Benjamin Banneker Rhetorical Analysis

Benjamin Banneker, the son of former slaves, former farmer, astronomer, and mathematician writes to Jefferson regrading to the worriment on slavery; in the excerpt, Banneker uses diction, allusion and appeals to Jefferson, adding more credibility to his concerns. Banneker integrates well educated and high diction in regards to his concerns on slavery. This is seen in lines 1, 15, 18, and 26. This shows Jefferson a display of respect, and dignity. Threw this, Jefferson is more likely to show his undivided attention to the subject at hand. Also Banneker uses the line such as ‘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”. He uses this to remind him of America’s goal as a country. …show more content…
Banneker’s evidence of the Declaration of Independence and the bible shows he is highly educated and sets him back from everyone else. Through the use of elevated diction, the reader can tell the subject not only is a big concern, but he does it in a positive way on stating it. This is evident in line 16, 33, and 38. Also Banneker bring the subject up on how Jefferson wrote the Constitution, however, his actions aren’t evident in this specific scenario. This is evident when he states that his morals have changed, he states “the great valuation of liberty and the free possession of those blessings to which you the people were entitled by nature” (line 28-29-30) to “impartial distribution...groaning captivity and cruel oppression” (line