Twelve Years a Slave
Solomon Northup’s story was largely forgotten until ’12 Years A Slave’ — except by his family
At the Academy Awards tonight, the British-American film “12 Years A Slave” is up for nine Oscars. It is based on the true story of Solomon Northup, a free black violinist in New York who was sold into slavery in the 1800s. His great-great-great-grandson says the story gave his family a rare gift among African Americans —the ability to trace their ancestry.