Uploaded February 2018 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago

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Benjamin Banneker, an early African-American mathematician and scientist, wrote Thomas Jefferson and called him out on his stance on slavery.

This week, we'll learn about Benjamin Banneker's famous letter to Thomas Jefferson. We'll find out what was in his letter, how he brought Jefferson's contradictory position on slavery to light, and how Jefferson responded to Banneker's letter.

Read more about Banneker's letter to Jefferson:
facinghistory.org/nobigotry/readings/created-equal
founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-22-02-0049
loc.gov/exhibits/jefferson/79.html
biography.com/people/benjamin-banneker-9198038
http://docsouth.unc.edu/southlit/jefferson/jefferson.html#p99
monticello.org/site/research-and-collections/notes-state-virginia

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