After reading ‘Created Equal,’ the third president of the USA seemed a man of struggles and choices as it was harsh for him to break stereotypes and common beliefs due to the essential radical time for black people when Jefferson was in the government. The dialogue with one of the most famous African Americans possessing freedom at the end of the XVIII century, Benjamin Banneker. Being a smart and well-educated philosopher, mathematician, and astronomer, Banneker found enough bravery to send a letter to Jefferson. Banneker believed Jefferson was the right person to address his reflections about equality of all people in front of the Creator and their senseless, unfair attitude towards the black race.1 Moreover, the free African American astronomer was a bright example of being talented, educated, and creative despite the skin color. Banneker’s action was courageous and challenged Thomas Jefferson and his beliefs. I suppose Banneker had the right to confront Jefferson’s ideas and beliefs as the innovative and future-oriented thoughts of the astronomer were progressive, argument-based, and correct.
Talking about beliefs, God created humans equal in rights and diverse in appearance; however, the Creator never meant people take advantage of other people judging by skin color. Racism leads to the perception of being dominant, special without any personal achievements which is a straight path to egocentrism and neglection. The other thought-provoking idea carried in ‘Created Equal’ is the struggles through which Jefferson was going through while talking to Banneker. The president could not claim that Benjamin was not smart; nevertheless, it was so tough to fight his beliefs, that he admitted Banneker to be an exception to the rule. It is always attractive to follow someone’s struggles on the way to accept guilt or look from the other side. Jefferson had decent attempts to be innovative and reduce slavery in the US; however, could not refuse from the stereotypes he believed and for which he found a comfortable explanation. The last reflection from ‘Created Equal’ was the hope and the wish of Banneker to communicate with Jefferson. The astronomer trusted the president will change his views on principles of democracy, religion, and freedom. Banneker believed that finding a common ground with the president will lead to faster changes in society.
What about Thomas Jefferson’s attitude towards Native Americans and African Americans, he distinguished these two ethnic groups and presented variable attitudes and intentions towards them. Jefferson perceived Indians as similar and never second-rate to white people biologically. The president thought they possess a rich variety of genetic information; however, the environmental factors made them underdeveloped and posterior in progress comparing to whites. These consequential processes were called by Thomas Jefferson ‘cultural retardation.’2 The president also believed that Native Americans were able to realize their underdevelopment, accept it, and make mature decisions aiming to adopt white people’s lifestyle. According to Jefferson, Indians in other circumstances can be influenced and taken advantage of so it is essential for white Americans to acculturate this ethnic group.
African Americans, on the contrary, were perceived as inferior in all aspects by the president. The possibility that African Americans can be smarter, stronger than white people never was allowed by Jefferson and was stated publicly. The circumstance Jefferson was brought up in made him a strong supporter of slavery and racial inequality. Nevertheless, the president’s actions and reflections might have had a slight shade of double standards as gossips and modern DNA tests narrate about his close connection with a slave, Sally Hemings, with whom he has mutual children.3 The contemporaries claim that the relationship itself was very passionate and unique; however, it seems inconsistent stating a firm position of racial disparity and having an affair with an African American woman at the same time.
After listening to the podcast, the personalia of Benjamin Banneker was revealed wider. One of the most interesting facts about Banneker was his devotion to education and the will to self-educate due to the specialties of schoolwork. The ability of a man to achieve results in various spheres (mathematics, astronomy, playing violin, and flute) impresses the reader.4 That means Banneker was a truly talented man with substantial intellectual potential despite all the stereotypes of the time he lived in. The other fact about the scientist that deserves attention is his creativity and imagination with which a young inventor made watch from the simplest materials that worker without interruptions for 40 years.5 Also, Banneker was accurate with numbers and calculations, and predicted the eclipse more precisely than his colleagues.6 Benjamin was a truly bright person living in a harsh time for African Americans, and he can be called an ambassador of the black people’s rights back in the day.
The story of Jefferson and Banneker is an example of good history as it shows how the changes in the modern United States were made. Jefferson went through many struggles to fight his character and beliefs and he managed to give a decent start to the slavery ending using critical thinking in the conversations with Benjamin Banneker. The latter initiated the significant start of public opinion’s restructuring towards a better future without racism and stereotypes.
References
“Created Equal: How Benjamin Banneker Challenged Jefferson on Race and Freedom,” 2021, Web.
Carol Berkin. Making America (6th Edition): A History of the United States. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co, 2006, 219-222.
Tracy V. Wilson and Holly Frey. “Stuff You Missed in History Class: Benjamin Banneker, iHeart Radio.” (Podcast Audio), 2021, Web.
Footnotes
- Created Equal, 1.
- Berkin, 221.
- Berkin, 219.
- Wilson and Frey, 7:48.
- Wilson and Frey, 8:33.
- Wilson and Frey, 11:44.