A Rhetorical Analysis Of Benjamin Banneker's Letter

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Slavery has been in existence since the creation of the United States of America. In fact, the controversial issue created a conflict beginning at the Constitutional Convention that carried on through Abraham Lincoln’s presidency and the addition of the 14th Amendment. Benjamin Banneker, a former slave, took the side of anti-slavery throughout his letter, utilizing a historical allusion along with anaphora to facilitate his audience’s understanding of Banneker’s point of view. Banneker capitalizes on his audience’s vulnerability through the use of a historical allusion. The audience of the letter is Thomas Jefferson, one of the creators of the Declaration of Independence, so Banneker refers to a quote in the document saying “that all men are created equal” having “unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” (Banneker). When this document was …show more content…
He delineated the words meaning to be that all humans, regardless of race or gender, maintain the same basic freedoms in life. By harbingering Jefferson’s own words under a new light, Banneker is extorting thought in Jefferson. Banneker is bringing to attention the hypocrisy in Jefferson’s beliefs and actions because he is stating that all humans deserve equality and happiness, but Jefferson continues to support slavery, which constricts African American’s freedom

Rhetorical Analysis Of Benjamin Banneker's Letter

In 1791, Benjamin Banneker wrote a letter to Thomas Jefferson, the Secretary of State at that time, regarding the injustice that the African population faced in America and the belief of black freedom. In the letter, Banneker uses repetition, allision, and irony to support his argument against slavery. Allusion is is one of the types of rhetorical strategies Banneker used in his letter. Allusion is when the writer mentions other work, or refers to an earlier use of their own work. This was shown…

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A Rhetorical Analysis Of Benjamin Banneker's Letter

Benjamin Banneker was the son of former slaves, who later became an author. In the year 1791 Banneker wrote a letter to Thomas Jefferson arguing against slavery. He, being the son of former slaves, portrayed an indigent yet sardonic tone throughout his letter. Mr. Banneker was upset about the continuation of slavery after the signing of the Declaration of Independence which stated, “...all men are created equal… and (should have) certain unalienable rights…” This document that helped the United…

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Rhetorical Analysis Of Benjamin Banneker's Letter Everybody

tradition like Buddhism and being co-mingled with idealized visions of what it means to be wealthy in America. Our nation gained its independence in 1776 and only 15 years later were citizens questioning to the true ideas of their nation. Benjamin Banneker’s…

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Rhetorical Analysis Of Benjamin Banneker's Letter To Thomas Jefferson

Benjamin Banneker, the son of a former slave well educated in many fields of work, wrote a letter to Thomas Jefferson about the need for abolishing slavery. Within this letter he uses rhetorical devices such as reflection and flashback,allusion, repetition and diction. “Sir suffer me to recall to your mind that in which the arms and tyranny of the british crown was exserted”, the first times in Banneker's letter to Jefferson. He started off reminding Jefferson that he not to long ago was in the…

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Banneker Reflection Essays

In writing my rhetorical analysis of Benjamin Banneker’s letter to Thomas Jefferson, I would have been more successful and possibly earned a higher score if I would have, gave more elaboration and support within each paragraph, used better structuring of paragraphs and elaborated vocabulary and transitions, and took more time to connect with the prompt. In the opening of my first body paragraph, I gave basic reasoning of how Banneker used emotional diction while writing to Jefferson. I successfully…

Words 823 - Pages 4