Question

Read this sentence from Benjamin Banneker's letter to Thomas Jefferson. Benjamin Banneker was a free man descended from African slaves. In his letter to Thomas Jefferson, the Secretary of State, Banneker condemned slavery and attempted to persuade Jefferson to end the practice of slavery in the United States. “…but Sir how pitiable is it to reflect, that altho you were so fully convinced of the benevolence of the Father of mankind, and of his equal and impartial distribution of those rights and privileges which he had conferred upon them, that you should at the Same time counteract his mercies, in detaining by fraud and violence so numerous a part of my brethren under groaning captivity and cruel oppression, that you should at the Same time be found guilty of that most criminal act, which you professedly detested in others, with respect to yourselves.” Which statement most accurately describes a theme developed in this sentence? Some are deserving of freedom, and others are not. A nation cannot call itself free and equal until all of its citizens are free and equal. Equality is a blessing that is earned, not inherited. Discrimination and injustice cannot exist where the rights of the individual come first.

Answer 1

The correct answer is A nation cannot call itself free and equal until all of its citizens are free and equal.

Indeed, Banneker was addressing Jefferson, who had drafted the Declaration of Independence of the United States and was at the time serving as Secretary of Foreign Affairs (Secretary of State) under the Government of George Washington. By doing this, he is not addressing a private citizen but a representative of the US government who hold a very prestigious public office. He is clearly paraphrasing the opening lines of the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal (equal and impartial distribution), that they are endowed by their Creator (Father of mankind) with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Then he points out the striking contradiction between the principles of Jefferson’s declaration and his position as a Slave owner and Secretary of State of a country that allowed slavery of African persons. Jefferson represents the nation because of his high-ranking position in the government and his actions and the acceptance of slavery are in stark opposition to the nation’s moral and legal principles.

Answer 2

A nation cannot call itself free and equal until all of its citizens are free and equal  is the statement  that best describes the theme developed in this sentence.  Benjamin Banneker says: "...that you should at the Same time counteract his mercies, in detaining by fraud and violence so numerous a part of my brethren under groaning captivity and cruel oppression,..". He thinks that all the citizens have to be free because God - the Father of mankind- has said so and  Jefferson is not considering this  mercy. Besides, Banneker asks Jefferson fervently to free his brothers from prison. Jefferson reflects the nation; if he does not make the decision to set all the salves free , the nation he is ruling cannot be regarded as free.