Full size book cover of 12 Years a Slave}

12 Years a Slave

Solomon Northup

4.22(120891 readers)
Twelve Years a Slave, sub-title: Narrative of Solomon Northup, citizen of New-York, kidnapped in Washington city in 1841, and rescued in 1853, from a cotton plantation near the Red River in Louisiana, is a memoir by Solomon Northup as told to and edited by David Wilson. It is a slave narrative of a black man who was born free in New York state but kidnapped in Washington, D.C., sold into slavery, and kept in bondage for 12 years in Louisiana. He provided details of slave markets in Washington, D.C. and New Orleans, as well as describing at length cotton and sugar cultivation on major plantations in Louisiana.

Publisher

Graymalkin Media

Publication Date

2/21/2014

ISBN

9781631680021

Pages

248

Categories

History

About the Author

Portrait of author Solomon Northup
Solomon Northup
Solomon Northup was a free-born African American from Saratoga Springs, New York. He is noted for having been kidnapped in 1841 when enticed with a job offer. When he accompanied his supposed employers to Washington, DC, they drugged him and sold him into slavery. From Washington, DC, he was transported to New Orleans where he was sold to a plantation owner from Rapides Parish, Louisiana. After 12 years in bondage, he regained his freedom in January 1853; he was one of very few to do so in such cases. Held in the Red River region of Louisiana by several different owners, he got news to his family, who contacted friends and enlisted the New York governor in his cause. New York state had passed a law in 1840 to recover African-American residents who had been kidnapped and sold into slavery.

Northup sued the slave traders in Washington, DC, but lost in the local court. District of Columbia law prohibited him as a black man from testifying against whites and, without his testimony, the men went free. Returning to his family in New York, Northup became active in abolitionism. He published an account of his experiences in Twelve Years a Slave (1853) in his first year of freedom. Northup gave dozens of lectures throughout the Northeast on his experiences as a slave, in order to support the abolitionist cause.

In the early 1860s, Northup, along with another black man, aided a Methodist minister in Vermont in helping fugitive slaves on the Underground Railroad. The circumstances of Northup's death are uncertain.

Solomon Northup's memoir was reprinted several times later in the 19th century. An annotated version was published in 1968, edited by Sue Eakin and Joseph Logsdon. The memoir was adapted and produced as a film in 2013 by Steve McQueen, starring Chiwetel Ejiofor as Northup. Previously, a TV movie had been made of Northup's story, Solomon Northup's Odyssey (1984), directed by Gordon Parks. Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and former U.S. poet laureate Rita Dove wrote her poem "The Abduction" about Solomon Northup (published in her first collection, "The Yellow House on the Corner", 1980.)

Since 1999, Saratoga Springs, New York, has celebrated an annual Solomon Northup Day.

Questions & Answers

The narrative's primary focus is the harrowing experiences of Solomon Northup, a free black man from New York, who was kidnapped, sold into slavery, and endured twelve years of bondage in Louisiana. The narrative reflects the realities of 19th-century slavery by depicting the brutal treatment, dehumanization, and inhumane conditions slaves faced. It highlights the arbitrary nature of slavery, where a free man could be captured and enslaved, and the moral and psychological impact of the institution on both slaves and slaveholders. The narrative also showcases the resilience and resourcefulness of Northup, as well as the efforts of abolitionists and his family to secure his freedom, illustrating the broader struggle against slavery.

Throughout the narrative, Solomon Northup's character evolves from a free man of New York to a slave in Louisiana, enduring extreme hardship and cruelty. Initially, he is a skilled laborer and a family man, embodying the dignity and resilience of his people. His transformation into a slave, however, reveals his adaptability and resourcefulness. Despite the dehumanizing conditions, he maintains his sense of self and seeks freedom. His survival and eventual liberation demonstrate the profound strength and humanity of enslaved individuals, who endure unimaginable suffering while retaining their identity and hope. Solomon's journey underscores the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring fight for freedom.

In the narrative, various slave owners and traders play distinct roles that contribute to the depiction of slavery:

  1. James H. Burch: A slave trader, Burch is depicted as a cruel and cunning individual who buys and sells human beings. His actions highlight the dehumanization inherent in slavery.

  2. Theophilus Freeman: As a partner in Burch's business and owner of a slave pen, Freeman is portrayed as a more humane figure, but still a participant in the system. His role shows the complexity of slavery, where some owners may be less cruel than others.

  3. William Ford: Ford is a kind-hearted master who treats his slaves with respect and provides them with spiritual guidance. His character contrasts with the harsher realities of slavery, suggesting that not all slave owners are cruel.

  4. Edwin Epps: Epps is a brutal and unrelenting master who treats his slaves harshly. His character exemplifies the worst aspects of slavery, emphasizing the suffering and injustice faced by enslaved individuals.

  5. Peter Tanner: Tanner is a religious man who is also a slave owner. His character shows the contradiction between religious beliefs and the practice of slavery.

These characters collectively contribute to the narrative's portrayal of slavery as a complex and often cruel institution, where the humanity of both owners and slaves is tested. The narrative also highlights the resilience and hope of the enslaved individuals, as seen through Solomon's experiences and eventual liberation.

The narrative of "12 Years a Slave" addresses the issue of race and its impact on the lives of enslaved individuals through the personal experiences of Solomon Northup. It reveals that race was a fundamental determinant of social status and treatment, with enslaved individuals facing dehumanization, violence, and oppression. Northup's account shows that the institution of slavery was deeply entrenched in the social and political fabric of the time, with laws and customs designed to maintain the subjugation of African Americans. The narrative also highlights the stark contrast between the lives of the enslaved and their white masters, emphasizing the racial hierarchy and the devaluation of black lives. This reveals the social and political context of the time as one characterized by racial segregation, economic exploitation, and a legal system that supported the institution of slavery.

The narrative's structure and style are crucial to its impact and effectiveness. The story is structured as a first-person account by Solomon Northup, which lends authenticity and immediacy to his experiences. This personal perspective allows readers to empathize with Northup's plight, making the horrors of slavery more tangible and affecting. The style is straightforward and descriptive, focusing on the details of Northup's daily life in slavery, which underscores the dehumanizing nature of the institution.

The narrative's structure also serves as a timeline, guiding readers through Northup's journey from freedom to captivity and back. This chronological approach helps clarify the sequence of events and the progression of his experiences, making the story easier to follow and comprehend.

The style's simplicity and directness contribute to the narrative's effectiveness by avoiding excessive ornamentation, which could distract from the core message. Northup's candid and unembellished storytelling keeps the focus on the injustice of slavery, making the story a powerful tool for advocacy and education.

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