Fun facts for you: Patsey was eventually freed by Union soldiers and lived the rest of her life free. Mr.Epps read the book "12 Years a Slave"and said that everything said about him was accurate. The Epps died of yellow fever after losing everything for being slave owners.
SAD FACTS: Solomon Northrup went "missing" a few years after reuniting with his family. He was last seen in somewhere in Canada giving a speech against the institution of slavery. There are a couple of theories; kidnapped & returned to slavery, murdered for speaking out against his kidnappers or accidental death. His body was never found to make any determinations
@@thetannaree do you have any sources for this, or just your opinion? According to the Washington post article by Michelle Genz, 3/7/99, he was originally sold for $1,000, a profit of $350. He would’ve been about 32 at the time. Reports have him aiding slaves as late as the early 1860s, according to reverend John r smith. That would’ve put him at around 54 yrs old. Not likely to be worth enough to warrant kidnapping again. And as vile as the institution of slavery was, at the end of the day, it was business. And as in any business, the main goal is to make a buck.
@@StreetHierarchy Did you imagine there is? The entire history of humanity is ample evidence to the contrary. That being said, Solomon Northup's alleged demise that was presented here earlier as "fact" is in fact entirely speculative. What the sources really say is that there is merely no known record of his final years of life. He might as well have retired to a quiet life away from the public eye. While Northup was a known abolition activist and hence a potential target for retaliation by slavers, fact is that there is simply no information to confirm or disprove that he fell victim to foul play, or indeed that he didn't die of natural causes to begin with.
Extremely difficult watch and even more difficult to know that this was a reality for centuries! I'm surprised that a reactor who has over 100k subscribers watched a movie like this. I appreciate you watching the movies that are hard to watch with substance and not just the popular, entertaining ones.
^Still you look up a reaction video for something like Harry Potter and you’ll find dozens of reaction videos for a single film in the series. Same thing for Star Wars, Lord of the Rings or even John Wick. Do the same for 12 Years a Slave and at most there’s only 3 other factors who have a video for it
@@thedoctor4327 but there’s a difference between a film being popular and then a film being LOTR or Star Wars. This film is still popular, but obviously it’s not on their level, that doesn’t diminish its renown tho. Most people I know have seen this or at least heard a lot about it, and some of those people also still prefer Star Wars. I’m a massive LOTR and SW fan and I much prefer those, but I know this is still popular. Besides using a reactions on TH-cam as a statistic for popularity is kinda silly
Still is a reality happening all over the world today. There are open slave markets in Libya, indentured servitude "contracts" in the Middle East, even the US southern border has "workers" being brought across daily.
I actually surprise that Michael Fassbender didn't receive some outcry for how he goes from playing Magneto to this sadistic slave master. Not that I would want that for him of course, but simply because the fact that he can play every form of evil so well, that any audience can hate his characters.
It wasn't about the soap LOL. It was the fact that he thought she was having an affair with Shaw, the other slave owner. He was convinced of it and it was very feasible that it was true because Shaw was known to like black women a lot and Epps considered Patsey to be the hottest thing in the world... while simultaneously beating her for some reason lol
What’s so sobering about “12 Years a Slave” is that Solomon’s story, horrifying as it is, is far more fortunate and hopeful than most other slave stories. One thinks of the men and women who spent their entire lives in bondage, the men and women who had no hope of rescue. As one former slave put it, “No day ever dawns for the slave, nor is it looked for. For the slave, it is all night - all night, forever.” Having been born free, Solomon always had a sense of self-worth, something systematically denied to those born into slavery. For many slaves, hope and a sense of self-worth came through the Christian faith. In particular, they were drawn to the book of Exodus and to the life of Jesus, the “Suffering Servant.” That’s why slave owners created “slave bibles,” bibles selectively edited to instill obedience. These bibles omitted 90% of the Old Testament and 50% of the New Testament.
David speaks the truth. To be a slave, for most, was to be quite literally, just a piece of property that could and Would do work. No greater value than a few pigs or oxen. Families were almost Always split up. Pretty girls were always available to the owners or sons, the better to "increase a man's Capital" by creating more slaves. Lashings were commonplace even for the most compliant, even if just for a reminder. They were brutalized, starved, overworked, kept from becoming literate... and STILL.... they survived. One. Day. at a Time. A glimpse into that life.... is Mr. Frederick Douglass' book , updated to modern English and slightly abridged by Elizabeth Anderson, "My Bondage and My Freedom".
@@AlexG1020 Lucky for them that the inhumane maltreatment of white slaves meant there are no descendants or diasporas of white slaves i MENA countries today. That way we can ignore the facts and be very selective in our approach to the subject of slavery. And while were at it,. let's forget that slavery is still existing and thriving - outside the sphere of influence of the west. The only civilization that actually banned all forms of slavery and live by it. They estimate that there are 50-60 million slaves right now, of course they are ignoring the poor people stripped of all their right and freedoms and held hostage in socialist dictatorships - whom are slaves to the socialist state's. If they were included (which I think they should) the number of slaves would skyrocket. And if this perversion of realitet wasn't complete, why not accuse and demonize the only civilization in history that ended slavery (on our territories at least) and tried to end it world wide.
Totally agree. It's like "Schindler's List" isn't so much about the Holocaust, it's about 600 Jews who were saved from the Holocaust! Or to quote from another classic: only one flew over the cuckoo's nest.
There is a book titled, "Bullwhip Days: The Slaves Remember." The book is a compilation of the oral narratives of former enslaved people, recorded in the 1930s. What's horrifying is that there are audio recordings of former enslaved people describing their lives as human property. Horrifying because American slavery is so recent in our history that the technology existed to record their voices.
@@docsavage8640 I'm talking about slavery in the United States and how it isn't such ancient history. You're trying to brush it off with a "don't look here, look there" response. What does anything happening anywhere else in the world today have to do with my point?
@@docsavage8640 do you live in a bucket??? Cus honestly to come to such conclusions just to defend your own countries dark past is just incredibly naive and daft
Slavery was 154 years ago, it wasn't so recent. They were freed in 1862 with the Emancipation Proclamation, and the 13th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, The destruction of the Confederacy, at 1865. Southerns were put back in their place!!
Bravo. To go from someone who limited themselves to rom-coms and chick flicks to tackling brutal & harrowing movies like 12 Years A Slave is a remarkable journey. Your self-education is impressive, and I can only hope that other movie reactors follow your lead.
@@NicholasSteMarie She admitted to it herself. It's the premise of the channel. She is having her "first time watching" all these great movies because she spend most of her life watch Disney and such.
"Why would it bad if they learn to read or write?" An educated human being is the hardest person to enslave so America made it the law to keep African Americans enslaved. Thus it was illegal for slaves to learn to read. This was the written law during slavery in America.
Illiteracy was common thing back then. It took almost 70 years AFTER the abolition of slavery before the illiteracy was down to 30%. Perhaps people should start learning about actual history instead of thinking they are history professors after watching a Hollywood production and then begin theorizing and creating conspiracy theories based on their non-existent "knowledge". It's not like this information is hidden.
