By historical standards, the United States is a young state. However, the history of this formation is full of drama and sadness. Solomon Northup is a black American who spent many years in slavery. And he wrote a book about this period of his life.
Difficult childhood
Not all historians and sociologists imagine that the well-being of the United States for many decades was created by the labor of black slaves. It is believed that this source has not yet been exhausted. Solomon Northup was born on July 10, 1807 in the family of a freedman. Parents at that time lived in a small town in the state of New York. Father and mother worked on a farm that they inherited. They consumed some of the products themselves, and some were exported to the market.
A modest income was enough to teach Solomon and his younger brother to read and write. The children could not get a school education, since there were no educational institutions for blacks in those years. From an early age, the boy helped the elders with the housework. Between working in the field and in the barn, he learned to play the violin. Neighbors and relatives were sincerely surprised at this fact.
Years of slavery
In 1834, Solomon moved with his family to the resort town of Saratoga Springs. Here he worked in the construction of houses and in workshops for the repair of horse carriages. In the evenings he played the violin for the walking audience in restaurants and hotels. The virtuoso creativity of the black performer attracted connoisseurs of musical compositions. And not only connoisseurs, but also hunters for "living goods". He was tricked into a secluded place, promising a lucrative contract to perform in the circus.
Northup's tools and documents were taken away. Transferred to a ship that sailed to New Orleans. Here he was sold as a working cattle to the owner of the cotton plantations. Several times the black slave passed from hand to hand into the property of different masters. No one was interested in his musical ability. Solomon had to do the most difficult and dirtiest work. There was no opportunity to send a message to their relatives.
Essays on personal life
It was only in 1853 that the disenfranchised Negro, by secret means, managed to send a letter to his relatives. After long and tedious procedures, Solomon regained his stupidly lost freedom. He even tried to sue the kidnappers, but to no avail. To free himself from difficult impressions, Northup braced himself and wrote the book "Twelve Years of Slavery." After the book was published, he was invited to public events with lectures and reading chapters from the book.
Little is known about Northup's personal life. He got married when he was twenty-one. The husband and wife raised three children. After returning from slavery, Solomon tried to spend more time with his family and was engaged in teaching children to read and write.
