Benjamin Banneker and Us: Eleven Generations of an American Family

In 1791, Thomas Jefferson hired Benjamin Banneker, an African American mathematician, to survey Washington, DC. Rachel Jamison Webster, a white woman, discovers that they are distant relatives and explores their shared ancestors' lives across eleven generations, highlighting the legal construction of race and the brilliance and resistance of early African Americans.

Format: Hardback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 26 April 2023
Publisher: Henry Holt & Company Inc

In 1791, Thomas Jefferson, the esteemed third President of the United States, made a groundbreaking decision by employing a Black man to assist in surveying Washington, DC. The individual in question was Benjamin Banneker, an African American mathematician, almanac writer, and one of the most remarkable astronomers of his generation. Banneker's remarkable journey continued as he penned a famous letter to Jefferson, challenging the new president to confront his apparent hypocrisy. While Jefferson professed his love for liberty and freedom, he owned slaves.

More than two centuries later, Rachel Jamison Webster, an ostensibly white woman, discovers a remarkable connection to this pioneering Black forefather. Taking on the role of a storyteller, Webster weaves together oral history and conversations with her DNA cousins to envision the lives of their shared ancestors across eleven generations. Among them are Banneker's grandparents, an interracial couple who defied the law and chose to marry when America was still a conglomeration of colonies under British rule.

These captivating stories shed profound light on the legal construction of race and showcase the extraordinary brilliance and resilience of early African Americans in the face of increasingly unjust laws. Some of these laws, unfortunately, still exist in the present day. Through her meticulous research and storytelling, Webster provides a valuable perspective on the complex history of race relations in America, highlighting the ongoing struggle for equality and justice.

Weight: 300g
Dimension: 233 x 154 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781250827302