Criticism Of Banneker's Letter

Alongside the variation of tones, Banneker provides Jefferson with personal experience that refutes Jefferson’s claim that black people are intellectually inferior. Towards the end of the letter, Banneker describes various intellectual accomplishments which he has achieved over the past year. Moreover, Banneker illustrates his intellect by detailing one of his works, “a copy of an Almanack which I have calculated for the Succeeding year,” (Banneker). In writing this, Banneker displays his literacy as well as his capability to apply knowledge to predict the weather and such. All of the aspects displayed by the almanac are traits which Jefferson thought black people lacked, so including this leaves Jefferson to deduce that he is wrong. In the succeeding paragraph, Banneker describes his passion for knowledge by providing his reasoning for creating the almanac.

Banneker’s reasoning is as follows, “I have had to gratify my curiosity herein thro my own assiduous application to Astronomical Study,” (Banneker).

Banneker’s letter illustrates that the intellectual experience of a black person can not be considered inferior to that of a white person, since Banneker passionately pursued knowledge. Furthermore, Banneker displays another feat of intelligence, his competence in the field of surveying, in the next

paragraph. Banneker says that he was almost unable to make an almanac for the past year due to the, “time which I had allotted therefor being taking up at the Federal Territory,” (Banneker). Not only is Banneker focusing on creating an almanac, but he is being asked by the Federal government to participate in a survey of Washington, D.C., the nation’s new capital. This is a significant point which shows that Banneker’s mind is superior to most, as the federal government has hired him. By describing these personal feats of intellect, Jefferson can only deduce that black people are capable of intellectual accomplishment, thus they are not inferior to white people.