This week we explored important, but overlooked, letters in history. Although I wasn’t able to participate in person, learning more about these historical figures was very interesting.
The letter that I read was from Benjamin Banneker to Thomas Jefferson. In the letter, Banneker is addressing his concerns about slavery and discrimination against Black Americans. He uses the constitution to explain that everyone is made equal and that God created them all to live the same way. He also addresses Jefferson’s previous beliefs and how his actions contradict them. Jefferson was someone who expressed that slavery was wrong. However, he did nothing to change that. In the letter, Banneker calls Jefferson a criminal for going against both his beliefs and the constitution.
I think that this letter does a good job at giving insight into the political and social issues of the time. It also shows how important it is to voice your opinion even if the majority disagrees with you. Benjamin Banneker challenged a prominent figure in history to because he felt that he had to speak up for himself and his community.
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