Benjamin Banneker Research Paper

Benjamin Banneker was born on November ninth in 1731. He was born in Ellicott’s Mill, Maryland to former slave Robert and the daughter of a former English indentured servant Mary Banneky. Because both of his parents were free, he was not subject to slavery. He gained an education when he was younger from his grandmother on his mother’s side. Afterwards, he attended a Quaker school for a while. Even though Banneker was, for the most part, a self-educated student, he was still able to succeed academically on his own. When Banneker’s father died in 1759, he lived with his mother and sisters and continued to help on the farm. He developed interests in astronomy and studied and predicted lunar and solar eclipses. His intelligence caught the eye of the Ellicott family. Banneker befriended George and Joseph Ellicott and they encouraged him to study astronomy. Giving him access to their personal library, Banneker was able to further his knowledge on astronomy, and even taught himself advanced mathematics. In 1775, his mother died and he
From the beginning, he had an advantage that most African-Americans did not have: he was a free citizen, like any other white male. Because of this, he was able to acquire an education, that helped mold and shape his intellect. Throughout history, many people believed that African Americans were inferior, in intelligence, to white men. At the same time, African Americans did not have the same privileges or rights as white men. Since Banneker was able to avoid slavery, and obtain similar privileges and rights as white males at the time, he was able to succeed. He was living evidence that, if given equal opportunity, African Americans could succeed just as any white man. Though he was unable to persuade antislavery at the formation of the country, his fame and success has still impacted the advancement of African Americans in the United