Question

Isabel notices that the Patriots are fighting for freedom, but their idea of freedom doesn't seem to include people like her. A male slave defends the Patriots by saying: "Some Patriots own slaves, yes, but you must listen to their words: 'all men, created equal.' The words come first. They'll pull the deeds and the justice behind them." [Page 164] What did he mean?

Answer 1

The male slave is defending the Patriots by highlighting the words in the Declaration of Independence that assert that 'all men are created equal.' He suggests that the Patriots' actions and justice will eventually align with those words and include people like Isabel.

Step-by-step explanation:

The male slave in this passage is defending the Patriots by pointing out that although some Patriots own slaves, their words in the Declaration of Independence assert that 'all men are created equal.' He means that even though the Patriots may not include people like Isabel in their idea of freedom, the words in the Declaration come first and can eventually lead to deeds and justice for everyone, including slaves like Isabel.