Rhetorical Analysis of Benjamin Banneker's Letter Essay Example

In his 1791 letter, Benjamin Banneker writes to Thomas Jefferson, urging him to take a stand against the practice of slavery. At this time, slavery was a very controversial issue, and the author urges Jefferson to take his side. To make his speech more effective, he uses historical allusion, ethos, and pathos. 

At various points throughout his letter, Banneker alludes to points in history where Jefferson took a stand for his morality. He cites a time amidst the revolutionary war, where “tyranny of the British Crown” had been making an effort to “reduce [them] to a state of servitude” (2-4). His thoughtful reference to a point in time that Jefferson lived through alludes to the similarity of history to the current situation. He urges him to comprehend that in the past, he stood against Americans being forced into servitude by the British, but now when White Americans are doing the same to Black Americans, he chooses to turn a blind eye. By mentioning Jefferson’s inconsistency in when he chooses to stick to his morals, Banneker points out his hypocrisy. This forces Jefferson to realize his own participation and complacency in the injustice Banneker and other Black people in the country are facing. Banneker brings this up with the purpose of calling Jefferson into action, hoping he will use his platform and his power to denounce and stop his participation in the institution of slavery.  Further into his writing, Banneker holds Jefferson accountable for his previous stances, those in which he “clearly saw into the injustice of a state of slavery” (15, 16). These historical allusions are persuasive due to their comparative nature. Banneker calls up Jefferson’s past, a past in which he felt the need to stand up against forced servitude and other injustice. By contrasting this to Jefferson’s current participation in comparable injustice, Banneker once again forces Jefferson to acknowledge the true nature of his actions. He opens the former president’s eyes to his conflicting moral stances. Essentially compelling Jefferson to reflect on why he was against large-scale injustice in the past, but supports and participates in it in the present. To further persuade Jefferson, Banneker upholds his previous position and his previous statements. Banneker recalls Jefferson’s own words, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…” (21-23). By voicing his approval of Jefferson’s previous works, Banneker urges him to apply his past words to this current situation. Throughout his letter, Banneker commends Jefferson’s moral stances in the past. At the same time, he questions his departure from these morals, urging him to uphold his prior stances and to apply them to the current epidemic of injustice they are facing. 

Benjamin Banneker’s use of rhetorical devices, specifically ethos, assist in illustrating the urgency of this problem and attempt to convince Thomas Jefferson of the detriment of slavery as a practice. He compels Jefferson to change his stance on the subject. Ethos assists Banneker in doing so, making a good first impression, appealing to shared values, and building a more concrete reputation for himself as the speaker. To begin his letter, Banneker sets a positive first impression, establishing a respectful tone by referring to Jefferson (repeatedly) as “sir” (1). This word choice appeals to Jefferson’s sense of self-importance and need for respect, making him more likely to listen to Banneker’s claims that follow. His use of ethos here and throughout is important as it gives Jefferson a reason to listen, this respectful tone makes Banneker’s complaints appear more reasonable to a man who is so used to receiving respect. Banneker’s use of ethos further appeals to Jefferson’s perception of his own character by sprinkling in references to values that both of them share. Near the end of his letter, Banneker quotes the bible, discussing “Job”, who said to his friends, “put your souls in their souls stead,” (48-50). To appeal to his Christian values, Banneker uses a biblical figure to push the idea of putting himself in anothers’, in this case, slaves’, shoes. As a Christian man, Jefferson is more likely to listen to a biblical figure, when he reiterates Banneker’s point. Should Jefferson place himself in the position of a slave, as Job and Banneker suggest, he will be infinitely more likely to agree with Banneker’s opinion on slavery. As a result, he will be more likely to cease and denounce his practice of slavery. 

Banneker ties his use of various rhetorical strategies together through his use of pathos. By utilizing emotional appeal, Benjamin Banneker attempts to put Jefferson in the shoes of the oppressed. To put this into action. Banneker’s diction is emotion-invoking, when referring to the slaves that Thomas Jefferson is actively harming through his complacency, he calls them his “brethren” (37). This plea to Jefferson’s emotions places him directly in the midst of his own neglect, invoking guilt. To advance his emotional appeal, Banneker continues his use of emotion-inducing diction, when he refers to the suffering of slaves at this time, he states that they are experiencing, “groaning captivity and cruel oppression” (38). These words acknowledge the true nature of slavery, the depth of the pain and suffering that it causes. These words are likely to elicit guilt in a man who has supported and participated in slavery for so many years. Once again, Banneker is forcing Jefferson to confront his actions, in using emotional diction and appeal, Banneker compels Jefferson to feel guilt from his actions and to change his ways. 

Throughout his letter, Benjamin Banneker pleads for mercy towards his “brethren”. By providing the chance for Jefferson to see through their eyes, his use of historical allusion, ethos, and pathos come to fruition. Banneker calls Jefferson to action, urging him to save the people his system is harming.