12 Years a Slave: A Memoir of Kidnap, Slavery, and Liberation – Solomon Northup

Written in 1853 by Solomon Northup, a free Black man who was kidnapped and sold into slavery for twelve years, this extraordinary memoir sheds light on the brutal reality of American slavery. Capturing the daily horrors of forced labor, physical and psychological abuse, and the struggle to maintain one’s identity, Northup’s story is both a testimony of survival and a powerful indictment of an inhuman system. A profound narrative of courage and endurance, this classic work reminds readers that freedom must be defended and our history cannot be ignored.