I saw first saw this movie in the theatre with my Grandmother. She talked about her Great Grandmother, who she knew as a little girl, who had been a slave in the late 1850s until the end of the Civil War. It is hard to imagine that those bad times weren't that long ago. Another great film about slavery is the Amazing Grace. The film is the true life story of the great British abolitionist leader, William Wilberforce. It is an inspiring film. Daniel Day Lewis's last film before he retired was Lincoln. It's wonderful.
This was the foundation of America! Everybody who’s denying facts is disrespecting the people who suffered from slavery. This movie is so heartbreaking and it made me shock how humans can be. I’m German and only felt the same way after I watched Schindler’s list.
I am 50. I am so thankful to my teachers and school district that we learned all the REAL history of slavery in elementary school. So important. All the brutal truth and we didn’t grow up warped. We grew up knowing the TRUTH about this country. The good the bad and the ugly. Please dear girl watch Roots some time in your life. It is very very important.
The scene where he is rescued and has to leave Patsy behind always hits me hard too. Really hard. Every time I see that, it changes my whole day and probably my whole week. This whole movie is life-changing, really.
@@michaelnolan4349 It’s incredible when an actor from a younger generation can do that - be faithful while also putting their own spin on something. I’m also thinking of the criminally underrated Lizzy Caplan nailing Kathy Bates in Misery.
@Doug Nading that's why there's a best actor and best actress category, along with best supporting actor and best supporting actress, 5 nominees per category plenty of room and still not enough for all the talent every year
@@tanelviil9149 He said, attempting to gaslight the entire comment section with an ego-driven narcissistic rant about how self-involved people are for not acknowledging the life of luxury lived by those coddled American slaves and concentration camp Jews...🙄
I own the movie, but its story and theatrical content is indelibly recorded in my mind, not to mention the other countless imaginings of the slaves who had it worse in history. To touch lightly upon such as subject is nearly impossible.
yeah, mostly in asia. its common for women particularly to be abducted in south east asia and sent to other parts of the continent to usually be whored out in some sort of fashion
This is one of the most difficult movies to watch but yes, we need to remember so it never happens again. The first time I watched "12 Years A Slave" was with my friend Sasha. We had no idea what ride was ahead of us. We were emotionally destroyed, clutching each other and sobbing hard for several minutes after the credits rolled. When we recovered a bit, we ordered hot wings and watched something to make us laugh again.
I saw this in the theater. The man who played Burch, the slaver who beat Solomon on the ship is a friend of mine. He warned me in advance that it would be a rough watch. That scene wrecked me, watching my friend beat that man like that.I was sobbing. And of course it only got worse. At the end of the movie, there was not a sound in the theater except people crying. I turned to the woman seated next to me and said, "Do you want to get a drink?" She said YES! and so we did. And we talked drank and talked it out. Still friends today. My poor friend said it was it was traumatic filming that scene but that Chiwetel was a wonderful, generous scene partner.
I'm actually reading the original book by Solomon Northup right now, the one this movie is based on. It's a fascinating, and at times gut-wrenching, read; also no one reading this could deny the man's intelligence. It's an eye-opener for sure. As a side note, during the Civil War a group of Union soldiers on campaign in the region came upon the Epps Plantation, and one of them, who had read the book, said that it was even worse than Solomon had said it was. Patsy was still alive and still enslaved there when the soldiers came, and she went with them when they left. We don't know what happened to her after that, but I like to think that she was never enslaved again.
Thank you so much for sharing that. It is very tough to read about, but so important because of how deeply it can impact our hearts, and the need for us to care.
@Ruaidhrí Ryan Personally I like to think Lincoln's words in that debate were just an attempt to appeal to the masses, as he knew that taking a position in favor of black rights would be suicide for a politician in that day and age. There's certainly evidence that that was the case for the oft-quoted Greeley Letter, wherein he said that his primary object was to preserve the Union and not to end slavery, such as his statement at the end of that same letter when he said he was speaking of his role as President and his personal desire was that all men everywhere could be free, or the fact that he already had a draft of the Emancipation Proclamation drawn up when the letter was published. But yes; whether it was his actual opinion or simply an attempt to play politics, Lincoln did indeed say some things which, though certainly in line with the public opinion of the time, today would be more in keeping with the views of a White Supremacist. As for the book by Solomon Northup, as I said, I am reading it right now, and I gotta say everything about it seems authentic. Using an editor or ghostwriter is a common practice even today, so the fact that Solomon used one doesn't change anything.
British Historian did a video on this - The movie is based on a book written by a white American Abolitionist named David Wilson . th-cam.com/video/mKAqSqm4lQ8/w-d-xo.html and th-cam.com/video/hpK4FUCmbO4/w-d-xo.html to see the video. Wilson heard about Northup and and wanted to capitalize on his name, by writing a book about him, claiming to be his autobiography. As author Simon Webb says it is clear from the language in the book that it was not written by Solomon. Quoting the book and said that is what polite white people of the time would say to imply that all black people were stupid, clearly nor written by a black person.
Researching my family tree, I found my family on the Epps Plantation, and found my ancestors on a Will, giving them to him wife… They had over 3,000 people on their Plantation!
Interesting fact, the American Indians actively participated in the slave trade. Some of the first slave rebellions in America were Africans rebelling against their American Indian masters.
@@ITPalGame That is a wrong myth. The case you refere is the Anthony Johnson's in 1655, but europeans already practiced slavery in our continent, based in color since 1493. Second, there are registers of slave trade in America in 1634 (not indentured service, but slavery). Finally, indentured servitude is not slavery, and the African Slave Trade had a lot of peculiar aspects that made it the most cruel and disenfranchised of all.
I read and understood. I know you didn't say that indenture servitude is slavery. What I mean is, you can't compare when indenture service is converted to slavery (what happened with the Anthony Johhnson case in 1655) with pure, racial slavery. Again, the first slave owner in the US WAS NOT a black African. Second, yeah every people practiced slavery (irrelevant for this discussion), but (as I've said) in our continent racially motivated (is the reason of this discussion) the first were Europeans with Columbus in 1493 (and not a person of color), and another cases before 1655. And the most important, don't compare slavery in general in the world with the slave trade in Africa/America. There a lot of specially cruel characteristics that made that form of slavery the worst of all (for instance, lasted systematically almost 500 years, was fundamental/crucial to European capital accumulation and the economy of Europe and America, destroyed the Africa's economy and culture for centuries, the slaves were not considered even humans, they were transported to another continent, was totally support by the Church, slavery was not only a practice but the most lucrative part of nations economy, etc.) And finally, just for curiosity, the word slave in english may be derived from slavs, but the real origin of the word came from Greek and in other languages (like french esclave, italian and portuguese escravo) has nothing to do with slavs.
@@ebls2000 Its just obvious white supremacist Whataboutism, cherry-picking examples in order to make it sound like Black people and First nations were the ones really responsible for slavery.
23:07 Reading is a powerful weapon for a slave to become free. Fredrick Douglass and other freedmen credit it with their escape. Literate slaves can send messages to each other, forge documents for their freedom, organize rebellions easily, or even prove themselves to be smarter than non slaves. That’s why reading is such a big deal to the slave owners
@@elijahstiles3012 the justification for slavery was to gain productivity in holding people as property (Capitalism, ho). This end justified the means. The institution of slavery is way older than American Southern slavery based on racism. Ancient Rome for example held many slaves who could read and write, there were many greek slaves in Rome who were tasked as scribe. In Scandinavia it was even reversed: the christian slaves brought back from raiding mostly were able to read and write, while their viking masters were not. What u mean is justification for racism.
