Carol Blake,AMH2010,Monday-Friday,10:30am
Thomas Jefferson thought that blacks possessed inferior intellect and talents to white Americans. Benjamin Banneker, a black man, wrote a lengthly letter to Jefferson informing him of the accomplishments and contributions of the African race. Banneker, a highly educated man in the areas of astronomy, architecture and mathematics, convinced Jefferson that his previous opinion was in error. Jefferson then wrote a personal letter back stating "African Americans possess talents equal to those of 'other colours of men'." His views changed from that point on.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Lawrence Hill
Also, remember the pressure that a mind like Jefferson had on him to be completely against blacks. He was known to have several feelings against slavery so much so that we has another side of his family from his slave mistresses. Banneker's influence listed evidence for him to recant a quote he had. Perhaps even made others recant such quotes. Nevertheless, the entire life of Thomas Jefferson does not lead one to believe that he ever did believe blacks were an inferior to his own race.
Evan Squires, AMH2010, Monday-Friday, 10:30 am
I can't imagine a time when a black man would have to plead his case to be thought of as an equal. This has piqued my interest to look up Banneker, he seems like a very interesting man. He must have been quite eloquent to have been taken so seriously as there was so much bigotry back then.
Keith, Patrick AMH2010
I wonder how far the views of Thomas Jefferson changed. Perhaps Jefferson was just a hypocrite and would have enslaved any human that he could get away with enslaving. Many people are like this.
Post a Comment