12 Years A Slave

1216 Words5 Pages

Synaea Ferbos
Mr. Yuratich
U.S. History, Period 7
1 March 2018
12 Years A Slave This film is based on a true story about a black man named Solomon Northup. Solomon was from Saratoga, New York and he was a free citizen at the time. In 1841, Solomon was kidnapped and sold into slavery. He was stripped of his identity and deprived of all dignity and was purchased by a plantation owner named Edwin Epps. Solomon's plan was to leave for three weeks and two days to get a better job that would pay more money to provide for his family. Solomon never returned home and was gone for twelve years. Also there are inaccuracies telling how the director change the truth around saying Solomon has two children, Patsey did want Solomon to end her life, and the book 12 Years A Slave which the movie is based off on is way more cruel than the movie (McQueen). In the beginning of this movie, Solomon went from being a free citizen to a slave with no rights. Solomon has great characteristics as a …show more content…

Parker came to town to rescue Solomon. He had papers proving he was a free man. Solomon was taken back to his family after being a slave for twelve years. When Solomon was reunited with his family, he constantly apologized for his disappearance over the twelve years. By this time, his daughter was married and had a son named after Solomon, called Solomon Northup, Jr (McQueen). In closing, Steve McQueen states that "Solomon Northup was one of the few victims of kidnapping to regain freedom from slavery. Solomon brought the men responsible for his abduction to trial. Solomon was unable to testify against whites in the nation's capital so he lost the case against the slave pen owner, James Burch. His two kidnappers Hamilton and Brown also avoided prosecution. In 1853, Solomon published the book, Twelve Years A Slave. He became active in the abolitionist movement, lectured on slavery throughout the North, and aided fugitive slaves on the Underground Railroad"