I read his book after seeing this astonishing film - the film does his extraordinary words a lot of justice, but everybody should read the book too, should be required in all schools, especially America (if it isn't already). Thank you for your heartfelt and sincere reaction.
Thank you Cassie for yet another powerful reaction to an important film. Not only myself but I'm sure you have made many fans due to respecting you for really putting yourself out there and reaction to films like this and Shindler's List among others that depict terrible moments in our human story of what people have done to each other. For me personally I think the unbroken shot of Solomon standing with other slaves at the burial and singing is one of the most powerful shots in cinema history. Up until that point in the film he has resisted acting like them and seeing a difference in himself to them. At that moment he breaks and accepts that he is a slave and will likely live his life as one and die in a cotton field. Expressing the moment in letting out that painful music on which the Blues genre is based on. Thank you once again for your reaction.
Patsy's lashes in this film count to 39. In the book, Solomon did say it was 30 and/or more. And to add, during their last hug, she told Solomon, "What will become of me?". And it's quite clear those words haunted him.
The worst thing for me was that I grew up with classes that would watch movies like this in school to educate us about humanity. Those same classmates that said "how could this be acceptable... I would never stay silent in that situation if that was me." Are still silent now.
The are more than silent, the are advocating it in public. Some people never learn from history because the were never taught history - and many were subjected to malicious revisionism to teach them how to hate.
If I’m being honest with myself if I didn’t have 21st century knowledge I’d probably be indifferent to slavery if I was born in the late 1700s 1800s america, maybe help some that I’ve grown to like.
Look at every dictatorship and repressive system throughout history. Standing up to it is far harder than people claim it is. Even knowing what I do with my morals, if you teleported me to the ante-bellum South, Nazi Germany etc, I wouldn’t have the courage to challenge the regime or institutions.
I love when a non African American can be open minded to watch something about my heritage and be compassionate and sensitive about it...Girl you made me cry lol
Trivia: Before filming their more brutal scenes together, Lupita Nyong'o and Michael Fassbender performed a ritual of "making nice." According to Nyong'o, "We wouldn't say anything to each other, just a look in the eye and grasping of hands. Our characters are in such opposition, but we as actors needed each other in order to be able to go the distance." God bless you, Cassie for having the courage to watch this movie.
My friend Chris played Burch, who beat Chiwetel in the beginning. He said something similar. He said Chiwetel was a very generous and professional scene partner. They both needed time to recover. The scene with Lupita was even more brutal. And this her first role. She's astonishing. (And incredibly beautiful)
I imagine it would be a soul-wrenching experience to play a part in this movie. Like going against your instincts and conjuring up the nastiest of demons and letting them temporarily possess you. Kudos to these actors... many actors wouldn't willing or able to go that far.
Man oh man, watching others react to such emotionally powerful and painful experiences like Glory, Schindler's, or 12 Years, I just wanna give them a big ol' hug! Much love to you Cassie! Especially with everything going on in the world today. No need for hate and war, but love and peace.
There is an interesting play that ties together the worlds of slavery and Jewish persecution. I believe it is called Home on the Morning Train. It discusses the similarities between the Underground Railroad in the US smuggling slaves to freedom and the networks in Europe during the Hitler years trying to smuggle Jews out to freedom. In both cases it took incredible bravery to participate in this operation; if you got caught smuggling not only would the people you were trying to save get sent back to certain death but the smugglers would often get executed as well. I also saw a documentary recently that talked about something I hadn't really thought about. Slaves in Texas, unlike other Southern states, often didn't try to escape to the North to get their freedom, they headed South to Mexico where slavery was illegal. That's right, Mexico was the more enlightened country at the time which was worried about people crossing the border from US to Mexico!
This film is amazingly difficult to watch. I know you, Cassie, have a good heart. So i feared the pain you would have to endure watching this. I've watched this film only once... i just can't a second time and you like Solomon toughed it out. Never change Cassie. The world needs good hearts like yours and Solomons. Sending virtual hugs from NJ, USA. A Time to Kill (1996) is my recommendation. It is not about slavery but how such oppression still continues in the South, even in modern times.
Love your emotional response to this painful film. Your honest reactions are always welcome. You have a sweet soul. English actor Chiwetel Ejiofor was Oscar-nominated for his powerful lead performance but it was Lupita Nyong'o, a Yale Drama School graduate in her first film role, who won for her supporting role as Patsey. An unforgettable performance. The film received 9 Oscar nominations and also won for Best Picture and Screenplay. The fine German/Irish actor Michael Fassbender, who played Patsey's tormentor, was also Oscar-nominated.
Slavery wasn’t abolished it in the United States, it was just amended to inmates and later we see the biggest incarceration class in the free world. Coincidence? Naw…
@@livin3179 "Passed by Congress on January 31, 1865, and ratified on December 6, 1865, the 13th amendment abolished slavery in the United States and provides that "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.".
Michael Fassbender who played the 2nd slave owner was Christianson in Band of Brothers, that's where you know him from. He was amazing in this it takes a lot of guts to play a man that evil.
Steve McQueen was an experimental filmmaker before making genre films and I adored how overtly artful this was for a more traditional narrative. It could have played out like the countless slave films that go for a more melodramatic angle, but this one is special because of how deliberate and beautifully crafted it was. I also love how we never see, through text cards, how long Solomon had been in captivity. It really puts us in the same uncertain headspace as Solomon throughout the film until we finally find peace at the end. Powerful stuff.
Great film. He lost the Oscar to Matthew Mccaunaghy in Dallas Buyers Club. Both were deserving. Lupita nyongo did win for playing Patsy. Nyongo said she got along great with Michael Fassbemder who played the villain. They’d go dancing when they weren’t on set. Funny how I can’t picture it after seeing this.
I noticed my earlier comment was unfortunately attracting some negative replies/comments so I deleted it. I noticed these comments on a post that I made so I feel partly responsible. If I am, then I apologize. Now there's something I want to say in response to the people who made those comments or to anyone who have been making disparaging comments on this video. First off, I'm not trying to encourage conflict or debate. I'm trying to take a stand for peace and tolerance. To anyone making unsavory, distasteful, uncomfortable, insensitive, or controversial remarks relating to this film or to anyone belittling slavery and the suffering of countless people, I implore you to please stop. Isn't there enough conflict and tension in the world as it is? Do you really need to bring unnecessary conflict and tension to this video, on Cassie's channel, or anywhere else on a public platform such as this? Cassie's channel, to me, is meant to be a peaceful, friendly, compassionate place that values and respects human life. Humans who are real or fictional. To me, to bring ugliness and lack of sensitivity as well as lack of empathy to this channel is illogical and it's just a shame. It may be hard for you to hold back certain thoughts and opinions and you may find it hard to agree with what some people say about this film or about slavery. We're not all going to agree and friction may be unavoidable. But for the sake of peace and for the sake of ridding ourselves of tension I hope you can recognize a touchy subject when it presents itself and consider staying silent if you know your words will offend people. And please try to show some more consideration for others and treat all kinds of people with respect and decency. I put myself in this postilion of encouraging peace and tolerance. Honestly, I don't like doing it because it's emotionally exhausting and challenging. But I was seeing how some people were responding to this film and to slavery and it got under my skin. I apologize if my preaching was uncalled for or unwelcome. I've tried to address this very awkward business as peacefully and respectfully as I can. I hope you can do the same. Now in the words of Charlie Kaufman: "We hurt each other. Hate each other. How silly is that? Like a heart cell hating a lung cell."
