Benjamin Banneker Rhetorical Analysis

In the second paragraph, Benjamin Banneker alludes to the Declaration of the Independence to note that Jefferson himself wrote “all men are created equal” and have the right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Banneker includes this detail to prove to the audience that Banneker is knowledgeable, and also point out the hypocrisy of the whites. The use of Jefferson’s own words against himself creates a slight shock from the audience, and urges a re-examination of themselves and the principles they claim to hold dearly. Banneker opens the third paragraph with several religious details that criticize Jefferson’s support for slavery. Banneker explains that while Jefferson is “fully convinced of the benevolence of the father” he “counteracts

Benjamin Banneker, the son of former slaves, strongly argued against the cruel treatment of Africans through slavery. Due to his strong beliefs against the institution of slavery, Banneker writes a letter to Thomas Jefferson, who is both the framer of the Declaration of Independence and George Washington's secretary of state, in support of his abolitionist beliefs. Through the use of allusions as a rhetorical strategy in his letter, Banneker establishes a clear and logical argument against slavery. As one of his first allusions, Banneker references the time of suffering experienced by Jefferson and the other colonists during the period before the Revolutionary War.

Son of former slaves, farmer, astronomer, and author Benjamin Banneker in his letter to Thomas Jefferson in asserts that slavery is erroneous and should be discontinued. During this time period, slaves had no rights or freedom, slaves were property. Banneker was a slavery abolitionist, and wanted to help African Americans. Banneker adopts a respectful yet vexed tone in order to criticize and accuse Thomas Jefferson of being a hypocrite. Thomas Jefferson wrote the lines, “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”, but he himself owned slaves, so this describes he did not want liberty for African American slaves. Banneker is offended and vexed, judging Jefferson as a hypocrite. Banneker achieves his purpose of judging Jefferson through his prominent use of diction.

This is ironic because as Banneker being African American, and the son of a former slave, they are not given life, liberty, or the pursuit of happiness as said in such. In 1791, especially, African Americans were not treated right even after the ratification of the Declaration of Independence. Also, before jefferson brung about such, he was a former slave owner himself, which is also ironic since he is a believer that “all men are created equal.”

In addition to using pathos Banneker establishes ethos in his letter to argue against slavery. Banneker appeals to Jefferson by presenting Jefferson’s own work, The Declaration of Independence, to help strengthen his argument. Banneker emphasizes Jefferson’s famous line that “all men are created equal”. He points to the fact that Jefferson wrote that all men are equal, yet he is a hypocrite because he considers slaves inferior, not deserving of the freedom that he and the rest of America have. Using Jefferson’s own work Banneker not only appeals to Jefferson’s sense of authority but also strengthens his argument against slavery.

Benjamin Banneker uses fear tactics to frighten Jefferson into fixing his actions so that slaves will be able to acquire liberty like the rest of America. Towards the beginning of the excerpt it states, “This sir, was a time in which you clearly saw into the injustice of a state of slavery and in which you had just apprehensions of the horrors of its condition” (Banneker 15). The sentence from above represents how under British rule people were treated unjustly, which lead to the colonist claiming independence from Britain. The flashback was brought up, because the poor slaves are being mistreated by their

The letter does a wonderful job of including allusions in the text in order to get Jefferson thinking about the past and his past experience. Banneker asks Jefferson to recall when the British “enslaved” the colonists and how that made him feel in an effort to make Jefferson imagine how Banneker must feel. Banneker also alludes to the Declaration of Independence, which Jefferson wrote, in order to use his own words to point out his hypocrisy.

Banneker does this by using a wrathful diction, using words such as "injustice", "fraud", and "cruel oppression". Banneker wants Jefferson to be conscious of the conditions as a slave, since Jefferson himself isn't a slave and he isn't in a setting with many slaves, like a plantation owner would be. Banneker's choice of diction goes hand in hand of his tone, describing it as an American aspect that is inhumane. His furious tone repeals his audience (Jefferson) but it faces Jefferson with the reality that is happening behind him, as if Jefferson is focusing on the independence of America, but neglecting ALL the inhabitants of America. Banneker shifts onto a sanguine diction, using words such as "hearts be enlarged", "kindness", and "benevolence". Banneker abandons his aggravated tone and instead has a more positive tone. His new tone has an effect on the purpose, because now, Banneker is hoping for the best for Jefferson and the country, even after all the years of oppression towards the African-American slaves. Banneker's shift in diction had an effect on Jefferson, because it turned the tables. The whole letter is about how Banneker is furious at Jefferson for ignoring the African-American slaves, but at the end he ends it with the exact opposite. It's as if Banneker doesn't want Jefferson to take the letter as a warning, he instead wants Jefferson to take it in as a

