12 Years A Slave -film-

Furthermore, the film refuses to provide a "white savior" narrative. While Brad Pitt’s character (Samuel Bass) aids in the rescue, the agency lies with Northup’s intelligence, his literacy, and his refusal to forget who he was.

To understand the power of , one must first understand Solomon Northup. He was not a slave by birth, but by betrayal. A free, educated, and married Black man living in Saratoga Springs, New York, in 1841, Northup was a skilled violinist. He was lured to Washington, D.C., by two white men promising a lucrative musical engagement. Instead, they drugged him, chained him, and sold him into the brutal slave markets of the Deep South. 12 years a slave -film-

Upon its release, was immediately recognized as an achievement of the highest order. At the 86th Academy Awards, it won three Oscars: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress for Nyong’o, and Best Adapted Screenplay for John Ridley. It was the first Best Picture winner directed by a Black filmmaker (Steve McQueen) and produced by a Black producer (Brad Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment, alongside Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner). Furthermore, the film refuses to provide a "white