"But for the sake of peace and for the sake of ridding ourselves of tension I hope you can recognize a touchy subject when it presents itself and consider staying silent if you know your words will offend people" u know... back in this time those people who held slaves would have said exactly that sentence to those of the 'radical' abolitionist movement. Since u deleted ur first comment i dont know the context of ur plea for peace and respect, but i consider conflict and debate a vital part of culture and society, so long as it is civil, in written form, and not carried out in violence. U can have ur idea of "Cassie's channel", let others have theirs. Dont act as gatekeeper pls
I love you so much for watching this movie and having the courage to sit through it all and react the way you did... it does mean a lot.... never think people of color don't notice ...because we do and it ALWAYS means a lot... to me for sure... so thanks. there is something to be said of sharing in trauma of people . There is a DEEP sad psychology in this country carried throught the many centuries of the USA from the 1700s, 1800s, 1900s to now for minorities that a lot people don't get or care to understand. It affects how we live till this very day.. in big ways and small .
The scene that pushed me over the edge in the theater was where the slave dropped dead and they had the funeral. Solomon goes through so many emotions in that scene and finally relents and sings with them. Just a master class in acting. I was inconsolable after that scene and then got quiet when it was over. About an hour later I started sobbing again.
Your reaction mirrored the reaction I had when I watched this for the first time. The issue I had was, not only is this hard to watch, but I also live with the fact that a good portion of my family owned a number of slaves. Along with my family being large slave traders or "merchants" as they were labeled in the census of their time. It is a very difficult thing to rectify in your head when you look in the mirror and have to accept that the people you come from were capable of the atrocities that were displayed in this film.
Thank you so saying what so many whites won't put down their ego long enough to admit... Case in point, the comment above is a common rebuttal. But thank you for the courage, honesty and humility it takes to admit and take down the pink elephant in the room.
How wonderful it is that you realize the importance of forsaking your comfort to learn the truth of life... Especially through movies. Keep doing that. I love your channel.
I took a graduate seminar in 19th century African-American history, and I have to tell you, this film is probably the most accurate portrayal of Antebellum slavery ever made.
Director, Steve McQueen, is such a talent. So many great films. Hunger might be too inaccessible unless you’re good with Irish accents and know a bit about Northern Ireland’s history. Shame is a rough watch but amazing. The best film he’s done, for me, is called Lover’s Rock, centred around a night in the British Caribbean community. It’s an absolute mood. Best film of 2020 for me.
Feel so bad for you going through the emotional roller coaster of this film. But, love your heart for doing so. I vote Cassie watches “won’t you be my neighbor” next. Yes, you’ll cry, but at least this time they will be happy tears.
Yes, yes! "Won't you be my neighbor" is a great suggestion. She needs a movie about human kindness to balance out this one about human horribleness! Mr. Rogers is my hero.
Big difference between teaching about slavery, which they already do and teaching kids that white people are monsters and hate people of color. And this is coming from a POC.
@@damexican22 Suuuure...Many people didn't even know about the Tulsa Massacre until a work of fiction (Watchmen) put it out there. Sundown towns existed until the late 60's. Not widely known until a work of fiction made it known. Jim Crow laws and how those laws shaped and affect the bureaucracy even now not widely taught. There's a problem when what's taught is no more than a footnote. The German people don't shy away from their history during Nazi Germany the way Americans shy away from theirs. They seem to understand better that they need to heed it and burden that shame. And this is coming from a POC.
@@nimawhe you guys either had shit schooling or never listened in class because all of this is taught through high school and a little bit before you reach high school. But why is it being pushed onto younger kids that can't comprehend what actually is going on? Especially when there have been countless stories of parents fighting school boards because they are teaching them that white people are bad in elementary schools? Most of the parents arguing to be taken out are predominantly POCs that are in mixed relationships and don't agree with teaching kids that young.
By the way, you should also see "Lincoln" with Daniel Day Lewis. Another incredible film about those times and the people who tried to bring the institution of Slavery down.
Cassie, this was a time that a lot of people want to forget, but we should never forget. For you to watch both Glory and 12 Years A Slave, I can only give you a round of applause for picking such emotional and heartbreaking pieces of historical cinema. I almost wanted to cry with you on both films, but at least, you do understand. Great job.
@@baccaratpro9278 Jesus. Stop with the neo-confederate propaganda. Ellison is an anomaly of anomalies. 99.999999% of slave owners were white. And throwing in “Democratic Party” is more nonsense as we know the parties were polar opposites. Democrats were the party of conservative and small government. Republicans were progressives. That was the ideological platforms for decades after as well until essentially FDR with the remaining democrats existing as southern Dixiecrats before Nixon’s southern strategy and the final shift of those Dixiecrats to the modern GOP.
@@baccaratpro9278 And the irony for you to cherry pick some neo-confederate propaganda to push while at the same time saying this isn’t taught because of “white guilt” is hilarious. The actual “white guilt” is the one of conservatives trying to prevent any mention of our evil history committed by the ancestors of those same people. The “anti-CRT” while not wanting children to know about our evils of slavery, Jim Crow, etc. while simultaneously fighting for the shrines of enemy generals who attacked the US to uphold slavery (and stop before you start with “uhh it was a states rights issue bull). This movie was so powerful showing the most evil institution known to man we perpetuated for generations, fought a civil war to put an end to, followed by another century of slavery by another name in Jim Crow...and this was what you came into the comments to promote. So gross.
@@baccaratpro9278 LMfAO picking a 1 out of, 10000000 situations that align with your process of thought is so sad and desperate, you really came under this comment section to say that but for you, I guess the fact that a few people like Ellison existed justifies what slave owners did back then .
@@mattskeens803 Personally, I'm always of the view that history is too complicated to draw clear lines between different groups of people. There was no delineation between races and where they ended up in the hierarchy, there was off course a clear majority of certain races in specific classes of society, but there were always clear exceptions to the rule. There were slave owners who used their Bibles to justify their ownership of slaves, and there were Christian abolitionists who based their opposition to the trade on the same Book. There were black slavers and slave owners, and there were white abolitionists. The South profited from the slave trade, but also suffered the effects in that they as a result were far behind the North in terms of industrialisation, meaning Confederate troops were always less better equipped and supplied than Northern troops. They were behind intellectually as well, as they had ostracized and ran off Southerners who opposed slavery, which included a large proportion of their intellectual community. The Confederate States are rightly remembered as a slaver state, but it is important to remember that those who actually owned slaves were about 26% of the population. These were clearly the wealthy elites, they controlled 68% of government positions, and held 78% of the state's wealth. On Emancipation, these people sacrificed and doomed hundreds of thousands of ordinary, poor, mostly young men, to hold on to their lifestyles. One of the prominent Dixecrats who switched over to become a Republican found religion and was the first Southern Politician to hire black people as advisors. There was always crossover. Attempting to cast history in a sorely binary light, whether by either party, smacks of revisionism.
