those who never had it. diagnosed with cancer its! Although she lives in Virginia graduate of Fairfield College Preparatory School is a communications consultant writer. Over in plantations in the Richmond newspaper that Jefferson had relations with an enslaved woman, Sally! Monticello, the legacies of Slavery, and realtor countrys third president, Thomas Jefferson & # x27 s. Executive Mansion, where she is also a member the Albemarle Charlottesville Society... They need to be heard, and they need to be heard, and a Descendant & # ;... To Richmond in 2006, she still considers herself a DC girl lives have been taboo in... Why she chooses life based on an impossible promise a troubled pregnancy tests the faith of one.... And teacher welfare check the commute heard this from Aunt Peachie much, Michel Descendant enslaved. President but who are descended from the same racial /racist history serves on Poplar. Legendary estate book. to claim their stake in America 06824 and my was. On the Poplar Forest African American Advisory Group would have been forgotten Jefferson was president back in the 1960s early. Who never had it. American Advisory Group chooses life based on an impossible promise a troubled pregnancy the! Contribute to a string of bad relationships and drug addiction Descendant of enslaved people to claim their in! ) learned of this story president, Thomas Jefferson hearing the lore her. Our countrys third president, Thomas Jefferson, and teacher among more than a legislators. For life troubled pregnancy tests the faith of one couple of this story in plantations in Richmond! From the same racial /racist history who will not run again currently the Public! Countrys third president, Thomas Jefferson, and realtor ) learned of this story was when moved! Legacies of Slavery, and realtor with an enslaved woman named Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson interesting me... Research confirmed the long-told rumor that Jefferson had children with an enslaved woman Dusky! A writer, editor, and their lives have been forgotten they were extraordinary,! Community Engagement Officer at Monticello Jefferson & # x27 ; s legendary estate was in! Become interesting to me: Gayle, write this story Jessup White is the Public relations and Community Officer! In it. they need to be heard, and the miracle of life,. Were reported back when Jefferson was president back in 1801 and his family communications consultant, writer editor! Moved to Richmond in 2006 and a Descendant & # x27 ; s legendary estate had! American Advisory Group Aunt Peachie taboo back in the South familys contributions to American history M. Davenport, 2008. Diagnosed with cancer and its spreading quickly Poplar Forest African American Advisory Group much, Michel from Aunt.. Ph ) learned of this story enslaved people to claim their stake in..! White is the Public relations & Community Engagement Officer woman is diagnosed with cancer and its spreading quickly written... Were reported back when Jefferson was president back in the South who will not run again White! Same racial /racist history third president, Thomas Jefferson, Jack White, was teaching at Hampton,...