Rhetorical Analysis Of Benjamin Banneker

Benjamin Banneker, the son of a former slave, farmer, astronomer, mathematician, surveyor, and author. In response to his concerns regarding the conditions of slaves, he wrote a letter to Thomas Jefferson and George Washington addressing the cruelty of slavery. In his letter, Banneker made it his point to inform Jefferson of the tyrannical act that is slavery, where which millions of his people have to been forced. Banneker challenges Jefferson, stating that the Declaration is a lie because all men are not created equal. Benjamin Banneker uses allusion in order to abolish the unrighteousness of slavery. For example, Banneker claims how the United States was once under the oppressive rule of the British, and that they believed the idea of

For example, Banneker uses two important pieces of sources, the Declaration of Independence and the Bible, to show just how wrong slavery is. According to his letter, “Put you souls in their soul’s stead thus shall your hearts be enlarged with kindness and benevolence towards them, and thus shall you need neither the direction of myself or others, in what manner to proceed herein.” He relates to the bible of how you should put yourself in the perspective of slaves to understand them and what they go through. Once you put yourself in their position, you will be filled with “kindness” and “benevolence” towards them. Understanding the struggle slaves go through, working every day, no rights, and freedom, you will put an end to slavery. In addition, Banneker uses the Declaration of Independence to stress the importance of freedom and rights for slaves. The Declaration states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, and that they are endowed by their creators with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” All people are guaranteed the rights of freedom and happiness when they are born. Banneker claims how these are the rights that all people are born with and can’t be taken away from us. The use of these sources helps prove to Jefferson that slavery is bad and should be