Descendants Of Solomon Northup Create This Powerful Video

Descendants Of ’12 Years A Slave’ Subject Solomon Northup Create This Powerful Video

In 1841, Solomon Northup, a free Black man from upstate New York, was kidnapped and sold into slavery. On January 3, 1853, he regained his freedom. And yesterday, 161 years later, descendants of former slave released this touching video to commemorate that joyous day.

The world was introduced to Northup’s story in the Steve McQueen-directed film 12 Years A Slave, which hit theaters last October. Starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, the award-season favorite showed an unflinchingly brutal look at American slavery.

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With the help of Fox Searchlight, the real-life great grandchildren of the film’s subject displayed their pride in being a part of the Northup bloodline in the new featurette, titled “The Faces of Solomon Northup,”

We can only image how proud Solomon Northup would be to see his legacy and family live on in 2014. Check out the touching YouTube clip below.