In Benjamin Banneker's letter to Thomas Jefferson , Banneker questions the former U.S. president on what his true feelings are towards human rights. He then asks why his people of the African heritage continue to be treated and looked upon as animals. Banneker even goes as far as challenging Jefferson and implying that he is a hypocrite for not truly practicing what he preached in the well written Declaration of independence saying "We hold these truths to be self-evident , that all men are created equal". If this is in fact true then why was it acceptable for white men to own slaves. In"Interesting Narrative of Olaudah Equaino" he recalls him and his sister being kidnapped from home and traded into slavery. He even writes about being separated from her and later being taken to a slave ship. There were other people of his skin complection aboard the ship being beaten cut, forced fed and worked to death. How can there be a hierarchy system in a world where " All men are created equal".
the answer lies within the word "human" and what the true definition of that word meant around the time of slavery. If you can recall the " Three-Fifth's Compromise" of 1787 where slaves were put in the category of " all other persons" and counted for only three fifths in the means of representation and taxing. Slaves were considered as property not human so when brought up into consideration they didn't hold very much value. If your skin color happened to be black or you were a female you were nothing but a possession to somebody. It would be very much appropriate to call the " Declaration of Independence" a written contradiction which is basically in a very well structured manner and use of language what Benjamin Banneker said in his letter to Thomas Jefferson. It is in deed a sad truth that still exists today in the shadows of mankind.
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