@@CadTrii234 She should do a run of musicals. Little Shop. Rent. Hamilton. Moulin Rouge (though I think she said once that she has seen that one already)
"Mr. Parker and Brad Pitt's character, I hope I would have been like that." As a descendant of slaves I just wanted to say thank you for that genuine sentiment.
You need to watch Lean On Me, it will be like a balm to your pain after this movie. It's also based on a true story, a real life person, and it's a very inspirational film. Also it was directed by the same person who directed Rocky. Best Regards!
When Roots came out as a mini-series on television (before the age of video tapes). My family watched every episode. It changed us because it was the first time slavery was accurately portrayed other than books. Hard to watch, yes at times but that is why we must.
@@thetannareeI'll gladly stay in the lane of truth 🤣👍irrefutable in every way. I'll stick to respecting everyone regardless of the color of their skin, all year long, instead of a measly month.
I cried along with you, and I've seen it 3 times. The horrible slave owner was Michael Fassbender, if you see him interviewed he's a lovely man and really funny
At the beginning of the movie you when Solomon first appeared in chains and it became clear that they were holding him as an escaped slave you said "they can't do that", actually they can. The people who's job it was to capture escaped slave became what's we now call police officers. This, in my opinion explains to some extent the culture we see today when it comes to police culture. This was actually very common. You also wondered why the slave owners wife didn't like Lupita's character. Slave owners often lusted after female slaves and their wives were jealous. Sadly, this story and the cruel treatment was the norm not the exception. The reason the other slaves couldn't help Solomon when he was hanging was because they world be punished. Example would be made of them. Lastly, the reason slaves were not allowed to read and write is because by keeping them uneducated they thought they'd be easier to control. When is why leaders in one particular political party today, wants to keep people uneducated. And also why one former, twice impeached president said "I love the uneducated". Slavery made the United States the wealthiest and most powerful country on earth. After slavery ended they promised freed slaves 40 acres of land and a mule so they could survive. But the US government never paid that debt. As a result a lot starved to death...they had NOTHING! But ironically, around that same time Europeans were coming here in droves and the US literally gave them plots of land. This is what explains how decedents of slaves don't have the same generational wealth that provides basic things like housing and education. And then to consider after slavery ended their was 100 years of Jim Crow and lynching. Black people in the United States have had to fight for every basic right that the so-called constitution says they should be born with. At the end of the day, the United States needs to settle this debt.
All school systems also don't tell the truth that many slave owners were black and owned other black people. In some states, more black people owners slaved than white people. Also, there were more white slaves pre 16th century than there ever was black slaves post 16th century. It's pathetic that schools refuse to teach kids the truth and try to push a narrative.
My dear, sweet Cassie! Thank you for reacting to this important film! I cried with you just like I did when I first watched this movie for the first time. It was so hard to watch! :( Thank you so much!
It was really hard to watch you experience this Cassie. Some moments of history are too painful to even contemplate but we recognise how essential it is to represent them and honour the truth. Our hearts broke at the same time.
I know a lot of people have said it already bt I also wanted to say thank you for making this. And like u said, sometimes its hard to watch these difficult movies bt we have to because it history, and just because we ignore it doesn't mean it goes away. It's important to remember and learn about these things. Great video, great movie. Thank you.
When I saw that you were going to watch this, my heart ached for you. These are the things that we can't afford to forget. If they could survive it, then we should be able to see it.
This film is required viewing. It shows the ugly history of slavery and helps us understand our world today. Amazing reaction as always, Cassie. Much respect for watching this important film. May we all work for a world in which all people are free and living together in just community. 💙🙏🏽
Last post: I read an article in the NY Times around the time this film came out. A scholar's roundtable on the film and slavery in general. These experts explained that the film actually goes light on the brutality. Things were actually worse in real life than the violence shown in this film. Hard to believe but true. 💔😢🙏🏽
Wow! Thank you for watching this film. You showed incredible courage by watching it and allowing us to view your reactions to it. This movie is intensely moving from start to finish. It's horrifyingly raw with the brutality of treatment against the slaves; how any persons can 'disconnect' themselves from the emotions of humanity is beyond today's modern cognitive and cultural comprehension. Watching this movie that was brilliantly written, exquisitly directed and casted, not to mention the passion within the performances by all the actors is second to none. If ever there were a film that can comprehensively detail the enormous gravity of human suffering (as well as being based upon a true story) this movie is certainly within the Top 5 of all time. Once again, thank you for sharing.
12 Years A Slave was one of the hardest movies I’ve ever seen, along with Schindler’s List. Plus Sarah Paulson was absolutely terrifying as Mrs Epps. Plus watch carefully when Solomon is leaving the plantation, Patsy collapses to the ground in shock.
I'm Black This movie came out when I was 17. And I saw in the theaters and it was absolutely silent. When the movie was over it was absolutely silent everyone exited the theater and nobody spoke. I have never ever ever watched it again. I read the book. But I could not bring myself to ever see this movie again.
Lupita shocked the world with that performance. Michael Fassbender also; evil is not close to enough to describe that man, and he played it so well….. Lupita praised him during her oscar speech when she won for this
I also really wish Chiwetel Ejiofor had won an Oscar for this performance! He succeeded at showing us such complex emotions that would be hard for the audience to fathom without a truly world class actor conveying it. He was nominated, but he lost to Matthew McConaughey for Dallas Buyers Club. CE's acting is a much greater accomplishment, IMHO.
MM was great in that movie, but I think in the long run that will go down as a mistake by the academy. CE is one of those actors who I always recognize and then immediately forget they're acting, because they sink so deep into their roles.
This movie was a difficult watch, I went to watch it in the theatre and I felt my heart ripping in pieces with sadness and anger. Really appreciate that you took the time to watch this no matter how hard or uncomfortable the film is.
It's extremely hard to watch movies like this as a black man. But I appreciate you for having an open mind and big heart for doing this. One disturbing rumor about the main character, apparently somehow he was sold back into slavery.
The mind boggling thought that this is just one story in a world of millions upon millions of insanely traumatic instances that individuals of the human race have experienced. And not just black slavery. We have done some immensely horrible things to our brothers and sisters -- all done out of greed, selfishness, and pride.
@@MisterDevos Chattel Slavery in the Americas was the first time that one specific RACE were dehumanized and target for slavery. Thats why its call systematic racism. So not, its not All Lives Matter in this specific case, and that is not what MomoMyPup10 meant with their comment.
@@kyraspikes7542 You would be incorrect, the Arab led Saharan Slave trade in Africa existed LONG before the Transatlantic Slave trade as well as long after the Transatlantic Slave trade. The Arabs were slaving in Africa for over 1200 years. They enslaved millions more Africans than the Transatlantic slave trade but you are never going to hear about it because it does not fit the narrative of the evil white man and the poor innocent black man. I will also point out that the The Barbary slave trade between the 16th and 19th century refers to slave markets on the Barbary Coast of North Africa, which included the Ottoman states of Algeria, Tunisia and Tripolitania and the independent sultanate of Morocco. European slaves were acquired by Barbary pirates in slave raids on ships and by raids on coastal towns from Italy to the Netherlands, Ireland and the southwest of Britain, as far north as Iceland and into the Eastern Mediterranean. The Ottoman Eastern Mediterranean was the scene of intense piracy. As late as the 18th century, piracy continued to be a consistent threat to maritime traffic in the Aegean. MILLIONS of Europeans were enslaved and sold into those slave markets so despite what you have been programmed to believe the black experience in America is not unique or even special.
