Benjamin Banneker's Arguments Against Slavery

Guilt is a big motivator for many of people's actions because most people don’t want to offend anyone, especially if they want to uphold a certain reputation, like a man with political power. To his advantage, with an accusatory, critical, yet reverent tone, Banneker makes sure that Jefferson, a man with political power, understands the hypocritical actions of the nation and feels ashamed of the suffering which has gone on, hopefully enough to make a difference in the injustice which the United States has

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

When a man with as many diverse qualifications and backgrounds as Benjamin Banneker wrote a letter arguing against slavery targeted towards someone like Thomas Jefferson, the product was a masterfully persuasive document with the ability to convince anyone of the time period to adopt his position. To convince someone who was at least as skillful at writing as himself, Banneker used a wide variety of literary devices that added to the overall effectiveness of his paper. His most common devices include many appeals to various human emotions and allusions to situations used as parallels to his position. Banneker used two main types of appeals: an appeal to ethics and an appeal to fear. In his letter these devices are intertwined to persuade his target audience to take his side.

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

This passage reveals the underlying causes of Grant’s anxiety about teaching Jefferson his final lesson. His own education has been based on mastering the cultural vocabulary of white America, and although he is respected in the quarter for his high level of academic achievement, Grant knows that he is only helping to perpetuate this system. Although he wants to help his students avoid the pitfalls of being black and poor in the deep South, he feels ill-equipped to do this despite his academic pedigree. This is one of Jefferson’s first pieces of dialogue that does not relate to him being a hog.

In 1791, Banneker wrote a persuasive letter to Thomas Jefferson, then secretary of state, in an attempt to condemn slavery. By using rhetorical devices such as emotional words and allusions to past events, Banneker effectively argues his position in an extremely convincing manner. One of the main argumentative strategies Banneker uses is the use of emotional words. By using strong, negative words, Banneker evokes a sense of fear, helping to convince Jefferson of the evils of slavery.

Hypocrisy is one of the worst moral crimes someone can commit. In a letter addressed to Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Banneker explains that Jefferson is the prime adversary in allowing the unjust crime of slavery to sustain itself by him continuing to act in a hypocritical manner. Banneker, through the use of showing respect through the means of referring to Jefferson as ‘Sir’, quoting his own words to show hypocrisy, and strong perturbing diction to enforce guilt, strives to prove Jefferson’s moral flaw and persuade him to change his ways. Banneker begins to persuade Jefferson by continually referring to him as ‘Sir’, which shows respect toward Jefferson, and because of this, Jefferson is forced to accept the ideas Banneker is explaining. 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.

Grant is hopeful to change Jefferson by giving him a notebook and having him write down all his feelings. Grant even dreamed that, “There was a lot of erasing, then he wrote: If I ain’t nothing but a hog, how come they just don’t knock me in the head like a hog? Starb me like a hog? More erasing, then: Man walk on two foots; hogs on four hoofs,” (Gaines 220). Eventually, Jefferson did manage to write down all of his thoughts and get his anger out of him.

At first, he neglected his godmother, who’s raised him since he was a child. Now he lets her embrace him (and embraces her back) for as long as she needs. Here, Jefferson’s actions resemble nothing so much as a sinner confessing his sins on his deathbed. (Ironically, this would make Grant, not Reverend Ambrose, the “priest.”) His final words to Grant show that Grant has succeeded as a teacher.

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.

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

Jefferson uses repetition by using same words to educate the King with what they believe in and hoping that these beliefs are enough for the King to agree with the decision of the Colonists to break apart from them without causing any bloodshed. The repeated words purpose was emphasize the feelings of Jefferson for his beliefs to change the King’s attitude of keeping the Colonist as resources for Britain and let the Colonist have their freedom. Finally, Jefferson uses restatement; Other people think that he used it effectively because it makes his message clearer and stress on key points.

In order for Banneker to display his knowledge, he uses “sir” in the beginning sentences in each paragraph. “Sir, suffer me to recall to your mind…”, Banneker uses “sir” several times to show his credibility. Since Thomas Jefferson was the framer of the Declaration of Independence, Banneker has to be intelligent in order to appeal to Jefferson. Also, by repeating “sir” in each paragraph, it allows Banneker to demonstrate his respect. Banneker has also repeated “you” many times referring to Jefferson.

Mr. Jefferson states that, “I just want to serve the people rather than insisting that they serve me”. It was heartfelt and eye-opening when Mr. Jefferson revealed that, “The most difficult decisions for me are the ones where the interests of the ministries are more important than the interest of an individual”. Serving others seems to have been a lifelong calling for Mr. Jefferson. He is a true servant leader. (W. Jefferson, personal communication, October 24, 2015).