Benjamin Banneker, born of slavery, was an astronomer, mathematician, and, above all, an author. He wrote to Thomas Jefferson, one of the architects of the Declaration of Independence and later President George Washington's Secretary of State. Banneker was courageous in writing Jefferson as he used many different rhetorical strategies such as biblical allusions, repetition, and emotional diction to truly connect and convey the message to the American people. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Banneker questions Jefferson's ethics and morals by initially making many biblical allusions to attack his pro-slavery position. He goes on to say that while Jefferson is “fully convinced of the Father's benevolence” toward all man, Jefferson himself contradicts and “thwarts his mercies” by allowing such an oppressive act to continue. The use of religion in this argument not only gave Banneker a way to scorn and ridicule Jefferson's acts, but also allowed him to do so without tarnishing his fine virtue and character. He established it under the power of God's judgment rather than just under Banneker himself. Through the seamless integration of biblical allusions, Banneker was able to greatly increase the scope of the situation because he is essentially shedding light on the sins of Jefferson's past. Although Banneker was apparently frustrated by the topic of slavery, he maintained a very polite disposition throughout the letter. He continually refers to Jefferson as "Sir" and "you" to be polite and addresses Jefferson in a much more personal way. He refers to Jefferson as "Sir" six times in the letter, with at least one example in each paragraph. Although Banneker condemns Jefferson's actions, he still maintains the utmost respect for him and the political office he holds. Banneker intentionally maintained this air of modesty and dignity to destroy Jefferson's earlier assertion that race makes a person inferior. Banneker was smart to want to reason and not completely attack Jefferson on this issue because how could he justify his anger towards someone who clearly holds Jefferson's name in very high esteem. Was his anti-slavery argument also filled with many examples of emotional diction being used? to represent the true impact of slavery. Banneker defines slavery as a “criminal act which you profess to detest to others than to yourselves.” This crime committed by Jefferson long remained unchecked in Banneker's eyes. The “cruel oppression” that is slavery was a grave crime against humanity. These powerful words represent the plight of slavery and the horrendous lives those affected must endure on a daily basis. He goes on to further strengthen his argument by making many connections about how Jefferson's actions affected him on a very personal level. He effectively transformed the slave population from mere property into true human beings by advocating a policy of kindness toward all humanity. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom EssayA Modest The hero, Benjamin Banneker, was a revolutionary figure in American history and in the fight against slavery. His letter to Thomas Jefferson is probably the match that lit the fire in the anti-slavery movement. His mild approach politely condemned Jefferson's actions while simultaneously spreading the word..