Benjamin Banneker
Born free in Maryland
Scientist, astronomer, cartographer, almanac publisher, mathematician, etc.
Like George Washington, his grandmother had been an indentured servant from Europe
He learned to read and write from her
Famously wrote to Thomas Jefferson commending him on the Declaration of Independence, but challenging his views of slavery (“detaining by fraud and violence so numerous a part of my brethren under groaning captivity and cruel oppression”); Jefferson acknowledged his intellect, etc,... but then…
After Banneker died, Jefferson he buried all of that and pretended Banneker wasn’t all that special
