During his time on Earth, Benjamin Banneker, one of the first influential African American politicians in the world explicitly spoke his mind against prejudice evident during this time period. Writing his infamous letter to Founding Father Thomas Jefferson, a pro-slavery fanatic, Banneker exercises his use literal expertise using rhetorical strategies to voice his opinion against slavery.
In the introduction to his letter Banneker uses rhetorical devices such as repetition, tricolon, and allusions to display his argue on slavery. In his word, Banneker writes, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, and that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights,..., that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” (Banneker 21-24). Banneker brings forth the idea that “they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights”, presenting the fact that as a human being “God” has inflicted inevitable rights upon the human race, that which are being revoked in the process of slavery. Banneker’s goal is to bring forth the reality that Jefferson and himself, an African American, believe and acknowledge the same God, …show more content…
This serves to show that while Banneker does not forgive Jefferson's practices he still has respect for him and the position he holds. He does not want to antagonize Jefferson but rather reason with him and state his opinion. Continually repeating "sir" shows Jefferson that he is a dignified person which destroys the possible assumption that ethnicity makes people subordinate. This displays acknowledgement and makes it hard for Jefferson to become enraged when Banneker is continually testing Jefferson's ego and showing him the utmost
In the introduction to his letter Banneker uses rhetorical devices such as repetition, tricolon, and allusions to display his argue on slavery. In his word, Banneker writes, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, and that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights,..., that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” (Banneker 21-24). Banneker brings forth the idea that “they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights”, presenting the fact that as a human being “God” has inflicted inevitable rights upon the human race, that which are being revoked in the process of slavery. Banneker’s goal is to bring forth the reality that Jefferson and himself, an African American, believe and acknowledge the same God, …show more content…
This serves to show that while Banneker does not forgive Jefferson's practices he still has respect for him and the position he holds. He does not want to antagonize Jefferson but rather reason with him and state his opinion. Continually repeating "sir" shows Jefferson that he is a dignified person which destroys the possible assumption that ethnicity makes people subordinate. This displays acknowledgement and makes it hard for Jefferson to become enraged when Banneker is continually testing Jefferson's ego and showing him the utmost