Jupiter Hammon Research Paper

A Comparison and Contrast of Enslavement in the 18th and 19th centuries This paper compares and contrast two different views of enslavement throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. These two responses were created out of a need for explanations about the meaning of slavery. According to Jupiter Hammon, using religion to comfort the slaves would attract their attention and give them hope. According to David Walker, using an Old Testament liberation theology mixed with the natural rights tradition of Declaration of Independence would cause them to take action. While both commentators, Jupiter Hammon and David Walker addressed slavery from their perspectives, the abolitionist movement was pushed in a more radical direction. The appeals had profound …show more content…
“You certainly do not believe, that there is a God, or that there is a Heaven or Hell, or you would never trifle with them. It would make you shudder, if you heard others do it, if you believe them as much, as you believe them as much, as you believe anything you see with your bodily eyes,” (Hammon, 10) is an example of Hammon using the death theme explaining to the slaves that obedience is the way to make it to Heaven and not Hell. For instance, “All of those who are profane, are serving the Devil. You are doing what he tempts and desires you to do. If you could see him with your bodily eyes, would you like to make an agreement with him, to serve him, and do as he bid you. I believe most of you would be shocked at this, but you may be certain that all of you who allow yourselves in this sin, are as really serving him, to dishonor God, and serve him with all your might. Do you believe this? It is true whether you believe it or not,” (Hammon, 11) is an interpretation of the salvation theme describing how redemption is near by faith in God. “What may be done further, he only knows, for known unto God are all his ways from the beginning. But this my dear brethren by no means, the greatest thing we have to be concerned about,” is an explanation of the Christian religious theme however, the entire appeal had this theme. Pathos and Ethos were both used as literary devices in Hammon’s appeal. Hammon uses ethos towards the end stating, “Our slavery will be at an end, and though ever so mean, low, and despised in this world, we shall sit with God in his kingdom as Kings and Priests, and rejoice forever, and ever. Do not then, my dear friends, take God’s holy name in vain, or speak profanely in any way.” (Hammon, 12) “What is forty, fifty, sixty years, when compared to eternity. When thousands and millions of years rolled away, this eternity