WASHINGTON, Feb. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily Black History Month feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:
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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5: BENJAMIN BANNEKER
Profile America for the fifth day of Black History Month. One of the earliest African-American intellectuals was Benjamin Banneker, born in Baltimore County, Maryland in 1731. Largely self-taught, he was an author, scientist, publisher and urban planner. Banneker assisted in the survey of the land that is now Washington, D.C. When the architect of the city, Pierre L'Enfant, left town with all his plans, Banneker saved the day by recreating them - from memory. He also became an accomplished astronomer and published a popular almanac during the early years of the nation. There are 318,000 civil engineers in the U.S., 5 percent of them African-American. This special edition of Profile America is a public service of the U.S. Census Bureauî ºMeasuring America: People, Places and Our Economy.
Sources: www.blackinventor.com
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 616
Profile America Special Edition: Black History Month 2012 is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for "Multimedia Gallery" by the "Newsroom" button).
SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau
