As indicated in both the book and movie, solomon northup lived as a free man with his wife and children in saratoga springs, new york. The film has been noted not only for its cinematic merits, but also for its faithfulness to history, both. Haas brought young sue to the library on the second floor my mom was a bigtime bookworm, frank says, where he handed her a dusty copy of twelve years a. From the first historical form of exploitation, slave was the private property of the salve. The complete story of the author of twelve years a slave, isbn 9781440829741, with coauthors fiske, clifford w. Historical accuracy of 12 years a slave already being. Film 12 years a slave years a slave is the true account of solomon northrups life. The historian who unearthed twelve years a slave the.
The new york times 1853 coverage of solomon northup, the hero of 12 years a slave northups story garnered heavy press coverage and spread widely in the weeks and months after he was. Attention to details in the story can open opportunities for classroom discussion. He worked on plantations in the state of louisiana, where he remained for 12 years until he was released. At first i thought to myself, here it comes, the negative hit pieces against 12 years a slave are already underway, as i started reading michael cieplys new york times piece examining the historical veracity of solomon northups 160yearold story of how he was abducted as a free man and forced into slavery.
Animal pen day we are outside of a smallish animal pen. Does the historical evidence support the stereotype of violent slave masters. For example, the beating of patsy in the book is far worse than shown in the film. However boring this chapter may be, though, it serves a vital purpose in both the overall story of this slave account and in the historical context from which it derives. Concerning the historical accuracy of 12 years a slave. One of the things that stood out when mcqueen read the book was how much of a gentleman northup was, even under extreme circumstances. Solomon northup was a free black resident of new york state who was drugged on a trip to washington, d.
Still, 12 years a slave offers many teachable moments for historians. At the beginning of 12 years a slave, the kidnapped freeman solomon. Historian annette gordonreed often describes slavery studies as the crown jewel of american historiography. Further proof this years awards season is on something akin to performance enhancing drugs.
Twelve years a slave was written by solomon northup, adamss greatgreat greatgrandfather. Additionally, the accuracy of and factual detail in 12 years a slave have kept this book prominent as a reliable historical reference on slavery for more than 150 years since it first debuted. This harrowing true story of solomon northup was the basis for the academy awardwinning film 12 years a slave. As henry louis gates jr, an expert on slave narratives and consultant on the film 12 years a slave, has noted, literacy was the very commodity that. Michael cieplys piece in the new york times about the historical accuracy of presumed best picture frontrunner 12 years a slave, a film that doesnt even arrive in theaters for another three weeks. The director of the africanamerican history and culture museum on what makes 12 years a slave a powerful film lonnie bunch offers his response to the stunning movie, a.
Narrative of solomon northup, citizen of newyork, kidnapped in washington city in 1841, and rescued in 1853, from a cotton plantation near the red river in. The moving and utterly brutalfilm 12 years a s lave tells the real story of soloman northup chiwetel ejiofor, a free africanamerican man living in saratoga who is kidnapped in 1841 and sold into slavery. The books appendix c provides the publishing history for twelve years a slave during the 19th century. Northup was put to work on plantations in the state of louisiana for 12 years before being released.
The cultural significance of solomon northups twelve. A free africanamerican living in saratoga springs, new york, with his wife and two children, solomon was kidnapped and sold into slavery as an escaped slave named platt. Not hopefully for our enjoyment but giving us the understanding and knowledge not to repeat and if done and we are made aware do something about. Through reading the book and completing any of the suggested activities, students can achieve any number of the. This post was corrected to suggest a scene from the movie 12 years a s lave was drawn from the book. Samuel basss portrayal in the 12 years a slave movie is very accurate to how northup describes him in the book, including his argument with edwin epps.
Northups dominant purpose in retelling the narrative of his years as a slave as shown in the movie adaptation of his book twelve years a slave. Here are a handful of additional examples, comparingcontrasting scenes from 12 years a slave the movie vs. The book twelve years a slave is wonderfully written and sadly hundreds of stories that are true and need to be written. Still, 12 years a s lave offers many teachable moments for historians. It almost goes without saying that you have to allow room for some creative leeway and exaggerationchanges for dramatic effect something i addressed last year with an examination of the truth vs. The slave narrative follows solomons incarceration fettered to chains.
