ID: 184784 Period 6
In 1791 a letter was written by Benjamin Banneker, the son of former slaves, to Thomas Jefferson to show him the current situation all African Americans were faced with at the time to get Thomas Jefferson to assist in the abolition of slavery in America. The letter by Banneker showed a great determination to show an equality between him and Jefferson by using an educated tone such as “You had just apprehensions at the horror of it” to show it was not just an ignorant African pleading for liberty, but an educated man, only one generation from slaves. By showing an Africans capabilities to be equivalent to an educated white man he hoped to lead Jefferson to understand that the concept that is used to substantiate the white man’s right to placing blacks in slavery is quite erroneous; as it would become palpable that an African is perfectly capable of being just as educated as a white man, therefore not an inferior being. Reminding Jefferson of situations where he and the colonies were faced with similar disparity that the slaves are currently faced like “the arms and tyranny of the British crown were exerted with every effort in order to reduce you to a state of servitude” was also used to show a relation between two men of words who both understand the scathing chains of oppression. Such words would cause Jefferson to reflect on the days when he was nearly forced into slavery by a terrifying power, and would give way to the thoughts of how the slaves are in an even worse situation; as they have already been pressed into slavery, and still have a terrifying power oppressing them. Through validating the slaves’ situation by demonstrating their sharing of a situation Jefferson once abhorred in every way, it would show a connection between Jefferson and the slaves causing him to feel what once caused him to declare war on the great...