Bibliograph

Type

Label

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

Language

eng

resource.biographical

contains biographical information

Illustrations

illustrations

Index

no index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

Reclamation

Oclc number

1284922581

Responsibility statement

Gayle Jessup White

Sub title

Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and a descendant's search for her family's lasting legacy

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 ancestorWhite 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

Table Of 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

Target audience

adult

Classification