Read this sentence from Benjamin Banneker's letter to Thomas Jefferson.
“…but Sir how pitiable is it to reflect, that altho you were so fully convinced of the benevolence of the Father of mankind, and of his equal and impartial distribution of those rights and privileges which he had conferred upon them, that you should at the Same time counteract his mercies, in detaining by fraud and violence so numerous a part of my brethren under groaning captivity and cruel oppression, that you should at the Same time be found guilty of that most criminal act, which you professedly detested in others, with respect to yourselves.”
Which statement most accurately describes a theme developed in this sentence?
Some are deserving of freedom, and others are not.
Equality is a blessing that is earned, not inherited.
A nation cannot call itself free and equal until all of its citizens are free and equal.
Discrimination and injustice cannot exist where the rights of the individual come first.