Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and a Descendant's Search for Her Family's Lasting Legacy

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.

Author: Gayle Jessup White
Publisher: Amistad Press
Published: 11/16/2021
Pages: 288
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.05lbs
Size: 9.10h x 6.10w x 1.20d
ISBN: 9780063028654

Review Citation(s):
Booklist 09/15/2021 pg. 10
Kirkus Reviews 10/01/2021
Publishers Weekly 10/04/2021
Library Journal 11/01/2021 pg. 94