The Importance & Significance of 12 Years A Slave

When it comes to the film "12 Years A Slave," which hit theaters a few weeks ago, my recommendation is to see it while it's still playing. This article isn't so much a film review as it is a look at some of the themes at play in "12 Years A Slave" and its larger significance on society beyond the realm of cinema.

I went to see "12 Years A Slave" about a month ago with a lady friend, and at $14 a ticket (Manhattan prices) I was hoping that this film would live up to the all the praise it had been receiving up to its theatrical launch. It certainly did that for me and more as it left me intrigued and analyzing a number of topics upon leaving the theater.



"12 Years A Slave" tells the story of Solomon Northup, a free black man kidnapped and sold into slavery, and the harrowing 12 years of his existence in America's 'Peculiar Institution.' Through his eyes we see the horrors of slavery up close: a mother having her children sold from her arms, brutal beatings, working on the plantation, and a sense of despair festering throughout the film like rotting meat on a summer afternoon. Though "12 Years A Slave" is the story of Solomon Northup, it really could be the story of any enslaved black person at that time. But because the story is specific to Solomon and based on true events, it simply can not be dismissed as an over-dramatization or the imagination of a director like last year's "Django Unchained." "12 Years A Slave" gives an unflinching and very hard look at American slavery and quite frankly, it's a story that needed to be told.

Russell Simmons, Harriet Tubman, and the Continued Degradation of Black Women

Harriet Tubman is considered an American hero freeing hundreds of black folks from the horrors of slavery during her time. Last month a video was released that desecrated her legacy and made her appear anything but heroic.

The video was the creation of Russell Simmons' All Def Digital company which released the parody and subsequently has had some serious questions to answer. First, a little back story on Russell Simmons. This is a man who is considered one of the original hip-hop moguls (he co-founded the record label Def Jam), a man who launched the clothing line Phat Farm and a man who used his own name to promote the 'Rush Card.'

So Russell has been in the music/media/entertainment industry for awhile now. Online video has exploded in recent years and Russell has decided to put his hat in the ring. This was not the way to make a first impression however.

University of Kentucky Investing in Oral History

We all have a story. Storytelling has been an essential element throughout human history and has allowed us to entertain, educate, inspire and enlighten.

Last week it was announced that the University of Kentucky is investing in its oral history program as a way to make sure that stories, interviews and experiences of the past, continue to have a voice for years to come. The project is part of the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History at UK.

So far there have been more than 9,000 interviews logged, with features ranging from black farmers, to WWII veterans, to Kentucky legislators.

Slavery Makes A Comeback in Recent Films

It is fitting that the Emancipation Proclamation turns 150-years-old this month, during a time in which slavery is receiving more media attention than at any time in the last 30 years.

Just in the last few weeks alone, "Django Unchained" was released, "Lincoln" hit theaters, and BET showed the mini-series "Roots" in the days leading up to Christmas.

The subject of slavery has historically been what I referred to as America's 'Black Box.' Everyone knows it's there, but few are willing to acknowledge its presence, and even fewer are willing to open the box and dig into its varied contents.

When "Roots" debuted in 1977, it was groundbreaking on so many levels. "Roots" tells the story of Alex Haley's family from first being kidnapped in Africa, to the trials and tribulations of slavery, and ultimately, freedom. Never before had the American public dealt with the depths of slavery told through the eyes of people of color on such a public platform before. "Roots" would go on to be one of the most watched television series in American history. BET was honoring the 35th anniversary of "Roots" and I was glad they showed it because many in my generation (those under 30) may not have had the opportunity to see it before.