@@CRAZYHORSE19682003 It's funny how people-of-colour across the planet, who as you say have 'all been slaves' at some point in their past, don't fall for this "All Lives Matter" bullshit, but insecure small dick energy white people fall for it every time. If millions of peoples of color can grow their heart to feel for others who are not like them, what does is say about white people that they constantly fall into the "what about meeeeeeeeeeeeee?????" childish squealing for attention? My people were enslaved. My sister in law's peoples were literally not classified as human beings until the 1950's. But we support the Black Experience and the racism they face today in one of the Western World's most racist countries. All you do is go around whining like a little bitch that nobody has any love for you. It's little wonder they would if you just consistently shit on the experiences of other people to make your own, insignificant, miserable little life feel important. And for the record, historically speaking, its not how people were treated back then that matters. It's how they're treated now and how the past informs how people treat them now. All the white slavery of the last 2,000 years has not caused an entire planet to think of white people as inhuman, inferior or as chattels. Even in the East, white people aren't deemed to be disposable except by other white people. For all your historical ranting, you don't' even understand the perspective of the people you're trying to fight and you're embarrassing yourself in public punching the very air itself while your "enemies" lean on a wall behind you and watch in fascinated horror that you haven't realized you're fighting nothing but your own shadows.
@@kyraspikes7542 I will also point out that the word Slave comes from the word Slav, an ethnic group in Eastern Europe who were so heavily enslaved by the ottomans, Mongols, and other invading powers that their race became the word for slave. So your claim that the Transatlantic Slave trade was the first time a specific race was targeted it completely false but it shows how well you have been programmed to believe that the poor widdle black man has had it worse than anyone.
The Fassbenders live close to my in laws just outside Killarney. My mother in law taught Michael in primary school. I watched this with my wife and her parents. Let’s just say jaws were on the ground with his performance. They were all shocked. My mother in law wanted to watch Shame too. I told my wife they’d be a bit more shocked to watch that as a family with all the full frontal in it. They decided against that one for family night…. 😆
The biggest takeaway for me from this film after I saw it in the theater back in the day was the atmosphere of crippling fear that southern slaves had to endure on a daily basis. Just knowing the facts about chattel slavery in the US does not convey this lived experience of plantation slaves with the force or immediacy of a dramatization of this quality. Also, in reference to your question regarding the kidnappings legality - you should look up the history of the fugitive slave act, I believe the events in the film pre-date the acts passage but the law only codified what was already regular practice in some locations. (Basically, it was illegal for slave catchers to apprehend free blacks in non-slave states but the law meant there was very little to stop it from happening anyway.)
Huh? I’m confused to your understanding of the law or maybe I’m misreading it. The fugitive slave act, the second one in 1850 which was passed towards the last few years of his captivity, wasn’t a law that prevented any illegal kidnappings. The original one made it legal dor slave holders to recover their slaves who had escaped and this second one made it easier for southerners to travel to the north and arrest slaves who had escaped and be returned to their masters but required those in free states to cooperate and aid in in doing so. While the 1850 compromise was one of the worst laws ever passed, it at least rallied the northern abolitionist movement bringing the issue of slavery directly to them instead of out of sight and mind.
History serves the purpose of everyone to learn from it. Recent years there is an effort to rewrite or delete history. If that happens we will be doomed to repeat history eventually.
"Recent years there is an effort to rewrite or delete history." Try decades. some people get very uncomfortable around truth and real history. And it get's weirder because they are at the forefront telling us not to forget history lol
I have to say that I am SOO PROUD OF YOU for making it through this film, there are many who can't make it through these types of films. It's a very hard pill to swallow about that reality.
I was so happy this movie was made with so much care and honesty. Generations back, my family actually purchased the New York home directly from Solomon's son, and my family knew about this story for a while. Truly a tragic story, but important to prove how horrible people can be when given power over others.
The acting by everyone in this film was amazing. Lupita won the Oscar for her role as Patsy. The horror of this movie (based on a true story) is the HISTORY of America. While this had a happy ending, most of our ancestors' stories did not. Thank you for reacting to this. It's important to give these amazing films a platform.
This is an important movie and a true story. Thanks for watching this and honoring black history month. And I love that you said that there will be more movies coming that will lift up black stories and actors. My favorite actor is Denzel Washington, who has made so many great and important roles and is a strong Christian, and Glory was a fantastic pick. MLK is my favorite hero, and maybe the U.S.'s greatest hero. So anything featuring those two men would be awesome picks! One of the worst things in life period is knowing that this insane practice of slavery (and discrimination after) happened. But even worse when these slave owning devils hold a Bible in their hands. It's ironic, since it only holds fire and condemnation for them. “Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death." Exodus 21:16 This single verse (if followed) would have annihilated the entire slave industry, and put anyone involved in it to a quick death. Slavery in Israel (in the Bible) basically had to do with prisoners of war, from attacking nations, etc (in contrast with the Roman Empire, that enslaved 1/3 of its population), which obviously zero Africans in the slave trade ever went to war with Europeans, so there should have been zero slaves in the history of the Americas. But even the biblical term "slave" meant something entirely different. “If slaves should escape from their masters and take refuge with you, you must not hand them over to their masters. Let them live among you in any town they choose, and do not oppress them. Deuteronomy 23:15-16 This completely redefines what slavery means and how you would treat them (essentially something entirely different). If you can't stop them from leaving, it redefines the relationship. Also if they brought physical harm to slaves, it released the slaves from any political or financial obligation and set them free immediately, and the "masters" would be harmed themselves for treating them like that. They are also described as equals, and masters are given warning since the true master in heaven is watching. "because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him." Ephesians 6:8-9 "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:28 "Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven." Colossians 4:1 Very great choice of movie, exposing true evil for what it is. And I'm so glad for the heroic Canadian in the movie. But just so sad that there weren't more who did right, and that there was ever a single African slave ever. And I think it's really important to care about the black community and to lift up their stories and heroes. Looking forward to fun movies too, but thanks again for taking on such an important one.
WOW!! Yeah, this is one of those "hard watch" movies. I've only seen it once cause once was all I needed. But it is important to watch these movies. Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan, Green Mile are all movies that will stick with you after just 1 viewing.
This is a really hard movie to watch, and watching you broke my heart. Your not the only one who cried. This was the most RAW reaction... thank you for sharing this. 😔❤
I got chills when I saw the trailer for this film. Chiwtel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Giamatti, Lupita Nyong'o, Brad Pitt, and Alfre Woodard. That is a monster cast if I've ever seen one. It is based on a true story and it is speculated, I believe, that Solomon was recaptured and enslaved again, the reason for his disappearance. This film is hard for some people to watch, for those who really take in what is being shown on screen. For others, it kind of goes over their heads.
@@reelthought3867 if you like really dark and gritty movies. Detective noir movies. The movie Se7en and zodiac. You’ll love this movie. This is the type of shit I’ve been waiting for in a batman movie.
