Twelve Years A Slave - The Solomon Northup Story

"12 Years A Slave' Wins Best Picture Drama At 2014 Golden Globe Awards"

"12 Years a Slave" Named Best picture at 2014 Oscars

Twelve Years a Slave — originally published in 1853 — is a breathtaking and powerful story about the life of Solomon Northup, a free Black man from New York who was kidnapped after being lured to Washington, D.C., and sold into slavery for nearly 12 years between 1841 and 1853.

Northup, from upstate New York, was a highly skilled carpenter and an accomplished fiddle player. While in New York, two circus promoters offered him a high-paying job they said would only take a few days to complete. Without telling his wife, Northup traveled with these men, only to be drugged, beaten, and locked in a cell. When he argued that he was a free man, he was severely beaten and warned never to mention his free life in New York unless he wanted to be killed.

Soon after, Northup was taken by ship to New Orleans, where he and many others were forced to endure harsh conditions, including the deadly disease smallpox. Throughout his years as a slave, Northup worked on several plantations under cruel and abusive owners. Yet, he was also tormented by the fact that he couldn’t reveal his true identity as a free man—not even to fellow slaves—out of fear for his life.

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Does Knowing Our History Help Prevent This From Happening Again?

Reading Twelve Years a Slave made me reflect deeply on how important it is to remember our history. Solomon Northup’s story reveals the terrible pain and injustice caused by slavery—a history we must never forget.

But does knowing this history really help stop such horrors from happening again?

I believe it does. Remembering the struggles and cruelty people faced teaches us why freedom and equality are so important. It reminds us to stand up against injustice whenever and wherever we see it and to work toward a world where no one is treated unfairly because of who they are.

Learning about the past isn’t just about facts or dates—it’s about understanding the human cost of hatred and cruelty. It helps us become more aware, compassionate, and determined to ensure history doesn’t repeat itself.

So yes, knowing our history is one of the best ways to protect the future.

Great story—this is a must-read!

Mr. Philly Librarian

 Northup, Solomon. (2013)  Twelve Years a Slave. Paperback | CreateSpace Independent Publishing | ISBN -13:978-1492137049 | $4.77 | 154 Page