Benjamin Banneker Influence On African American

A mathematician is a person who uses extensive knowledge of mathematics in their work to solve math problems. For an African American it was nearly impossible to become a mathematician without experiencing racism and or discrimination. Out of all the famous African American mathematicians I believe that Benjamin Banneker went through the most to become a mathematician and a writer. Mainly because he was born during the slavery time period.
Benjamin Banneker was born on November 9, 1731, in Ellicott’s Mills, Maryland. He was the son of ex-slaves named Robert and Mary. Benjamin was born from free slaves so he was able to escape the harshness of slavery. His grandmother taught him how to read with the bible and he went to a quaker school. Benjamin Banneker was self-educated in mathematics and astronomy. Therefore he was able to accurately forecast lunar and
solar eclipses. Which he did on April 14, 1789. Shortly after his dad past, he took over the family farm and created an irrigation system. Then he began to grow tobacco on the farm and sell it.
Banneker was so intelligent and talented that he grabbed the attention of the Ellicott family. They were a group of entrepreneurs who made a fortune by building gristmills in Baltimore. Noticing his interest in astronomy, George Ellicott loaned Banneker some books on astronomy from his personal library. Eventually, Benjamin was hired by George’s cousin to help with surveying territory for the nation’s capital city. After three months, Banneker had to stop working for Andrew Ellicott because of a bad illness.
Benjamin Banneker true fame came from his almanacs.
He published them for six straight years in his later life. These almanacs included his own astronomical calculations, literature, medical and tidal information. The tidal information was very efficient to fishermen at the time. Not only did he write almanacs he also wrote letters to Thomas Jefferson. In 1791, Benjamin was considered a respected Virginian and a slaveholder who viewed African Americans as more than just a slave. While acknowledging the fact that he was “of the African race”. Afterwards, Jefferson and Banneker continued to trade letters with one another publishing each other's work.
When Benjamin was 60, President George Washington noticed his skill for surveying and appointed him to survey the District of Columbia. Benjamin never found a spouse but he continued to have several scientific studies throughout his life. Banneker as able to produce a dissertation on bees and more letters of segregation. In 1797, his almanac sells declined dramatically so that he begin to struggle to make ends meat. Benjamin soled most of his family farm to
survive.
In Banneker’s later life he took a morning walk then a nap. This particular day, October 9, 1806, after his morning walk he passed away in his sleep. His birthday was a month away and he died at the age of 74. Benjamin Banneker was buried a few yards from his home. During the funeral the people at the funeral were horrified to see Benjamin’s house engulfed in flames. Then it quickly burned down to the ground. Almost everything he owned was destroyed including his famous wooden clock. The journals of his astronomical observation and diaries were remembered in an obituary in the Federal Gazette of Philadelphia. Along with the few things that survived the flames. After his death, a lot of historical researches believed that he was possibly a homosexual. Researchers believed that since his read the bible often and was religious it calmed down all of his gay tendencies. Especially since he wasn’t known to have any kind of relationship with women, it made him even more questionable. Some of his literature had quotes that left historians guessing about his sexuality.