Author, Benjamin Banneker, in his letter to Thomas Jefferson in 1791, attempts to make his point of the oppressive and outrageous nature of slavery. Banneker’s purpose is to persuade Jefferson to continue his efforts to fight for the emancipation of African Americans and to fight the prejudices that have grown around this race. He adopts a very sophisticated and sympathetic tone in order to convey Jefferson’s feelings toward the subject. Banneker opens his letter with a plea to Jefferson to help relieve the sufferings of those African Americans living under slavery. He appeals to ethos when he reminds Jefferson of by stating, “even hope and fortitude wore an aspect of inability to the conflict that he couldn’t be led to a serious and grateful sense of his miraculous and providential preservation” in trying to acquire freedom, at the same time also relating to his own struggle for the emancipation of slaves. Banneker reminds Jefferson in this time in order to …show more content…
Banneker also uses religious appeal that calls out Jefferson’s pro-slavery stance, by saying “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 has conferred upon them,”. This “counteracts his mercies” by tolerating slavery. By appealing to religion it shows Jefferson that Banneker is under the same God as him and that they share the same religious understandings, so there for saying that Jefferson is under the hand of wrong and should cleanse himself of his wrong by not being pro-slavery. That Jefferson should feel ashamed of his actions and should fix them for the
Also, by doing so, Banneker is appealing to Jefferson emotionally and logically. In lines 42-46, Banneker seems very desperate and is begging Jefferson to “use other forms of punishment.”
The quote also appeals to Jefferson’s emotions because Banneker makes him feel guilty about slavery. Jefferson
Benjamin Banneker earnestly attempts to persuade Thomas Jefferson, former slave owner, the wrongness of slavery by using his sense of morality and reasoning against him. Banneker brings to light Jefferson’s views and to set the foundation to take his argument further. He refers to the Revolutionary War in line 2, "...arms and tyranny of the British Crown..." and explains the British Crown and indirectly refers to their ruling of the colonies. The word he most significantly used was ‘tyranny’ which sums up the rule of the British Crown in the colonists eyes. He uses the Revolutionary War and its impact on the colonies to further deepen the argument on his next point, without this clarification what he said next wouldn't have made any
Benjamin Bannecker in this excerpt eloquently uses a fine-tuned balance of Pathos, Logos and Ethos to mould a thought-provoking argument to Thomas Jefferson against slavery. Banneker uses Pathos and emotional appeal consistently throughout his writing by attempting to draw parallels between the subjugation of Jefferson under the British Crown (lines 1-5) and the oppression of slaves by their masters (lines 45-47) to communicate the feelings of his persecuted brothers which Jefferson might sympathize with having experienced oppression by an outsider himself. Moreover, he strives to establish a sentiment of love and empathy towards one another and for Jefferson’s heart to be “enlarged with kindness and benevolence towards them”, referring to
Benjamin Bannecker, a son of former slaves and educated scholar, angered about the mistreatment of slaves wrote a letter to the author of the Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson. He assumes a knowledgeable and matter-of fact persona in order to challenge Jefferson’s loyalty Christian faith and urge him to abolish/ condemn slavery. Bannecker organizes his speech in a cause and effect manner by demonstrating Jefferson hypocrisy towards slavery; he emphasizes his purpose by utilizing negative diction, historical allusions, and juxtaposition in order to illustrate the injustice of slavery and justify why it should be abolished. Bannecker begins his letter by comparing British rule to slavery and establishes that Jefferson was once a strong
Banneker uses common sense throughout the whole passage, he uses common sense every time he talks about an issue. He uses examples of how slavery and the lack of freedom for slaves goes against the laws of common sense, he is doing this in an attempt to appeal to Washington and Jefferson using his idea of common sense. Common sense can also be connected to the first tactic since they are often in the same sentence, this could possibly add value to the sentence to be able to persuade Jefferson and Washington more
Banneker brings up the point that Jefferson believes in “the benevolence of the Father of mankind” and the rights “the Father” has put forth to everyone, however, Jefferson, “counteracts his [the Father’s] mercies” by allowing slavery. This then leads Banneker to the conclusion that Jefferson should logically be held accountable for a criminal act, since Jefferson fails to acknowledge the violence numerous people are experiencing. There is also a sense of irony, since Banneker mentions earlier that Jefferson stated “all men are equal” and yet Jefferson counteracts the equality “the Father” has placed upon people. In fact, this also leads to conveying guilt, considering Banneker is holding Jefferson accountable for his actions and showing Jefferson that he is in the wrong, not the
Jefferson was enslaved by Great Britain, now he lacks empathy for those without their rights. Banneker with an accusatory tone declares, “You should be found guilty of that most criminal act which you professedly detested in others.” Jefferson could not be relied upon considering he went against his word. Benjamin Banneker is questioning Jefferson’s credibility as one of the writers of the Declaration of Independence. He created these laws for the land but have yet to enforce any of them for those who are considered
Banneker Also uses a bible allusion. Furthermore, he says, “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 uses this to make him feel better for calling him a hypocrite earlier in his letter. He says this make Thomas Jefferson feel as if it’s not too late to change. This makes Jefferson feel that it’s not all he fault and just needs to take Banneker’s advice.
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
Banneker know his place in terms that he is black, so he is not treated as equal. Banneker brings up the fact that Jefferson knows how he feels, as Jefferson has gone through having his freedom stripped from him. Banneker tells Jefferson to recall the time when “the arms and tyranny” of the king were applied with a stern effort to reduce him to a “State of Servitude.”
1. What type of document is it? What is the title of the document? The type of document is a letter, titled Banneker 's Letter to Jefferson.
The beginning of Banneker's letter strives to recall to Jefferson's memory the strife of the pre-1776 colonies against the tyrannical British Crown. Banneker initiates the letter by writing, "Sir, suffer me to recall to you. " Banneker utilizes the word "sir" numerous times throughout the letter as he does in his introduction. Banneker does this in order to establish a formal tone that remains consistent throughout the letter. Banneker practices a
The letter was understandably harsh and severe, but Banneker does this in such a humble manner, that his opinion on slavery can not be argued by Jefferson. Jefferson absolutely has to accept what Banneker is saying because of how he portrayed, and wrote his letter. Banneker starts the letter off with referring to Jefferson as ‘Sir’, and does this in every paragraph to solidify and ensure that he is being polite while still getting his point across. This was to make Jefferson believe what Banneker was saying, to show Jefferson that he does have respect towards him and that he is taking this letter seriously so Jefferson should too. Banneker does this to help Jefferson believe that Banneker knows what he is talking about, that he is credible, so he can fix his moral dilemma, and help him make the choice toward ending
By doing so, Banneker aligns with Jefferson’s own struggles to be free. Banneker also alludes to the Declaration of Independence. “…That all men are created equal…among