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Summary Of Benjamin Banneker Letter

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The United States, a nation founded on the beliefs of equality, upholds an inhumane enslavement of African Americans that opposes its values. In 1791, Benjamin Banneker, a free African American, sends a letter to Thomas Jefferson urging him to reconsider his stance on slavery. In an excerpt from his letter to Thomas Jefferson, Banneker’s personal criticisms of slavery are presented through the use of varied diction, knowledgeable allusions, and impelling appeals illuminating the hypocrisy of the United States’ institution of slavery and their foundations of equality.
Banneker begins his letter (Lines 1-30) entreating Jefferson to reflect on the hardships he faced to achieve liberty. Banneker starts with “sir” and continually refers to Jefferson …show more content…

He reveals that Jefferson’s myopic ideas of freedoms should extend to peoples of all ethnicities. Banneker alludes to the American Revolution and encourages Jefferson to reflect on the time of his oppression by the “tyranny of the British Crown” and reduced to a “State of Servitude.” He compares the Crown to a master and the colonies to slaves; thus, allowing for more comparisons equating the colonies to slaves. Banneker parallels this struggle to the challenges slaves face on their path to freedom to Jefferson’s personal experiences in the revolution to overcome the control of the British government. The United States’ newfound liberty is extended to Americans as a “blessing of Heaven” and implies that with the help of God’s …show more content…

Banneker’s manipulation of “sir,” although still polite, exudes a more critical and confrontational disposition as he decries Jefferson’s stance on slavery. Banneker’s references to his “brethren” substantiate the struggles that all African Americas work together to overcome and his attachment to their obstacles. Banneker emphasizes the thought with the phrases “groaning captivity” and “cruel oppression” to insinuate the horrors endured by slaves and place blame on Jefferson for his immoral practice. Banneker extends another invitation to Jefferson to end slavery by treating slaves with “kindness and benevolence.” Banneker wishes for Jefferson to proceed with justice and open his heart to see the errors of slavery. He states that Jefferson acknowledges the “benevolence of the Father” to impose his equal rights on all, and yet the latter disregards this by practicing slavery. In this allusion to God, Banneker associates Jefferson with himself regarding their belief in one God and mutual faith. . Banneker, through the use of another biblical allusion, parallels the hardships and suffering of Job, an innocent in the same position as enslaved Africans, faces as he overcomes his struggles. Banneker urges Jefferson to put himself in the perspective of slaves and liken they oppression with the subjugation of England. This further

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The speaker, Benjamin Banneker, in his letter, describes the situation of the slaves and argues why he opposes it. Banneker’s purpose is to argue that slaves need their natural rights and liberties just like any other human because they are equal. During that time in the 1790’s there were many rural and urban slaves working in plantations and farms as field labors, maids, etc. They didn’t have any fair treatment or were paid, instead they were treated like animals without liberties. He adopts a disturbed tone in order to describe the horrendous treatment the slaves received to prove and discuss that to Jefferson.

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In 1791, Benjamin Banneker wrote a letter to Thomas Jefferson attempting to show him the wrongs the United States are dealing with slavery. Banneker uses his high intellect to use descriptive language, he uses allusions to speak about biblical quotes, and historical events and other rhetorical devices to combat the problems with slavery. Banneker’s advanced knowledge at the time allowed him to use descriptive language to emphasize the subpar fairness to African-Americas at the time. Banneker notes that slavery is “apprehensions of the horrors of its condition,” stating that African Americans had a much more unpleasant experience than others in this time period. He also references the “groaning captivity and cruel oppression,” Banneker coveys

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The year is 1791. A time of immense controversy over the ownership of slaves divided the country. During this time Benjamin Banneker writes to the Declaration’s framer Thomas Jefferson on his outrage on this issue. With great effectiveness, Banneker uses rhetorical strategies of emotional appeal and contrasting the men’s two lives to argue his stand on slavery.

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Through the 1790's and prior, The United States developed a systematic racism through slavery. Benjamin Banneker, an educated man, son of a freed slave, drafted a letter to Thomas Jefferson, writer of the Declaration of Independence. Banneker composed this letter to prompt Jefferson to take a strong stance against slavery so that slavery may eventually end. His letter courteously questions Jefferson's validity of the statement “all men are created equal” within the Declaration of Independence by calling to question the institution of slavery. Banneker uses repetition to reinforce a formal and respectful tone, utilizes strong and emotional diction, and concludes with a biblical allusion.

