Why is Benjamin Banneker remembered?
Benjamin Banneker was born on Nov. 9, 1731 in Baltimore, Md., to
Robert[a freed slave] and Mary Bannaky. Mary Bannaky was the
daughter of Molly [an Englishwoman sent off to America as an
indentured servant at the age of 17. She would have been put to
death for the 'crime' of literally, spilling her boss's milk,
however, she could read the Bible, and that saved her life. After 7
years as a servant, she was given an ox, a cart and money to stake
her claim on her own land. She subsequently visited the market
place during a slave trade where she noticed a regal young African
man whom she purchased and befriended, to help her work her land.
They fell in love, married and had 4 daughters. The young African
man's name was Bannaky. He was a Prince and taught Molly and their
neighbors the art of irrigation, which he'd learned in his country
as a young man.] and Bannaky, an African slave who was purchased
and granted Freedom by Molly. The last name was changed through
time to Banneker. Benjamin had no formal education, but had been
taught to read the Bible by his Grandmother Molly. Also, he
attended a few seasons in a nearby Quaker country school. He taught
himself literature, history, science and mathematics, however, he
was a himselfHowever, he was a tobacco planter most of his life. As
a direct descendant to a regal African slave, he offers tremendous
significance to the history of our country. This self-educated,
self-made man wrote books on astronomy, mathematics , created a
wooden clock and published an almanac. Banneker taught himself the
science of astronomy; he made projections for solar and lunar
eclipses and computed ephemeredes (tables of the locations of
celestial bodies) for an almanac. Seemingly, there was little he
could not accomplish. He wrote Thomas Jefferson rebuking him for
his proslavery views and urged him to reconsider becoming part of
the movement towards the abolition of slavery. His works
demonstrated the equal mental abilities of the races.