On August 19, 1791, Benjamin Banneker, a self-taught African American mathematician, astronomer, and writer, wrote a powerful letter to Thomas Jefferson. At the time, Jefferson was serving as the Secretary of State under President George Washington. In his letter, Banneker pointed out the contradiction between Jefferson’s advocacy for liberty and equality in the Declaration of Independence and the continued existence of slavery in the United States.

Banneker, who had a reputation for his intellectual accomplishments despite being born into slavery, used his letter to appeal to Jefferson’s sense of justice. He argued that the same rights and freedoms Jefferson championed for white Americans should be equally extended to African Americans, who were still enslaved at that time.

The letter was a significant moment in the abolitionist movement, as it called attention to the hypocrisy of a nation that professed liberty while denying it to enslaved people. Banneker also included a copy of his astronomical almanac as proof of his intellectual capabilities, effectively challenging the racial stereotypes of his time.

This letter stands as a bold and eloquent plea for justice and equality, demonstrating Banneker’s commitment to civil rights long before the abolition of slavery.