During the late eighteen century slavery was still very common throughout the world. Benjamin Banneker, a son of a former slave, was a well-rounded person and was against slavery. Banneker wrote a thought felt letter to Thomas Jefferson, A Founding Father of the declaration of Independence saying how slavery should be abolished. Although Banneker does not want to upset Jefferson, he states how Jefferson is a hypocrite, in a sincere way because he allows slavery when he says all men are created equal. Banneker also explains how Jefferson has experienced slavery as the British colonized his country. In the Declaration Of Independence it is said that, “we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,...That among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Banneker stresses how Franklin is going against the Declaration by allowing slavery. He uses words such as sir, and suffer me to get his point across in a non offensive way. Banneker also talks about how Franklin knows what is right,but does not follow it. Franklin should just put himself in the shoes of the slaves to understand what they are going through. Banneker makes Franklin feel guilty by using a phrase from the bible, “Put your souls in their souls stead,”thus shall your hearts be enlarged with kindness and benevolence towards them.”

Banneker also takes Franklin back to when he was enslaved by the British's colonization and that when Franklin was freed from British rule, his