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Benjamin Banneker
(9 Nov 1731 - 9 Oct 1806)
Black-American astronomer, inventor and mathematician.
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Science Quotes by Benjamin Banneker (3 quotes)
Evil communication corrupts good manners. I hope to live to hear that good communication corrects bad manners.
— Benjamin Banneker
On a leaf of one of Banneker’s almanacs, in his own handwriting. As quoted in George Washington Williams, History of the Negro Race in America from 1619 to 1880 (1882), Vol. 1, 390.
I am of the African race, and in the colour which is natural to them of the deepest dye; and it is under a sense of the most profound gratitude to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe.
— Benjamin Banneker
Letter to Thomas Jefferson included with a copy of Banneker’s first almanacs. In George Washington Williams, History of the Negro Race in America from 1619 to 1880 (1882), Vol. 1, 395.
Sir how pitiable is it to reflect, that altho you were so fully convinced of the benevolence of the Father of mankind, and of his equal and impartial distribution of those rights and privileges which he had conferred upon them, that you should at the Same time counteract his mercies, in detaining by fraud and violence so numerous a part of my brethren under groaning captivity and cruel oppression, that you should at the Same time be found guilty of that most criminal act, which you professedly detested in others, with respect to yourselves.
— Benjamin Banneker
In Letter to Thomas Jefferson (19 Aug 1791). In John Hazlehurst Boneval Latrobe, Memoir of Benjamin Banneker: Read Before the Maryland Historical Society, at the Monthly Meeting, May 1, 1845 (1845), 15-16.
See also:
- 9 Nov - short biography, births, deaths and events on date of Banneker's birth.
- Benjamin Banneker Biography from Men of Mark (1887).
- The Life of Benjamin Banneker: The First African-American Man of Science, by Silvio A. Bedini. - book suggestion.
- Booklist for Benjamin Banneker.
In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion.
(1987) -- 
