Benjamin Banneker was one of the most famous black men in colonial America. He was a farmer, a mathematician, an inventor, an astronomer, a writer, a surveyor, a scientist, and a humanitarian. Born on November 9, 1731, in Ellicott's Mills, Maryland, Banneker was the son of an ex-slave named Robert and his wife, Mary Bannaky. While taught to read by his maternal grandmother, Banneker was mainly self-taught in all other subjects including astronomy, accurately forecasting lunar and solar eclipse, and mathematics. Banneker, who was also a farmer, published six farmers’ almanacs using scientific methods.
In 1790, the brand-new president George Washington was authorized to construct the site of the new capital city along the Potomac River. Andrew Ellicott was selected to lead the surveying, but he needed an assistant who could read the stars. His cousin recommended his neighbor, Benjamin Banneker. For the next six nights, 61-year-old Banneker lay on his back and recorded the precise times of the stars' transits. With these calculations, the first stone marker was installed at Jones Point on April 15, 1791. This was the first of 40 boundary stones laid that outlined the new capital, the District of Columbia. The Boundary Stones are America's oldest federal monuments.
After the completion of the surveying job, Banneker wrote a letter to Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson about his work on the boundary stones, his opposition of slavery and support of all human rights. Jefferson had publicly stated that he didn't believe black people and enslaved people were of the same standards as white people in terms of brains and physical abilities. Jefferson even replied to Banneker, however it was never confirmed if Banneker altered Jefferson’s views at all. Banneker was the only black man to challenge the future president's suspicion of inequality during his lifetime.
Not long after, Banneker died in 1806 at the age of 76. His legacy is celebrated as a pioneer in STEM with schools, parks, and community centers named after him and is also the inspiration for the 2023-24 Washington Wizards City Edition uniforms.
In 1790, the brand-new president George Washington was authorized to construct the site of the new capital city along the Potomac River. Andrew Ellicott was selected to lead the surveying, but he needed an assistant who could read the stars. His cousin recommended his neighbor, Benjamin Banneker. For the next six nights, 61-year-old Banneker lay on his back and recorded the precise times of the stars' transits. With these calculations, the first stone marker was installed at Jones Point on April 15, 1791. This was the first of 40 boundary stones laid that outlined the new capital, the District of Columbia. The Boundary Stones are America's oldest federal monuments.
After the completion of the surveying job, Banneker wrote a letter to Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson about his work on the boundary stones, his opposition of slavery and support of all human rights. Jefferson had publicly stated that he didn't believe black people and enslaved people were of the same standards as white people in terms of brains and physical abilities. Jefferson even replied to Banneker, however it was never confirmed if Banneker altered Jefferson’s views at all. Banneker was the only black man to challenge the future president's suspicion of inequality during his lifetime.
Not long after, Banneker died in 1806 at the age of 76. His legacy is celebrated as a pioneer in STEM with schools, parks, and community centers named after him and is also the inspiration for the 2023-24 Washington Wizards City Edition uniforms.
The uniforms utilize a black and anthracite color combination with accents of red, bronze and patina. This jersey represents the unique identity of the District of Columbia and the Boundary Stones. Across the chest reads, The District in Blackletter font to symbolize the print used in the 1700’s when Washington D.C. was founded. The thin red stripes separating the black from the anthracite represent The District as it was originally mapped. The fencing that surrounds the Boundary Stones are symbolized by the gradient of bronze and patina around the neck and shoulders while the three red stars are fashioned after the D.C. flag.
