Slavery In Solomon B. Northup's Autobiography, Twelve Years A Slave

Caucasian Americans have argued for centuries that slavery was good for slaves. They believed that it civilized them and that they were content to be held in captivity. Obviously, the white people of the South were wrong. Proof is shown by the stories many escaped or freed slaves have told about their experience as a slave. One recorded account of slavery is by Solomon B. Northup 's autobiography, Twelve Years a Slave, published in 1853. Solomon Northup was born a freeman in New York in 1808. In 1829, Northup married Anne Hampton and was a model citizen of New York. However, Northup was kidnapped by lying slave traders to work for them while working in Washington in 1841 and sold as a slave into Louisiana. According to the lectures of Professor Carson, a slave in the south was considered in law as property and did not have the same rights as free

Northup’s first master, William Ford, was a strong southern Baptist who treated Northup with kindness. On Sundays, Master Ford would make his slaves attend a church service. He would preach the Bible to them and inspire moral behavior. Fords Christianly behavior confuses Northup as to why he owns slaves in the first place. This is because the criticism of slavery in the South did not exist. Many masters thought slavery was the will of God. Although, many ministers did not support slavery and therefore left the religion. During 12 Years a Slave many masters quote versus in the bible that portray slavery, thinking that slavery is good in God’s eyes. One of Northup’s most repulsive owners, Edwin Epps, quotes Luke 12:47 to his slaves: “And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.” When he has a good harvest, Epps attributes it to “righteous living”; when the crops die, he claims it must be a “biblical plague” brought on by his slaves’