12 Years a Slave is still true today in these 2 ways
By: Dr. Samori Swygert
I watched 12 years a slave this weekend for the 3rd time. The first time I viewed the movie in the theater, my mind was flooded with several thoughts. I had drawn so many parallels between what the movie tried to convey historically and what is still present today. I never took time to write about it because articles about the movie were inundating the web at the time.
I will share 2 perspectives of the many correlations I gathered from watching the movie.
Safe and comfortable African Americans
Solomon Northrup would be considered privileged in comparison to his southern brethren in slavery. Solomon resided up North and lived as a free man with a wife, kids, a home, a profession, and was afforded the liberty to conduct his life in a manner that was rather “safe and comfortable”.
The harsh realities of the institution of slavery wasn’t a true reality for him and his family. The phrase, “out of sight, out of mind”, appeared to fit Solomon’s character. Being that he wasn’t exposed to slavery, violent and back-breaking working conditions, or subpar living standards, he conducted his life as an unconcerned black citizen. The tree of slavery hadn’t fallen in his forest of comfort yet.
However, unbeknownst to him, he would be tricked and double-crossed into the violent and exploitative system of slavery. He awoke in chains to have his humanity, masculinity, and identity flogged out of him. He was now captive and submerged into the brutal world of slavery that his brothers and sisters in the South had endured while he was “safe and comfortable” up North.
This speaks volumes to many of us that feel that we’ve “arrived”. There is a substantial portion of African Americans that currently feel like they’ve “made it”. They’re “safe and comfortable”, they want to live life in denial of the precarious situations that loom about, and that many of our fellow brothers and sisters are in. These are our “see no evil, hear no evil” family.
These individuals live in avoidance, and trepidation of “rocking the boat” when it comes to pertinent issues that devastate the black community. They typically refrain and restrain themselves from involvement in a situation until they or a family member become a victim of the situation they choose to ignore.
When they lose a daughter to gun violence, or their house gets foreclosed, or they get furloughed, or son gets arrested, that’s when they want the whole world to stop and pay attention. I call them conditional activist and convenient participants.
Sadly, they must get flogged by life and society to gain appreciation and respect for the struggles of their brethren.
This is the perfect illustration of, “a threat to justice anywhere, is a threat to justice everywhere”. Why wait until it comes to a theater near you?
Left Hanging
One of the most compelling and jaw dropping scenes of 12 years a Slave was the scene when Solomon Northrup was hung from a tree. Solomon had a dispute with one of the white overseers. This dispute resulted in him being hung from a tree in the middle of the living quarters for everyone to see. This violent act was done to incite fear into others, display power, dominance, and authority of the overseer.
Solomon was left hanging for the entire day while alive. His last breath was only prevented by the strength and flexibility of his toes.
However, a unique psychological dynamic was revealed. The slaves on the plantation did nothing. They literally watched this man suffer and fight for each breath. They looked at him, the children played around him, and they conducted their daily chores as if he was invisible. The people were unarmed, devoid of courage, hopeless, fearful, and powerless. Only one person made a meager effort to see about him.
I think this is symbolic to contemporary times. We’ve lost a great deal of power, and thus we’re not capable of providing any substantial form of support for anybody that speaks out about our plight as African Americans. Many of us are scared to express displeasure, discontent, or reveal the inequalities that affect us. This allows African Americans with guts that speak the truth to be silenced and suppressed. However, some of us will continue to play games, watch TV, dance, get intoxicated regularly, focus only on our careers, shuck-n-jive, and live an unassuming status quo life.
However, other ethnic and social demographics will make noise to get the oil on their squeaky wheels, or untie their noose.
Nobody is telling you to go get a gun and be violent. Our ancestors are asking us to get involved. Attend your community meetings, be receptive to news, share information, share networks that can empower your neighbor, uplift the down-trodden, attend your city planning meetings, have a say, and fight for a better life for our posterity.
It’s inevitable that our silence and apathy will leave us all hanging like Solomon.
The Story of Solomon Northrup is a unique case study of “victim inspired activism”. Once released, Solomon dedicated the rest of his life to exposing the vestiges of slavery,…………something he’d never done before being a slave himself.