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In 1791, the multi-skilled and intelligent Benjamin Benneker wrote to Declaration of Independence framer Thomas Jefferson arguing against the existence of slavery in the United States. The work, containing descriptions of the mental and physical fight of slavery to excerpts of distinguished texts, connects to establish a strong argument for the anti-slavery cause. Throughout the essay, Benjamin Banneker uses pathos, examples, and allusions to press Thomas Jefferson into sympathizing and empathizing with the injustices of slavery. Banneker utilizes examples to persuade and influence Jefferson. He recalls the tyrannical rule of the British Crown and the constrictive orders and imminent dangers that were endured during the American Revolution (5-8) to heighten the relatability of

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Benjamin Banneker, in his letter to Thomas Jefferson, offers a series of arguments against the institution of slavery through a respectful tone, references to history, and the Bible. As a son of former slaves, Banneker is seeking justice for the black population and uses Jefferson’s own words against him as he speaks on behalf of “Black America.” He shares his opinions with Jefferson, who is higher authority, in a respectful manner while still managing to criticize him. Banneker starts off his letter to Jefferson by calling his “Sir.” He refers to Jefferson this way because he wants to be respectful to this man who exists as a higher authority as a politician.

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In 1791, Thomas Jefferson was secretary of state and Banneker considered the respected Virginian, though a slaveholder, to also be open to viewing African Americans as more than slaves. Thus, he wrote Jefferson a letter hoping that he would “readily embrace every opportunity to eradicate that train of absurd and false ideas and opinions which so generally prevail with respect to us." To further support his point, Banneker included a handwritten manuscript of an almanac for 1792, containing his astronomical calculations. In his letter, Banneker acknowledged he was “of the African race” and a free man. He recognized that he was taking “a liberty” writing to Jefferson, which would be unacceptable considering “the almost general prejudice and prepossession which is so prevalent in the world against those of my complexion.”

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Benjamin Banneker, an educated son of former slaves, wrote a strongly worded letter to Thomas Jefferson in which he argued the possession and oppression of slaves. With the use of tone, allusion, and parallelism; Banneker criticized the Secretary of State and framer of the Declaration of Independence for his hypocrisy and condemned him with the purpose of awakening his morals and bringing an end to this violation of life and liberty. Throughout this letter Banneker assesses the situation with a respectful, yet accusatory tone. He only addresses to Jefferson as “sir” which shows a sign of respect for Jefferson`s position, but this does not stop Banneker from condemning Jefferson for his role in slavery.

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Slavery has sadly been in America from the start. Many have different opinions about slavery whether it should stay or be abandoned and forgotten. Although one person has written to Thomas Jefferson about one of history’s most important subject. Banneker starts it off by writing his strong views on how wrong slavery is not just listing all the problems, but in a letter that he uses strategies to make his view convincing. Benjamin Banneker uses rhetorical strategies such as ethos, logos, and various style elements to argue against slavery.

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The quote also appeals to Jefferson’s emotions because Banneker makes him feel guilty about slavery. Jefferson

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Banneker talks about how Jefferson and people like him (white) have “miraculous and providential preservations” and how Banneker and his people “suffer” and “variety of dangers”. Jefferson and his people fought for freedom and got it and were now able to be how ever they want, while the slaves have to deal with the same treatment as before. By pointing this out he shows how Jefferson is being no better than those he fought against. Therefore for everything they fought for to be true to the core, they must put an end to slaveholding. Banneker uses irony again in his use of grotesque language to show the injustice of slavery.

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Hypocrisy is one of the worst moral crimes someone can commit. Benjamin Banneker's letter to Thomas Jefferson explains that he has committed this crime. He has gone back on his morale of everyone having unalienable rights by letting slavery continue to happen, and Banneker believes he is the prime contender in allowing this crime to happen and that he should be the start and make the move to stop slavery. Banneker explains this to Jefferson in such a way that the letter is both respectful and thoughtful while also being rude due to the use of how he phrases his sentences, that his argument can not be questioned because of his use of ‘Sir’ to show his respect, and his ardent choice of words which are all collectively used to explain how Jefferson is being hypocritical and show him why he should fix this.

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A common misconception that Thomas Jefferson brings into question is his ethical views on slavery. His statement in the Declaration of Independence, “...All men are created equal”, completely contradicts his attitude on slavery. He was an advocate for human rights, yet he himself owned slaves that he inherited and purchased. Among the numerous slaves he owned, Jefferson freed only a handful. Douglas L. Wilson and Paul Finkelman both analyze his documents and form conclusions of his views on human rights and equality.

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Benjamin Banneker, the son of former slaves, wrote a letter to Thomas Jefferson to argue against slavery. Banneker was an educated man, he was an astronomer, mathematician, surveyor, author, and farmer, yet, Jefferson had not known this information. Banneker makes his argument through the use of allusion, diction, and repetition, which causes Banneker to seem reliable and have intelligence. To remind Jefferson of his own subjugation, Banneker alludes to the British Crown. “..British Crown were exerted with every powerful effort in order to reduce you to a State of Servitude.”

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