Also, Mr. Banneker used pathos to help argue against slavery, he appealed to Mr. Jefferson’s ego. When Benjamin Banneker was talking about the Declaration of Independence he referred to it as a “valuable doctrine… remembered in all succeeding ages”, this appeals to Thomas Jefferson because he was the principal author of it. Now he has caught Thomas Jefferson attention and has shown his respect towards him and his work. Not only has he shown his respect towards him but Mr. Jefferson can see that they agree on the same concept even if it’s not on the same page. He also used pathos, when reminding Mr.Jefferson about the time the U.S was under British rule. He did this to make a connection between slaves and colonists, he reminds him that they too had no freedom and had little hope of escaping the British crown. All of this helps

The letter from Banneker to Jefferson integrates extremely knowledgeable and formal diction in contention against the issue of slavery. The advanced level of language introduced by Banneker is another contributing component to his believability on his position against subjugation. A few great instances of Banneker's diction are in the words "abhorrence" in line 18, "benevolence" in line 32, and the phrase "professedly detested" in line 40, all of these showing the great knowledge that he carries. Banneker’s education has the potential to prove to Jefferson that black people can be on the same level as white people despite being put below white people as their slaves. In the second paragraph of his writing, Benjamin uses his knowledge of the time period when the United States was under British rule, inviting Jefferson to recall the "injustice" and the "horrors of its condition”. In doing so, he compares this to the slavery of black people during his own current state of life. In lines 35-38 of Banneker’s letter, it is stated, "that you should at the same time counteract his (God's) mercies in detaining by fraud and violence so numerous a part of

Banneker’s word choice takes a large role in his letter as it show his persuasive bold stance and emotional message to Jefferson. Banneker used bold and compelling detailed phrases, in particular “I entreat you… your abhorrence thereof was so excited… how pitiable… groaning captivity and cruel oppression” (Paragraphs 1-3) moves readers of the letter responsively into feeling guilt and grief towards the ones enslaved. His word choice implies formally that Jefferson, the man who wrote the Declaration of Independence who stated “all men are created equal, and that they are endowed by their creator with unalienable rights” (Paragraph 2) contradicted himself “you should at the same

(Astronomer, mathematician and author) Benjamin Banneker in his letter he argues against slavery to Thomas Jefferson. In the very beginning of the Letter Banneker is reminding Thomas Jefferson how he was the one to write," all men are created equal, and that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights.." in the constitution. After he does this, Banneker begins to flatter Jefferson by sprinkling him with satisfying diction, such as "Tender", "Impressed" , "Proper" and so on after he reminds him of how wise he was when he believed in what he wrote (the truth) as proclaimed by Banneker. Soon after he flatters Jefferson he begins to take a tone of confusion as he asks him how he can write in the constitution how he believes

Banneker suggests his oppression of slavery by examining Jefferson’s actions towards slavery. He assesses Jefferson’s point of view of how he clearly used the term “injustice of slavery”. This shows the readers that Banneker is clearly trying to point out the fact that Jefferson is aware of the injustice of the actions of enslaving his fellow men, regardless of race. Furthermore, Banneker supports his statement related to Jefferson by referring to the Declaration of Independence. He quotes, “We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, and that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” The term “unalienable rights” shows the audience the importance of rights to Banneker and how he truly believes that every single person is entitled to them under Jefferson’s own declaration. This ties into the rhetorical device, irony. Banneker illustrates the irony of the fact that Jefferson has failed to provide the slaves with the “unalienable rights” he stated in the declaration. The use of political diction makes the hypocritical nature of Jefferson apparent. Banneker is writing to Jefferson in a personal letter to show the certainty of Jefferson’s contradictions and how slavery should be re-examined. He also states that the “valuation of liberty” reflects

Banneker’s word choice takes a large role in his letter considering how it represents his bold stance and idea to Jefferson. Banneker used compelling detailed phrases in his sentences, in particular “I entreat you on the variety of dangers to which you were exposed” (Line 4), “It was now, sir, that your abhorrence thereof was so excited, that you publickly held forth this true and valuable doctrine,”(Line 17), “But, sir, how pitiable is it to reflect that although you were so fully convinced of the benevolence of the Father of mankind and of his equal and impartial distribution of those rights and privileges which he had conferred upon them” (Line 30), “That you should at the same time counteract his mercies in detaining by fraud and violence so numerous a part of my brethren under groaning captivity and cruel oppression”(Line 35). The phrases, “I entreat you” (Line 4), “your abhorrence thereof was so excited” (Line 17), “how

He explains to Jefferson that no matter what race someone is, if they are discriminated against they with do whatever it takes to gain freedom. Banneker says that everyone should be given the rights to their human nature no matter what rank or distinction they may be in. Everyone should be given these rights, “...neither could you rest satisfied, short of the order to their promotions from any state of degradation to which the unjustifiable cruelty and barbarism of men have reduced them.” Banneker shared that no one with be satisfied with not having rights because it is not true. Facts helped show that everyone should have equal freedom because they deserve it and if they do not have it they will eventually fight for