Solomon Northup Paper

Reading this book was an eye opener. It showed me that everybody goes through struggles, not just African American people, but people different races, and even religion. I learned that it’s not okay to bully anyone. You never know what the person is going through at home and their current situation. Poverty is real and very despairing. I wouldn’t wish that on anybody. I enjoyed reading this book, and I suggest it to everyone. It is a real life eye

Solomon Northup woke up every morning and was perfectly content with his life just the way it was; living everyday life as a free man, a free black man at that. His optimistic view on life kept the spring in his step, along with his family and the love for his career. The streets of Saratoga, New York was where Solomon could be found roaming in the time of the Antebellum Era. Unfortunately, in this certain time in history, if an African-American had freedom, they were not going to have it for long. As slavery was beginning to break out, South imprisonment spread like wildfire. For the North it was a different story and actually took a little bit longer to make an appearance. For Solomon, it would only be a matter of time before someone

He was born in New York state a free man, but in the early 1840s, he took a trip to the South and was kidnapped by slave dealers. In 1855, his narrative about his experience in the cotton fields was published. “When a new hand, one unaccustomed to the business, is sent for the first time into the field, he is whipped up smartly, and made for that day to pick as fast as he can possibly (Northup).” Here Solomon Northup is explaining what his first day in the cotton field consisted of. For starters, he was whipped by the master to ensure that he understood to work fast and pick as much as he could. “At night it is weighed, so that his capability in cotton picking is known. He must bring in the same weight each night following. If it falls short, it is considered evidence that he as been laggard, and a greater or less number of lashes in the penalty (Northup).” Every night, the master would weigh every basket of cotton brought in by the slaves. If the weight came up less than what it was supposed to be, they slave would be whipped more than what usual punishment was. The slaves were whipped because the master felt as if they were moving too slow and not bringing in enough cotton. Slaves suffered so much at the hands of their masters. Being a slave was not great at

For example, in the movie 12 Years A Slave, Solomon is freed from the plantation, but Patsey becomes despondent because Solomon was the only slave that gave her hope. Solomon was a symbol of power for Patsey and his departure meant that Patsey had to endure the ruling of Epps without him. At one point, Patsey even asked Solomon to take her life because she could not bare do it herself. Solomon did not accept this favor because he did not want her to succumb to the pain of slavery. Solomon would not accept death as a way out of slavery. Another example of unity between slaves is displayed when Solomon would purposefully miss when he is forced to whip other slaves: “If Epps was observed at a distance… I would commence plying the lash vigorously, when, according to arrangement, they would squirm and screech as if in agony, although not one of them had in fact been graze” (Northup, Solomon). Solomon did not want to inflict pain upon the other slaves because he knows what it feels like to be whipped. Because he shares this common experience, he chose to not enforce his will upon them like the slave masters continue to

The most significant parts of the book were the first and third chapters. Within these chapters, they spoke about the everyday racism experienced by African-Americans. Reading the blatant disrespect and stereotyping displayed within these stories was shocking. I can not fathom the strength and patience it takes to constantly cope with passive aggressive comments about race. Yet, not all the real world experiences in the story had passive aggressive comments and an example of this is the story on page 15. In this story, there are two instances of mistreatment. The first injustice happens when the neighbor calls the police on the young African-American man who is using the phone in front of the house. This is a more obvious racist action because neighbor assumed the African American man was dangerous. The second instance is when the friend tells the man to take his phone calls in the back of the house rather than the front. This is more subtle racism because the young man should be able to make phone calls wherever he pleases. This account is one of the many stories that illustrates the prejudices African Americans face everyday. I have been well aware that race is still a major problem in this country and this book is evidence.

A free black man, Solomon Northup lives in Saratoga, New York and plays the violin to support his wife and two children. At the age of 33, he accepted the opportunity to play the violin in Washington with two man. Little did he know, the two man put drug in his wine and sold him into slavery. He was no longer called Solomon Northup but Platt in the world of slavery. Initially he tried to come up with plans to escape and fight back, but in the end he gave in and cooperate as he needs to survive. To survive, he must not let anyone know he can read or write as slaves are not supposed to be educated.