I wondered what ever became of Patsey. From what I read, during the American Civil War, the Union Army reached edwin epps'plantation. They were specifically looking for Patsey, I think. They found her and took her away from there and freed her, however, nothing yet is known about Patsey's life after freedom.
Whoa. Cassie might have been better off watching a horror movie. Anyway, I love seeing non-Americans react to United States-centric stories. They hold an unbiased look at the subject matter. From the fantasy of Rocky 4, to this. I love it. Having said all that, you could have eased into Black History Month with a Malcolm X or something, though, LOL!
@@tanelviil9149 "It's amazing to me what a fool needs to believe to get by." You do realize that former African slaves in the U.S., like Frederick Douglass, wrote their own stories once they learned how to read and write, correct? You do realize that a simple Google search will show you pictures of post-slavery lynchings, correct? You do realize that you can read the U.S. Constitution and see how former slaves were only counted as 3/5 of a human, correct? You do realize you can look up the word "redlining" and find a plethora of information on the subject, correct? You do realize that I could go on, correct?
I see this as being similar to Schindler’s list. We had no idea what happened and how cruel and how bad it was. It’s so sad to watch and learn what these peoples lives were like. But the stories have to be told, we can’t forget what happened. And yes it might be a little better now than it was back then I’ll admit, but we have to remember not to treat people as property, never judge a book by its cover, and do onto others as you would have them do you unto to you. It’s the easiest rule to remember. And if you want to take a step further, when you see something happening that you know is not right, step up, get involved. It’s a beautiful thing to help someone who needs it especially when they’re not expecting it. Thank you for watching this and understanding it’s importance.
I didn't see Schindler's List when it was released. I grew up in an Army family (I was 26 when he retired) most of it during the cold war and a lot of time in Germany. We'd even visited Belsen concentration camp. Our neighbours on base went to see it in the cinema and said that they drove back from the cinema in silence, stopped in the driveway, hugged each other and cried. I knew it was a film I had to see, I think everyone should. It was some years later when I was actually at the Military Academy doing officer training, that one Saturday night, I sat down to watch it, making sure I wouldn't be disturbed. I lost it at the end when the actual survivors and relatives were walking past Schindler's grave. Cried my eyes out I'm not ashamed to admit. It certainly is a story that needs to be remembered.
Definitely a tough watch. A brilliant film, and truly reflective of the circumstances for many people. I feel for you, Cassie. Thank you for choosing to endure this.
32:00 - 32:48 Probably the most tearfully, but empowering scene. The fact that he Solomon feels the need to apologize to his family for leaving them all those years, but still his family does what they can to assure him that it wasn't his fault, just hits so hard.
Fun facts for you:
Patsey was eventually freed by Union soldiers and lived the rest of her life free.
Mr.Epps read the book "12 Years a Slave"and said that everything said about him was accurate.
The Epps died of yellow fever after losing everything for being slave owners.
At least some justice was served
At least he admitted it was true, hopefully he took some accountability for the things he did
Thank you for this about Patsy !!!❤❤
SAD FACTS: Solomon Northrup went "missing" a few years after reuniting with his family. He was last seen in somewhere in Canada giving a speech against the institution of slavery. There are a couple of theories; kidnapped & returned to slavery, murdered for speaking out against his kidnappers or accidental death. His body was never found to make any determinations
Of those theories, kidnapping and returned to slavery is the least likely. By then, he would have been too old to bring a good price at market.
@@thetannaree do you have any sources for this, or just your opinion? According to the Washington post article by Michelle Genz, 3/7/99, he was originally sold for $1,000, a profit of $350. He would’ve been about 32 at the time. Reports have him aiding slaves as late as the early 1860s, according to reverend John r smith. That would’ve put him at around 54 yrs old. Not likely to be worth enough to warrant kidnapping again.
And as vile as the institution of slavery was, at the end of the day, it was business. And as in any business, the main goal is to make a buck.
@@StreetHierarchy Did you imagine there is? The entire history of humanity is ample evidence to the contrary.
That being said, Solomon Northup's alleged demise that was presented here earlier as "fact" is in fact entirely speculative. What the sources really say is that there is merely no known record of his final years of life. He might as well have retired to a quiet life away from the public eye. While Northup was a known abolition activist and hence a potential target for retaliation by slavers, fact is that there is simply no information to confirm or disprove that he fell victim to foul play, or indeed that he didn't die of natural causes to begin with.
@@StreetHierarchy There is no god.
Oh wow I never knew that. I'm gonna have to look further into that. That's terrible
Extremely difficult watch and even more difficult to know that this was a reality for centuries! I'm surprised that a reactor who has over 100k subscribers watched a movie like this. I appreciate you watching the movies that are hard to watch with substance and not just the popular, entertaining ones.
This film is a popular one still tho. Like everyone’s knows it or has watched it, it’s not exactly an indie movie
^Still you look up a reaction video for something like Harry Potter and you’ll find dozens of reaction videos for a single film in the series. Same thing for Star Wars, Lord of the Rings or even John Wick. Do the same for 12 Years a Slave and at most there’s only 3 other factors who have a video for it
@@thedoctor4327 but there’s a difference between a film being popular and then a film being LOTR or Star Wars. This film is still popular, but obviously it’s not on their level, that doesn’t diminish its renown tho. Most people I know have seen this or at least heard a lot about it, and some of those people also still prefer Star Wars. I’m a massive LOTR and SW fan and I much prefer those, but I know this is still popular. Besides using a reactions on TH-cam as a statistic for popularity is kinda silly
I understood what you meant. Popular amongst REACTORS not the general public. Yet some people want to argue over nothing.
Still is a reality happening all over the world today. There are open slave markets in Libya, indentured servitude "contracts" in the Middle East, even the US southern border has "workers" being brought across daily.
The whipping post scene has to be the hardest thing I’ve ever had to watch in a movie. Truly fuckin evil.
For some damn soap smh😢
I actually surprise that Michael Fassbender didn't receive some outcry for how he goes from playing Magneto to this sadistic slave master. Not that I would want that for him of course, but simply because the fact that he can play every form of evil so well, that any audience can hate his characters.
It never happened. Google "12 YEARS A SLAVE fake."
It wasn't about the soap LOL. It was the fact that he thought she was having an affair with Shaw, the other slave owner. He was convinced of it and it was very feasible that it was true because Shaw was known to like black women a lot and Epps considered Patsey to be the hottest thing in the world... while simultaneously beating her for some reason lol
@@Christobanistanoh maybe not in this story but you know this happened ...and worst, knowing some US American History.
"If it brings you your freedom, it will be more than a pleasure, it will have been my duty."
idk why but that line always stuck with me.
to do good is our all duty
The abolitionists (who were Christian anyway) believed that slavery was insult to God.
What’s so sobering about “12 Years a Slave” is that Solomon’s story, horrifying as it is, is far more fortunate and hopeful than most other slave stories. One thinks of the men and women who spent their entire lives in bondage, the men and women who had no hope of rescue. As one former slave put it, “No day ever dawns for the slave, nor is it looked for. For the slave, it is all night - all night, forever.” Having been born free, Solomon always had a sense of self-worth, something systematically denied to those born into slavery.
For many slaves, hope and a sense of self-worth came through the Christian faith. In particular, they were drawn to the book of Exodus and to the life of Jesus, the “Suffering Servant.” That’s why slave owners created “slave bibles,” bibles selectively edited to instill obedience. These bibles omitted 90% of the Old Testament and 50% of the New Testament.
