Letter to Thomas Jefferson
On August 19 1791, Benjamin Banneker sent a copy of his first almanac to secretary of state Thomas Jefferson. In an enclosed letter, he questioned the slaveholder's sincerity as a "friend to liberty." He urged Jefferson to help get rid of "absurd and false ideas" that one race is superior to another. He wished Jefferson's sentiments to be the same as his, that "one Universal Father . . . afforded us all the same sensations and endowed us all with the same faculties." Jefferson responded with praise for Banneker's accomplishments.
Benjamin Banneker died on October 25, 1806.
As a young child, my father and mother marched on Washington for civil rights. I've marched for African American rights, I've marched for South African Rights, I've marched for Martin Luther King's B'day to be a holiday, I marched marched I marched. Tonight I saw something happen I never in all my life thought I would ever see an American man walk across the stage with a desire to build this country for ALL Americans. Over 95 million people voted to say enough is enough. Greed and vanity has cost us our lives and our place in history. I have a yearbook when I was in high school and I won the Miss Franklin County High School pageant. I went to a predominantly white school and it was made known that I wasn't the queen. They put my picture on one page and the caption with my name that I was Miss Franklin County on another. This wasn't the insult. The fact they didn't even say congrats the next day wasn't the insult. The fact that I was black was supposed to be the insult. It wasn't. I understood. I was the second black to win. I was so honored I went through my whole neighborhood knocking on doors and telling people I was Miss Franklin County High School. Tonight when Barack walked across that stage to say his speech for the first time, I thought finally people can just be Americans. Not Black, White, Asian, Indian or whatever race, just Americans. I cried from the time it said he almost made it until about 30 minutes ago. My prayer is for our country to appreciate all people. Colors choices and lives... As a Christian, I believe every word the Bible says but I also know this country was founded on its principles and love is a gift. Life is a gift. Tonight I became an American, no title, no color, no race, no section just a proud American. I can sing that song by Lee Greenwood that was so disrespected at one point and say And I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free, And I won't forget the men who died who gave that right to me, And I gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today, 'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land God Bless the U.S.A.
To those who struggle with the race issue, let's move forward. Lets be the great land we are supposed to be. Lets move forward in grace and dignity. Let's respect each other's choices and lives and live in harmony as a country should. Lets finally believe in God and His precious will and move into a new era. May your families be richly blessed. May we work hard to rebuild this nation one that can still be the best nation in the world. May we see the blessings in each other's lives and rejoice with the triumphs. Let us become One Nation Under God Indivisible with Liberty and Just For ALL!!!
I new woman spoke today...
