The brainchild of Daniel Alexander Payne Murray, Banneker: The Afro-American Astronomer was first conceived after Murray discovered what he found to be a beautifully written letter to Thomas Jefferson by a then unknown writer of color. Aided in his research by Will A. Allen, the pair discovered the man to be one Benjamin Banneker, a mathematician and astronomer.

An extraordinary mind in a time where most people of African descent in the United States were denied the right to a formal education and-having no such access to the opportunity-Banneker was for the most part self-taught. He was the author of several commercially successful almanacs, aided in the survey of Washington D.C., and frequently corresponded with Thomas Jefferson, to plead for the justice and freedom of enslaved Africans within the U.S.

Professionally typeset with a beautifully designed cover, this edition of Banneker: The Afro-American Astronomer is an essential piece of Black history reimagined for a modern audience.

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With thousands of titles in our collection, we aim to spotlight diverse public domain works to help them find modern audiences. Mint Editions celebrates a breadth of literary works, curated from both canonical and overlooked classics from writers around the globe.

After finding a beautifully written letter by a Black man from 1792, Daniel Alexander Payne Murray made it his mission to find out everything he could. Compiling correspondence and first-hand accounts, he and co-author Will A. Allen brought to light the story of Benjamin Banneker, the first Black astronomer.