Benjamin Banneker

Banneker (http://www.notablebiographies.com/Ba-Be/Banneker-Benjamin.html)

"He-ro (n) a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities," (Webster's Dictionary). Everyone's definition of a hero is different. My definition of a "hero" doesn't necessarily include someone that can run fast, or make millions of dollars. A hero, to me, is a person that has changed at least one person's life, for the better. Benjamin Bannaky, later changed to Benjamin Banneker, was born on November 9, 1731 in Baltimore County, Maryland. His grandparents and his father were slaves, while his mother was a freed slave. Banneker possessed many admirable qualities such as being an inspiration, to me and others, and being multi-talented.

Benjamin Banneker was one of the most well-known African Americans in early history. One of the reasons for that is because he was an inspiration to a lot of people, including other scientists. "Banneker was the first American Negro to challenge the world by the independent power of his intellect," (W. Douglass Brown). For years, Banneker was rejected because he didn't fill the criteria of a scientist back then. He did not directly challenge anyone, though. When people saw how accurate his calculations for almanacs were, they started to accept him. Banneker was able to open up the eyes of people in America to see that African Americans are not inferior to others. Because of his almanacs, and other advances, he opened up the world for many people. In my mind, he is an inspiration to be able to do that.  Banneker was also not willing to give up on his dream. "In 1791 Banneker was unable to sell his observations, but these rejections did not stop his studies," (Gale Virtual Reference). Although he was not able to sell his almanacs, he still knew that his work could prove that Africans could still contribute to the world of science. Angry, he got the courage to write to Thomas Jefferson and not only complain about not selling almanacs, but also for promoting slavery. That letter may have been the most important letter he had ever written. After he wrote, his almanacs were able to sell for several years, and the letter of Jefferson writing back was also published with them. These were distributed in abolition slavery societies as examples that Africans are not inferior. When Banneker got up the courage to confront Jefferson, he changed the lives of many Africans who wanted an education, or become a scientist. The way that he impacted so many people's lives is inspiring.

http://www.math.buffalo.edu/mad/special/banneker-benjamin.html ()

Banneker was also multi-talented, which also lead to his success. In the quote below, it is evident that Benjamin is multi-talented. "Banneker was a self-educated man who was able to develop great skill in astronomy in spite of his social segregation as a free black and his physical isolation as a rural farmer," (Gale Biography). In early life, Banneker was allowed to go to school in the winter, but his formal education was still limited. After he stopped going to school, he continued to teach himself literature, history, math, and astronomy. Even though he was not at first accepted in the science community because of his race, he was still able to make many advances in astronomy. At first, when Banneker was unsuccessful in selling almanacs, he took matters into his own hands by writing to Jefferson. It is evident that Banneker is scientifically gifted, and he can stand up for what he believes in. Benjamin Banneker is not only remembered for his almanacs and position in society, though. "At the age of 30, Banneker constructed a striking wooden clock without having seen a clock before that time," (Gale Virtual Reference). Banneker's neighbor, named Levi, let him see his pocket watch, and that is where Banneker first became interested in clocks. After taking apart the pocket watch, he was able to make a striking wooden clock. After he produced his clock that functioned for nearly 20 years, he became known as a mathematician. As you can see, Benjamin Banneker accomplished a lot throughout his life and is remembered for many things.

Banneker is inspirational and multi-talented. He was able to accomplish many things throughout his life. He constructed a

striking wooden clock, by only looking at a pocket watch, he was a successful tobacco farmer, he calculated ephemeris for

almanacs that were published for several years, and he was also became a pamphleteer for the anti-slavery movement.

Banneker inspires me because he was able to overcome the fact that his parents were slaves, and that no one accepted

him as a scientist, to follow his dreams and become successful. He was also obviously hard-working to be able to

accomplish so much. Lastly, if you take one thing away from the essay, take this: if you work hard, you can literally

accomplish anything you set your mind to.

Works Consulted

"Benjamin Banneker." Encyclopedia of World Biography. 2nd ed. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 2004.

490-491. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 10 May 2012.

"Benjamin Banneker." Notable Black American Men, Book II. Ed. Jessie Carney Smith. Detroit:

Gale, 1998. Gale Biography In Context. Web. 8 May 2012.

"Banneker, Benjamin." UXL Encyclopedia of World Biography. Ed. Laura B. Tyle. Vol. 1.

Detroit: UXL, 2003. 166-168. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 9 May 2012.

Leonard, Jacqueline. "Banneker, Benjamin." Mathematics. Ed. Barry Max Brandenberger, Jr.

Vol. 1. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2002. 58-59. Gale Virtual Reference

Library. Web. 10 May 2012

Schafer, Elizabeth D. "The Work and Impact of Benjamin Banneker." Science and Its Times. Ed.

Neil Schlager and Josh Lauer. Vol. 4: 1700 to 1799. Detroit: Gale, 2000. 288-291. Gale

Virtual Reference Library. Web. 10 May 2012.

Williams, Scott W. "BENJAMIN BANNEKER 1731-1806 - Mathematicians of the African

Diaspora." Department of Mathematics, University at Buffalo. The Mathematics

Department of The State University of New York at Buffalo, 1 July 2001. Web. 02 May 2012.