Benjamin Banneker

Ignatius Sancho, a pioneering voice in Africana thought and one of the first Black voters in British elections, and Benjamin Banneker, a notable African American mathematician and astronomer, delve into the power of their correspondence. They discuss Sancho's rise from humble beginnings to literary acclaim, emphasizing themes of emotion and justice. Banneker's bold letters to Thomas Jefferson challenge racial perceptions and advocate for shared humanity, while Sancho fiercely promotes anti-slavery sentiments and critiques social injustices.

Benjamin Banneker, a man of color in Colonial America, overcame limited formal education. He became an accomplished scholar, publishing respected almanacs, surveying Washington DC, and excelling in math, mechanics, astronomy, and music. Banneker's clockmaking, friendship with the Ellicott family, activism against slavery, and correspondence with Thomas Jefferson are also discussed. His challenges to the founding fathers' talk on equality and his legacy as an early abolitionist are explored.