Benjamin Banneker Analysis

Benjamin Banneker was a primarily self-educated child of a former slave who became a prominent African American renaissance man and activist during the 18th century. In 1791, Banneker wrote a letter to Thomas Jefferson, the aim of which was to challenge Jefferson on the topics of slavery and racism, and hopefully get him to change his opinions and eventually take further action. He called upon tone, alluding to historical events, and juxtaposing the difference between Jefferson’s own writings and actions in order to drive his point home. The aim of this letter was to challenge Jefferson on the topics of slavery and racism, highlighting the hypocrisy and hopefully inspire him to take further action. Banneker’s tone is polite, and he spends

Despite Jefferson’s vocal opposition of slavery, he still owned hundreds of slaves and profited immensely off of the institution of slavery and Banneker articulated that inherent hypocrisy in his letter. Jefferson supported gradual emancipation, and while that was a step in the right direction, it did not make any kind of significant improvement in the lives of those who were continuing to suffer under slavery. He wanted to “improve” some of the more violent aspects of slavery by reducing physical punishments and improving quality of life, but even then human beings are still being treated as property. Although he was anti-slavery, he still believed that black people were inferior and Banneker used religion as part of his persuasion: “It is the indispensable duty of those who maintain for themselves the rights of human nature, and who profess the obligations of Christianity, to extend their powers and influence to the relief of every part of the human race, from whatever burden or oppression they may unjustly labor under” (Page

He also pointed out that white Americans had only received their current power and freedom through a “peculiar blessing of heaven”, as they could have just as easily never escaped the iron rule of Britain.

Using his personal experience, persuasive arguments and a polite but firm tone, Banneker was able to offer Jefferson and unique and powerful perspective on the plight of the African Americans living both in captivity and freedom. By using Jefferson’s own words, he heightened the impact of his argument and could more easily point out his hypocrisy. By maintaining his tone throughout, he created the opening to continued discourse on this important subject matter. He knew he had to walk a fine line in his communication with someone in a position to make changes in this brand new