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Reclamation : Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and a descendant's search for her family's lasting legacy / Gayle Jessup White.

By: Material type: TextTextPublisher: New York : Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, [2021]Copyright date: ©2021Edition: First editionDescription: xix, 266 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some color) ; 24 cmContent type:
  • text
Media type:
  • unmediated
Carrier type:
  • volume
ISBN:
  • 9780063028654
  • 0063028654
Subject(s): Genre/Form:
Contents:
Eastland Gardens -- Deanwood -- Las Vegas: a turning point -- Washington, DC: the Jefferson question -- Howard University -- Roots -- Chicago -- Georgia -- Wedding of the year -- A prayer and a poem -- An ode to the Jessups -- Marriage -- Death always comes in threes -- Richmond -- The dome room -- Eva Taylor -- mysterious as ever -- Paternity test -- RIP, Chocolate City -- "A slave girl named Sally" -- The plot thickens -- The Randolphs -- Cousins -- DNA does not lie -- What's in a name? -- The Robinsons -- Whitewashing history -- A coffee shop chat -- My ancestors' footsteps -- Velma & Ruth -- Charlottesville -- Sally Hemings Robinson -- Homecoming.
Summary: Chronicling her remarkable journey to definitively understand her heritage and reclaim it, a black descendant of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings' family offers a compelling portrait to ensure the nation lives up to the ideals advocated by her legendary ancestor.Summary: White had long heard the stories that her father's family were direct descendants of Thomas Jefferson. For four decades she researched her connection to Thomas Jefferson, to confirm its truth once and for all. Poring through photos and documents and pursuing DNA evidence, she learned that not only was she a descendant of Jefferson on his father's side; she was also the great-great-great-granddaughter of Peter Hemings, Sally Hemings's brother. Here she chronicles her journey to definitively understand her heritage and reclaim it. In doing so White 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. -- adapted from jacket
Holdings
Item type Home library Collection Call number Materials specified Status Date due Barcode Item holds
Adult Book Adult Book Main Library NonFiction 973.4609 W584 Available 33111010750558
Total holds: 0

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:



A Black descendant of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings' family explores America's racial reckoning through the prism of her ancestors--both the enslaver and the enslaved.



Gayle Jessup White had long heard the stories passed down from her father's family, that they were direct descendants of Thomas Jefferson--lore she firmly believed, though others did not. For four decades the acclaimed journalist and genealogy enthusiast researched her connection to Thomas Jefferson, to confirm its truth once and for all.

After she was named a Jefferson Studies Fellow, Jessup White discovered her family lore was correct. Poring through photos and documents and pursuing DNA evidence, she learned that not only was she a descendant of Jefferson on his father's side; she was also the great-great-great-granddaughter of Peter Hemings, Sally Hemings's brother.

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.

Chronicling her remarkable journey to definitively understand her heritage and reclaim it, a black descendant of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings' family offers a compelling portrait to ensure the nation lives up to the ideals advocated by her legendary ancestor.

Eastland Gardens -- Deanwood -- Las Vegas: a turning point -- Washington, DC: the Jefferson question -- Howard University -- Roots -- Chicago -- Georgia -- Wedding of the year -- A prayer and a poem -- An ode to the Jessups -- Marriage -- Death always comes in threes -- Richmond -- The dome room -- Eva Taylor -- mysterious as ever -- Paternity test -- RIP, Chocolate City -- "A slave girl named Sally" -- The plot thickens -- The Randolphs -- Cousins -- DNA does not lie -- What's in a name? -- The Robinsons -- Whitewashing history -- A coffee shop chat -- My ancestors' footsteps -- Velma & Ruth -- Charlottesville -- Sally Hemings Robinson -- Homecoming.

White had long heard the stories that her father's family were direct descendants of Thomas Jefferson. For four decades she researched her connection to Thomas Jefferson, to confirm its truth once and for all. Poring through photos and documents and pursuing DNA evidence, she learned that not only was she a descendant of Jefferson on his father's side; she was also the great-great-great-granddaughter of Peter Hemings, Sally Hemings's brother. Here she chronicles her journey to definitively understand her heritage and reclaim it. In doing so White 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. -- adapted from jacket

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