In 1791, Benjamin Banneker wrote a letter to Thomas Jefferson making a series of arguments against slavery. Since Banneker is “son of former slaves” he addresses Jefferson, a slave owner, as “Sir.” Banneker uses a calm, polite manner that also has critical tone throughout the letter, he doesn’t push views about slavery on Jefferson, he instead uses multiple different points on why it should be discarded.
Firstly, Banneker uses allusions to implement his successful work as a writer to support his reasoning against slavery. Banneker uses the Declaration of Independence, a crucial piece of American history written by Thomas Jefferson himself. Banneker is showing at in this point in time Jefferson didn’t include other races to the Declaration he prioritizes the document among white men, although Jefferson wrote “all men are created equal,” he doesn’t consider black men as equals since African Americans are consider 3/5th of a person. Banneker understands the importance of using this document in order to point out that Jefferson acknowledged the magnitude of helplessness felt when the British were still in control, much like how the African Americans felt when forced into
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Banneker asks Jefferson to recall when the British had the colonies silenced and for him to notice the similarities between the situation of whites quieting blacks and the British not listening to the colonist pleas. Banneker invokes regret by presenting to Jefferson “you cannot but acknowledge that the present freedom,” since the United States is no longer in the “arms and tyranny of the British Crown.” Making Jefferson remember that at one time the United States citizens were oppressed and didn’t have a say in anything.. He uses details of slavery Jefferson has seen himself including the “horrors of its condition,” such as families being separated, African Americans being whipped, beaten, burned and even