12 Years a Slave

I am reading a second memoir called Twelve Years a slave. I am sure that many of you have heard of it already; it was made into a movie a couple years ago.  But that's not what I am here to tell you,  I'm here to tell you about the amazing BOOK that it is.  It has a strong central idea that is woven throughout the text.  Solomon, the main character who is kidnapped and sold into slavery, never gives up hope and never stops trying.  He is trying to let the reader know that even in the darkest times there is hope, and if you maintain that hope then you will persevere through to a better outcome.  He goes through many difficulties in his journey and hope is always there for him.

In Twelve Years a Slave, Solomon is a free black man in the north.  He has a family and wants the best for them. When he is offered a tempting job he accepts to make more income for his family.  He travels with two other men who are both white and when they get to D.C he is kidnapped and sold into slavery down in Louisiana. He works hard and is rewarded by his peers and master, until he gets sold again.  A different master is not pleased with his work and whips Solomon(now renamed to Platt).  But, he does not lose hope and still works hard as the days go on.  He sends word to his friends up in the North through a free man who knows that he is innocent.

Solomon with his family as a free man

Solomon as a slave

Solomon writes about a lot of things that happened to him along his journey as a slave.  He spent much of his time hoping and trying to figure out a way to escape.  Although he did not escape through the underground railroad this website offers information on what slaves would have had to go through to escape.  Their journey was tough and your comrades could die by your side but hope had to keep you going.