Blog assignment one: Bannaker and Equiano

In Benjamin Banneker’s letter to Thomas Jefferson, Banneker, a free African American astrologer, addresses his views on slavery and racial equality.  The letter states, in a powerful but respectful manner, the way in which Banneker is unsatisfied with the actions that have been carried out by Jefferson in the move towards equality for all.  He discusses topics such as promises made by Jefferson, the founding father and author of the Declaration of Independence, and the basic ideas of Christianity that were thought to be closely followed at this time. 

In the narrative of Equiano’s experiences on the slave ship, it is noticeable that the horrors involved were nothing less of disturbing.  Equiano often refers to the crowded, unhealthy living conditions that slaves were forced to undergo while in transit to be traded, and at one point in the text, speaks about the body’s of those who didn’t survive and were tossed overboard by the ship men without any signs of remorse.  Throughout the narrative, Equiano’s emotions are also relayed in a way that not only moves the reader, but is an accurate depiction of what he felt during the present time. 

If humans all felt the "same sensations," then wouldn't the slave-traders have been incapable of practicing slavery, and enforcing it through such lethal methods?

This is a complex question, therefore, has multiple “answers” and is widely based on ones opinion.  First off, I would like to define how I believe the term “sensation” to have been used in Banneker’s letter to Jefferson.  In my opinion, “sensation,” in this context, is used to describe emotions/feelings.  As human beings, I trust that we are all able to feel to a certain extent, some more or less than others.  But if something does not effect someone on an emotional level, it will not move them as it would someone to which it does.  The fundamental, crucial aspect to having an impact is making someone feel something.  As previously stated, it is thought that one of the essential properties of our chemical make up as humans is inevitably having the ability to feel, but that does not necessarily mean each individual possesses the same feelings.  Different things effect different people.  So, when the slave-traders were practicing slavery and enforcing it through such lethal methods, as unjustifiable as that may have been, I have no choice but to view it from a neutral stand point.  There are a plethora of variables to take into consideration, the first being that it was not effecting them personally.  When I say this, I mean it was not them who it was happening to.  So yes, while some people are able to feel compassion for others, some are not.  It goes back to the basic concept of right and wrong.  But who ultimately determines what is right and what is wrong?  Humans are constantly influenced by bias opinions.  Not to get off topic, which I tend to do, but the fact that as a high school graduate and legal adult, I did not know that slaves were enslaved because they were considered to be only three-fifths of a human until just the other day is… unfortunate.  But why was I not informed of this information prior?  Because many of the textbooks that we are all innocently (naively) educated from throughout our years of schooling are directly distributed from Texas, which, being a prominent place for slave-trade, portray history in the way it had been viewed from their development.  Not to be confused; this is an opinion, not a fact.  But this is my blog, and philosophically speaking, I could pick this apart and dissect it from multiple angles.  The debate goes on…