A Champion’s BreakfastBenjamin Banneker (November 9, 1731 – October 9, 1806) was a free African-American man, who was---among many other things--a surveyor, naturalist, farmer, and almanac author. Though he owned his farm near Baltimore, Banneker had little formal education, and he was largely self-taught in astronomy and mathematics.Ingredients:
Instuctions:
- 1 Plain instant oatmeal package
- 1 Tbsp. of Ben’s Raw Honey
- ¼ cup of your favorite fruit, diced
- Optional: 1 Tbsp. of raisins
Prepare the oatmeal following the package’s instructions.
Top your bowl of oatmeal with a tablespoon of Ben’s Raw Honey and your favorite fruit. Enjoy!
Ask your parents to pick up a jar of Ben’s Raw Honey from the museum gift shop today!
--From the Benjamin Banneker Historical Park & Museum KID’S KORNER pages, which are distributed free to visitors at Benjamin Banneker Historical Park & Museum, 300 Oella Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21228 , Tel: 410-887-1081
His knowledge of astronomy helped him author a commercially successful series of almanacs. Banneker corresponded with Thomas Jefferson, “politely challenging” Jefferson to do what he could to ensure racial equality.
Banneker was born in Baltimore County, Maryland—in what is now known as Oella, MD, near Ellicott's Mills, MD. Banneker was the son of an ex-slave named, Robert, and Robert's wife, Mary Banneky. Mary was the daughter of a former indentured servant named Molly Welsh, and her husband, Bannka an ex-slave from West Africa whom she freed. Banneker was taught to read by his maternal grandmother and he also attended a small Quaker school for a short time.
According to Biography(dot)com, Benjamin Banneker Scientist, Astronomer (1731–1806):
Banneker's true acclaim, however, came from his almanacs, which he published for six consecutive years during the later years of his life, between 1792 and 1797. These handbooks included his own astronomical calculations as well as opinion pieces, literature and medical and tidal information, with the latter particularly useful to fishermen. Outside of his almanacs, Banneker also published information on bees and calculated the cycle of the 17-year locust.Banneker kept a series of journals, sadly only one of which escaped the fire on the day of his funeral. Among many other things, this journal also records Banneker's observations on his bee hives and honey bees. Honey bees are critical to farmers and the crops they grow, so it is not surprising that Banneker took a keen interest in them and studied them. As he kept bees, it is also possible that Banneker ate oatmeal for breakfast (rather than grits) with a drop of honey and fruit when it was in season.
In any case, this recipe is an excellent breakfast for any young American. Connecting the oatmeal recipe to history about a great and brilliant man may make events from long ago seem more concrete and make a piece of history more appetizing. Thus, I have included “A Champion’s Breakfast” here. If you prefer, make it with grits—but still tell the kids about Benjamin Banneker, his bees, almanacs, and his many other accomplishments.
Copyright 2017, Myth Woodling
Sources:
Biography. com, Benjamin Banneker Scientist, Astronomer (1731–1806), accessed September 25, 2017.
Dr. Scott W. Williams, BENJAMIN BANNEKER 1731-1806, MATHEMATICIANS OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA, copyright 5/25/97, 7/1/2001, 2008, accessed September 25, 2017.
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