Dear Benjamin Banneker by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Brian Pinkney (Nonfiction-biography)

Andrea Davis Pinkney's book focuses on Benjamin Banneker, the first African American to publish an almanac. He grew up in Maryland along the Patapsco River with his two free African American parents. His mother Mary had always been free but his father Robert was a former slaved who gained his freedom before Benjamin was born. When Benjamin grew up, he tended to the hundred acres of tobacco farm (called Stout) that his parents left him. Over the years, Benjamin observed the moon's cycle and taught himself astronomy. Beginning in 1789, Benjamin observed the sky every night and made observations to help him write an almanac. Although Benjamin contacted William Goddard, one of the most renown printers in Baltimore, and John Hayes, a newspaper publisher, neither of the men would help him publish his almanac because of his race. However, in late 1790, James Pemberton, the president of the Pennsylvania Society for the Abolition of Slavery, decided that he wanted to help publish Benjamin's almanac to show that black people were just as smart as white people. Unfortunately, they realized that it would be too late to publish an almanac for 1791 thus Benjamin would have to create new calculations for a 1792 almanac. On August 19, 1791, Benjamin wrote to Thomas Jefferson expressing his concern about how he was not leading by example in regards to "all men are created equal" and included a copy of his almanac. When Thomas Jefferson responded, he expressed that he wanted things to change and for people to see African Americans capabilities. In December 1791, stores began to sell Benjamin Banneker's Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia almanac for the year 1792 and the almanac immediately sold out. The almanac included cycles of new and full moons, sunrise and sunset times, and tide tables for the Chesapeake Bay. Benjamin published an almanac every year until 1797 and, in his 1793 almanac, he included the letter exchange between himself and Thomas Jefferson.


In regards to Dear Benjamin Banneker, I would use this book in my classroom when we were discussing racism and slavery. Also, I could read this book during Black History Month to highlight African Americans who have had a significant impact on American history. As an activity, I would have the students write a letter to Thomas Jefferson explaining why everyone should be treated equally.