A
few weeks ago I was in Alabama visiting my sister and her family. As my niece and nephew were leaving to go
home my sister kissed them goodbye and said, “ don’t take any wooden nickels.” My nephew immediately turned to me and said,
“Aunt Brenda what does that mean?” It was something from our childhood that my
sister’s father uses to say when we parted goodbye. Don’t take wooden nickels!
As I watched my nephew a 20 something black man walk away a sense of sadness
came over me because we still have to tell our children to be careful and safe
in this world. As I sat in the theater
watching the film “12 Years a Slave” that same feeling rose up in my spirit as
Solomon Northrop kissed his wife and children good bye, because I knew the
wooden nickels were coming next!
The film 12 Years a Slave is a Masterpiece! Solomon
Northrop (portrayed by Chitewel Ejiofor) was described as exceptional and he was;
carpenter, musician, husband and father. But most importantly a free black man!
I can’t remember seeing a film that showed slavery as raw and uncensored. If I have in the past I simply have filed it
away deep in my memory as another film on slavery I want to forget! Director
Steve McQueen does an awesome job showing us how slavery looks, sounds and
feels. It’s also the first hand account by Solomon Northrop himself on what he
experience as a slave.
The film dealt with the
manipulation, kidnapping, the auctioning, buying, selling of slaves and
plantation life. Solomon through out the film had this sense of dignity about
him that was simply amazing. There is a part in the film on the boat headed to Louisiana
were Solomon states that he does not want to survive he wants to live! Then
there is another scene were Eliza is grieving her children and Solomon tells
her to stop crying. Eliza scolds him for
not resisting and giving in but Solomon tells her he is trying to survive!
Survival during slavery was the objective! It wasn’t about just doing the work!
Solomon once being a free black man lived but once enslaved he had to learn how
to survive. For example Solomon offered up his talents, his carpentry skills
and musical skills to his masters pleasing.
What I love about this film is that
it shows slaves trying to maintain humanity within the inhumane. Slavery is
pure evil! There is nothing good that came from it! The film showed Plantation
life and the horrific brutality that it entailed. Master Ford had compassion to
try to help Solomon leave his plantation but there were laws in place in the US
regarding slavery. Master Epps was
psychotic and had no sense or regard for anyone or anything. Both masters
viewed their slaves as pure property, not human just property. The slave owners gave no regard to human
life! But it was amazing how each master read scriptures to the slaves to
encourage them to obey! It showed how the bible was used to control slaves who
couldn’t even read it! The bible is used as a weapon for the slaves to obey; it
is also the saving grace to slaves trying to survive.
My turning point in the film was to see Pastey gets
the flesh beaten off her back for leaving the plantation to get a bar of soap. The
dialogue took me to a place of helplessness for my ancestors and to the reality
that there are those who still hate black people! But within that evil I saw Pastey’s
courage because she told Master Epps, “ I pick over 500lbs of cotton everyday
more than any man here and for that I will be clean.” Pastey was beaten to the
point of death for a bar of soap. I vomited during the scene! The soap was a
mere cover of what was really happening on the plantation. Master Epps could
not negotiate his feelings for Pastey so he decides to beats Pastey to death
and then maybe the feelings he has towards her will go away. The emotional
effects of slavery are so sicken on so many levels. We saw this film through
the lens of a black man who was once free and now caught up in a living hell
that we call slavery.
I would argue that Solomon’s turning
point was when Uncle Abram died and another slave wanted to say a few words
before Solomon buried him. I believe that seeing Abram fall out in the field,
burying him and then listening to the song, “roll Jordan roll’ Solomon accepted
his fate. Solomon started singing the Negro spirituals for comfort! But Solomon
never lost his dignity nor did he ever hate! I believe that is what made him so
exceptional. I believe that is what makes are race so exceptional. Our
narrative didn’t start with slavery but we as a people endured slavery. Black
people have been here since the beginning. Through colonial and antebellum
periods and we are still here. We are resilient and survivors!
The effects and consequences of slavery have not been
resolved in the United States. So for me there is still anger and hurt. Racial
tensions have not diminished in the United States. We are still experiencing
racial undertones and violence. So for
me to view this film tore a scab off an old wound. Is there a balm in Gilead
for my people? Is there any emotional justice for African Americas? The prophet
Jeremiah also heard from God who says, “ for I know the plan I have for you,
plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future…and
with that All I can do is trust in my God!
Solomon Northrop’s 12 Years a Slave; showed the world
the true face of slavery. Steve McQueen’s film will remind the world of the
evil and terrorism of slavery! There is a scene where Mistress Shaw (portrayed
by Alfre Woodard) tells Patsey and Solomon, “In time the good Lord will manage
them all.”(Referring to the slave masters). Dear Lord I am waiting on the day
that you manage all those who seek to annihilate my race! I look forward to the
day when my race can live and no longer have to survive!
