In 1791 an African american named Benjamin Banneker wrote a letter to the former president of the United States Thomas Jefferson. In this letter he expressed to Jefferson his beliefs on how all humans are equal because God or as he said the "Father" has " afforded us all the same sensations and endowed us all with the same faculties". However he made it quite clear that he was not happy or satisfied with jeffersons actions. He claimed that jefferson had not followed his own statements on the declaration of independence of all humans being " entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." And also, in the most respectful way possible called him a liar and a criminal against religion, nature and humanity.
Like Banneker, Equiano from The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equinano , was also a slave. In the passage he describes his experiences in the slave ships. In these crowded ships people were treated unfairly and were forced to travel under unsanitary conditions. Its easy for the reader to understand all the kinds of emotions felt by Equiano, some of which were fear and anxiety. He's experience in these ships were horrifying. And one of the things that scarred him the most was witnessing other slaves die before his eyes due to the lack of food and poor health.
Now you may ask yourself, If were all feeling creatures, how could we not feel for each other? In other words , how could the slave-traders treat slaves in such way without feeling any remorse. In my opinion the answer to this question depends on who's answering it. There is always one person that wants to be on top, which i think has been the biggest problem in our society, because as long as that person is getting what they want, they don't care of who they step on along the way. Yes,we all have the ability to feel, but some can feel more than others. Some people would do anything to get what they want in life, even if that means hurting someone physically, mentally and emotionally. I also believe that someone may effect me but no someone else.The first step to making people act differently towards each other is making them feel something. Meaning, if we want to make a change we need to make people see how their actions effect other people, hopefully reaching some sort of emotional reaction, or better yet a deep connection. This would be the only way that we can someday come to a point were we treat eachother equally.
Like Banneker, Equiano from The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equinano , was also a slave. In the passage he describes his experiences in the slave ships. In these crowded ships people were treated unfairly and were forced to travel under unsanitary conditions. Its easy for the reader to understand all the kinds of emotions felt by Equiano, some of which were fear and anxiety. He's experience in these ships were horrifying. And one of the things that scarred him the most was witnessing other slaves die before his eyes due to the lack of food and poor health.
Now you may ask yourself, If were all feeling creatures, how could we not feel for each other? In other words , how could the slave-traders treat slaves in such way without feeling any remorse. In my opinion the answer to this question depends on who's answering it. There is always one person that wants to be on top, which i think has been the biggest problem in our society, because as long as that person is getting what they want, they don't care of who they step on along the way. Yes,we all have the ability to feel, but some can feel more than others. Some people would do anything to get what they want in life, even if that means hurting someone physically, mentally and emotionally. I also believe that someone may effect me but no someone else.The first step to making people act differently towards each other is making them feel something. Meaning, if we want to make a change we need to make people see how their actions effect other people, hopefully reaching some sort of emotional reaction, or better yet a deep connection. This would be the only way that we can someday come to a point were we treat eachother equally.
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