Solomon Northup, a free-born African American, was kidnapped and sold into slavery in 1841, enduring 12 years of bondage. His memoir, Twelve Years a Slave, illustrates not only his harrowing experience but also sheds light on a broader horrific practice known as the Reverse Underground Railroad, wherein free Black individuals were often kidnapped and sold into slavery. The lack of official documentation made free Blacks vulnerable to such crimes. Northup's eventual rescue by abolitionist Samuel Bass highlights the courage of those who worked against slavery.
Northup's memoir, Twelve Years a Slave, documents the harrowing experience of a free Black man kidnapped and sold into slavery, highlighting the shocking reality of the Reverse Underground Railroad.
The Reverse Underground Railroad, a term used by slavers, reflects the grim practice of kidnapping free Blacks, undermining the efforts of the actual Underground Railroad which sought to free slaves.
Collection
[
|
...
]