Delacruz -- 3
AP Language and Composition
28 October 2013
Banneker Passage Analysis
In his 1791 letter to Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Banneker uses various rhetorical
strategies to show the similarities between British rule of the colonies and slavery. In doing so,
he creates a strong argument against the injustice done to his race. As a free African American
(and the son of former slaves) living shortly after the American Revolution, Banneker offers
valid insight into both subjects.
Banneker begins his letter reminding Jefferson of the hard times before the Revolution.
He encourages him to “Look back,” to the time when the “tyranny of the British Crown,” was
upon them, lowering the colonists to a “State of Servitude,” (lines 2-4). In the very opening lines,
Banneker uses a metaphor comparing the Crown to a master and the colonies to slaves in a
“State of Servitude.” By doing this, he sets the scene for many more similar comparisons
likening the colonies to slaves. In the second paragraph, Banneker states how the injustices done
to the colonists during British rule would give them insight into the injustices of slavery, and he
ends this section with a quote: “We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created
equal” (lines 21). Here, Banneker alludes to the Declaration of Independence, making the fact
that it states that all are created equal obvious to Jefferson. Being the author of the Declaration of
Independence, this would force Jefferson to either feel that he should repeal his statement, or be
true to it and give slaves their freedom.
Moving into the second half, Banneker continues to make comparisons between slavery
and the colonies under British rule using a periodic sentence. He also ends his letter with a
separate allusion to help strengthen his argument against slavery. In the third paragraph (one
long sentence) (lines 26-41), he explains the colonist’s passion for liberty, how they withheld it
from their slaves, and ends by accusing Jefferson of being a hypocrite. By keeping the sentence
alive with commas and semicolons and withholding his accusation until the last paragraph,
Banneker gives Jefferson an abundance of reasons for why he is being hypocritical. This
increases the weight of his accusation and pressures Jefferson act out his passion for liberty by
giving it to slaves. At the end of his letter, in the final paragraph, Banneker quotes the Old
Testament book of Job giving Jefferson and other slave holders a method for dealing with the
problem of slavery: “‘put your souls in their souls stead,’ thus shall your hearts be enlarged with
kindness and benevolence towards them [the slaves] (lines 49-51). By alluding to the Bible,
Banneker appeals to Jefferson’s religious beliefs and offers a reasonable method of giving slaves
their equality.
In his letter to Jefferson, Thomas Banneker uses a multitude of rhetorical strategies,
including metaphors, allusions and periodic sentences, many of which compare the colonists to
slaves in their time under British rule. In doing so, he gives Jefferson sympathetic insight into the
life of slaves, and forges a strong argument countering slavery. Though Banneker’s argument
may have had little immediate impact by the way of freeing of slaves, the efforts of intellectuals
like himself helped raise awareness; awareness essential in creating an opposition to slavery that
would eventually lead to the emancipation of African Americans.