Book summary

An introduction to the life of Benjamin Banneker, a free African American born in the United States during the time of slavery. Banneker's parents were tobacco farmers in Maryland and when he grew up he followed in their footsteps. In addition to running the farm, Banneker also studied astronomy and mathematics and wrote an almanac--the first ever written by an African American. Although he was free, slavery still frustrated him and so in 1791 he wrote to Thomas Jefferson, then the secretary of state, to protest slavery and bring Jefferson himself to task for owning slaves. Excerpts from this letter and Jefferson's response appear within the story. Oil-and-scratchboard illustrations accompany the text.