I enjoyed your post. You mentioned a point that I did not think about. However, I can see where Solomon was coming from. He had been aware of slavery because it was something his father educated him on, but he had also experienced the cruelty of slavery for himself. He was taken from his home as a free man and was almost immediately thrown into the world of bondage. He was beaten by a slave trader within his first day awake on the boat and knew that he may receive the same foul treatment again. So, when he was sold to Ford, a more gentle slave owner, he was relieved and worked as hard as he could for him.

In conclusion, The book was a good read although, I could not really identify with the main character and can honestly say that times have changed. I think there will always be racism in the world but with people like Daisy Bates, Ruth Simmons, Toni Morrison, Thurgood Marshall, and Barrack Obama. The late Richard Wright would be

This is important because, in our first scene in chapter two we see Solomon on the train after he had just been kidnapped, we see our leading man break down for the very first time. Solomon gives us raw and unfiltered emotion, this is what the reader needs to see to make a connection with him. The in our next scene in chapter eighteen we have Solomon getting beaten over the simple fact that he said he would like a new slave master. Again you have the war between good and evil coming into play. In a setting that is so brutal that as a slave you wish for a nicer slave master more than you wish to be free, because wishing to be free was like wishing on a star, you know it will never come true. After this scene, we get to our final one. The scene where henry shows up to rescue Solomon. This final scene is the most impactful because we as readers have developed a love for Solomon. From the very beginning he was able to tug at our heartstrings by not jumping into the story so quickly, and asking you to feel for him. Instead, Solomon describes how his life was before. He went into detail about his father, wife, and children. This was something readers could relate to. When henry was able to get him out of an otherwise awful situation, we as readers are overjoyed at the fact that Solomon's life will not end unjustly. The happiness you feel

Throughout the 1900s black people were treated cruelly and since 1962, the year the book was placed in, America has come a long way. Segregation back then was an everyday

The book stated that racism was nothing more than a psychological disorder that whites had. This disorder started at an early age and was basically embedded inside of us on both a conscious and unconscious level. It shocked me that this was said and it made me feel angry. Yes, us as whites do not know how it feels to be on the other side. We cannot understand, analyze or explain the basics of racism except for the fact that a lot of us are and none of us know why. We have no idea what it feels like to be looked at differently because of our skin. We do not know what it feels like to be declined the right to eat in a nice restaurant, how it is to use nasty bathrooms while others use clean ones, or what it is like to be told to move by someone of the opposite skin color so they can have your seat because you were not allowed to sit there. We do not know anything about racism except for its

Discrimination still exist with ongoing negative consequences with the n-word as the focal point relating to the acts of racism producing uneasiness towards adults and student. Making alternatives towards the book be inevitable to combat negative description towards African Americans.

These two things are what hurt him the most, and are what almost lead to his death. When he was standing in front of Mrs. Epps he looks down at the list she gave him. It is in this moment that she knows he can read: “Master brought you here to work, work any harder and it’ll earn you a hundred lashes.” This shows just how detrimental it could be to show your abilities. Another example, is when Solomon produces a letter to be sent out, but instead gets interrogated by Master Epps, because he was told on by one of the white men working on the field. Solomon believed he had an opportunity to gain a chance at freedom, but his ignorance and belief that society would work with him exemplifies this false sense of

From the beginning of the novel, we come to understand that society during this time was one that cared little for the lives of African Americans. This was best shown through the manner in which white people treated African Americans as though they were solely objects. All throughout the novel we are introduced to characters who seem beloved and innocent, their true identities appear when considering

The meaning of slavery means more to African Americans then to anyone else. Even a free black man was treated like a slave, despite their freedom. Of course all slaves wanted to be free, but many didn’t have the choice. Slaves did not control their own lives, slaves were forced to do everything and anything their master asked of them. The result of not obeying what the master commanded was nothing good. Solomon, as a free slave, has relationships with quite a few white men. Living in New York, a slave-free state, Solomon was treated just like a white man. He roamed the states just as any other man would do. Solomon was also a good friend of one of the white men who worked in a shop in the town which he lived in.