In it, he takes the reader on an unforgettable journey from the slave markets in washington, d. Slavery was a corrupting institution, and slave narratives do show violence as the rule rather than the exception. Northups book presents a more complex picture of slave life than does the movie, which concentrates sharply on themes of oppression and victimization. The cultural significance of solomon northups twelve years a slave by mollie lieblich drugged and beaten, solomon northup was illegally kidnapped from his hometown in saratoga springs in upstate new york and taken to washington, d.
Its about how he was sold into slavery in the south, and what happened during those 12 years a slave. Historian says 12 years is a story the nation must remember yale historian david blight says americans like to think of themselves as the country that freed the slaves, but prefer not to dwell. The books appendix c provides the publishing history for twelve years a s lave during the 19th century. Lesson plans and resources for twelve years a slave. While 12 years a slave rakes in raves and oscar buzz, harvard professor henry louis skip gates jr. Twelve years a slave is a book that absolutely inhabits the intersection of american history and american literature, and should be read and understood in that context. Although, we are watching it for entertainment purposes, the amount of hours spent for this activity has a profound impact on our culture, taste and perception of life overall. In 1841, northup, a free black man, was drugged and then. What evidence can you cite to support your conclusion. The overpoweringly musty smell isnt the only proof of its authenticity. After only a few months after he was freed solomon got his book published with the help of wilson and henry northup who helped free him. Director steve mcqueen and screenwriter john ridley film were largely faithful northups 1853 biography, twelve years a slave. It was only when he went to college to study black history and.
One was relatively kind but the others were violent, even sadistic. But with the exception of a somewhat distracting thirdact cameo by coproducer brad. Its said to have been based on a true story, but is the depiction of the characters and situations in the film truly accurate from a. Twelve years a slave 1853, i have a dream 1963 and 12 years a slave 2014. I have never seen a film represent slavery so accurately.
Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. But then i found out that hardly anyone knew this book. Narrative of solomon northup, citizen of newyork, 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. At the time of the writing, northups intimate knowledge of common agricultural practices and slave conditions was resounding proof that what he. The director of the africanamerican history and culture. Beaten and chained, he was transported by ship to a new orleans slave market and suffered more than a decade of servitude on louisiana plantations. Steve mcqueens devastating new movie, 12 years a slave, begins with. His mother tried to persuade him of the books significance, but her words. But still i couldnt help but be a bit annoyed by these. Signorile professor ciraulo hs20103 14 december 2016 the historical accuracy in 12 years a slave 12 years a slave is a historical drama, directed by steve mcqueen, which was released in 20. Is the movie 12 years a slave historically accurate. The new york times 1853 coverage of solomon northup, the. Steve mcqueens 12 years a slave, a blisteringly powerful drama that illuminates like no other film before it the sheer horror of slavery, opens here at watershed on fri 10 jan. The obvious comparison for steve mcqueens 12 years a slave.
Africanamerican history and culture scholar henry louis gates jr. The documents behind twelve years a slave education updates. Its his life story of how he got lured in a trap and kidnapped in 1841. The film clearly has the ear of oscar at this point and is dominating awards chatter. Each chapter has discussion questions provided in a later section. In the precivil war united states, solomon northup chiwetel ejiofor, a free black man from. The film 12 years a slave tells the reallife story of solomon northup. By the time solomon northup was freed and returned to his family, the fugitive slave law had gone into effect. For gordonreed and others, the historical scholarship on slavery that has emerged over the past sixty years has provided a far more nuanced and complex understanding of americas peculiar institution and of american history as a whole. For an opportunity to analyze the documents further and read excerpts from northups autobiography, students can engage in the docsteach activity twelve years a slave. Historians have long sought to learn the authenticity of solomon northups story as documented in 12 years a slave and now in the feature film adaptation. I would also like to draw the readers attention to some fine short stories treating with. Start studying 12 years a slave historical background.