"I would rather die than be a slave" as one white man wrote. Plato called slaves of his day more like machines than human beings.
David speaks the truth. To be a slave, for most, was to be quite literally, just a piece of property that could and Would do work. No greater value than a few pigs or oxen. Families were almost Always split up. Pretty girls were always available to the owners or sons, the better to "increase a man's Capital" by creating more slaves. Lashings were commonplace even for the most compliant, even if just for a reminder. They were brutalized, starved, overworked, kept from becoming literate... and STILL.... they survived. One. Day. at a Time. A glimpse into that life.... is Mr. Frederick Douglass' book , updated to modern English and slightly abridged by Elizabeth Anderson, "My Bondage and My Freedom".
@@AlexG1020 Lucky for them that the inhumane maltreatment of white slaves meant there are no descendants or diasporas of white slaves i MENA countries today. That way we can ignore the facts and be very selective in our approach to the subject of slavery. And while were at it,. let's forget that slavery is still existing and thriving - outside the sphere of influence of the west. The only civilization that actually banned all forms of slavery and live by it. They estimate that there are 50-60 million slaves right now, of course they are ignoring the poor people stripped of all their right and freedoms and held hostage in socialist dictatorships - whom are slaves to the socialist state's. If they were included (which I think they should) the number of slaves would skyrocket. And if this perversion of realitet wasn't complete, why not accuse and demonize the only civilization in history that ended slavery (on our territories at least) and tried to end it world wide.
Totally agree. It's like "Schindler's List" isn't so much about the Holocaust, it's about 600 Jews who were saved from the Holocaust! Or to quote from another classic: only one flew over the cuckoo's nest.
@@TTM9691 Spielberg begs to differ with you on that point.
There is a book titled, "Bullwhip Days: The Slaves Remember." The book is a compilation of the oral narratives of former enslaved people, recorded in the 1930s. What's horrifying is that there are audio recordings of former enslaved people describing their lives as human property. Horrifying because American slavery is so recent in our history that the technology existed to record their voices.
Are you of the mistaken belief that slavery isn't still happening all over Africa, Asia, and the Middle East? And everywhere else?
@@docsavage8640 I'm talking about slavery in the United States and how it isn't such ancient history. You're trying to brush it off with a "don't look here, look there" response. What does anything happening anywhere else in the world today have to do with my point?
@@docsavage8640 no it's not
@@docsavage8640 do you live in a bucket???
Cus honestly to come to such conclusions just to defend your own countries dark past is just incredibly naive and daft
Slavery was 154 years ago, it wasn't so recent. They were freed in 1862 with the Emancipation Proclamation, and the 13th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, The destruction of the Confederacy, at 1865.
Southerns were put back in their place!!
Bravo. To go from someone who limited themselves to rom-coms and chick flicks to tackling brutal & harrowing movies like 12 Years A Slave is a remarkable journey. Your self-education is impressive, and I can only hope that other movie reactors follow your lead.
Couldn’t have said it better myself
Super weirdo comment bro
@@euj0 hahahaha right??? I thought I was the only one
She didn’t start out with chick flicks or rom coms lmao
@@NicholasSteMarie She admitted to it herself. It's the premise of the channel. She is having her "first time watching" all these great movies because she spend most of her life watch Disney and such.
"Why would it bad if they learn to read or write?" An educated human being is the hardest person to enslave so America made it the law to keep African Americans enslaved. Thus it was illegal for slaves to learn to read. This was the written law during slavery in America.
Illiteracy was common thing back then. It took almost 70 years AFTER the abolition of slavery before the illiteracy was down to 30%. Perhaps people should start learning about actual history instead of thinking they are history professors after watching a Hollywood production and then begin theorizing and creating conspiracy theories based on their non-existent "knowledge". It's not like this information is hidden.
those were all southern states and most started before the US was a country. America didn't make it the law. the UK did
I saw first saw this movie in the theatre with my Grandmother. She talked about her Great Grandmother, who she knew as a little girl, who had been a slave in the late 1850s until the end of the Civil War. It is hard to imagine that those bad times weren't that long ago. Another great film about slavery is the Amazing Grace. The film is the true life story of the great British abolitionist leader, William Wilberforce. It is an inspiring film. Daniel Day Lewis's last film before he retired was Lincoln. It's wonderful.
This was the foundation of America! Everybody who’s denying facts is disrespecting the people who suffered from slavery. This movie is so heartbreaking and it made me shock how humans can be. I’m German and only felt the same way after I watched Schindler’s list.
its about 80 years after the foundation of america but shitty nonetheless
I've seen a lot films covering this era, so I wasn't expecting this one to upset me as much as it did. It was a very powerful film.
I am 50. I am so thankful to my teachers and school district that we learned all the REAL history of slavery in elementary school. So important. All the brutal truth and we didn’t grow up warped. We grew up knowing the TRUTH about this country. The good the bad and the ugly. Please dear girl watch Roots some time in your life. It is very very important.
Also Amistad, birth of a nation, the free state of jones and Glory
The scene where he is rescued and has to leave Patsy behind always hits me hard too. Really hard. Every time I see that, it changes my whole day and probably my whole week. This whole movie is life-changing, really.
same
@@MeloonM4n Hits me like a freight train. That scene is intense
Sarah Paulson deserved an Oscar nomination here. She is extraordinary and reaches Nurse Ratched levels of hate.
@@michaelnolan4349
It’s incredible when an actor from a younger generation can do that - be faithful while also putting their own spin on something. I’m also thinking of the criminally underrated Lizzy Caplan nailing Kathy Bates in Misery.
@@michaelnolan4349 Wait, there's a Cuckoo's nest remake?
@Doug Nading that's why there's a best actor and best actress category, along with best supporting actor and best supporting actress, 5 nominees per category plenty of room and still not enough for all the talent every year
@Doug Nading
He got his nomination.
@@tanelviil9149 He said, attempting to gaslight the entire comment section with an ego-driven narcissistic rant about how self-involved people are for not acknowledging the life of luxury lived by those coddled American slaves and concentration camp Jews...🙄
I have only watched this film once. I couldn’t bear watching it again!
Same
Haha same, the movie is depressing as hell
12 years a slave, In the Name of the Father, Waltz with Bashir, The Green Mile are the type of film you need to watch but hardly you will watch again.
I own the movie, but its story and theatrical content is indelibly recorded in my mind, not to mention the other countless imaginings of the slaves who had it worse in history. To touch lightly upon such as subject is nearly impossible.
Sad that it's black ppl history when other can choose to ignore it because it's to horrifying while it's a norm to black culture
There are still 40-50 million slaves TODAY, RIGHT NOW around the world, it sadly hasn't gone away
yeah, mostly in asia. its common for women particularly to be abducted in south east asia and sent to other parts of the continent to usually be whored out in some sort of fashion
This is one of the most difficult movies to watch but yes, we need to remember so it never happens again. The first time I watched "12 Years A Slave" was with my friend Sasha. We had no idea what ride was ahead of us. We were emotionally destroyed, clutching each other and sobbing hard for several minutes after the credits rolled. When we recovered a bit, we ordered hot wings and watched something to make us laugh again.
I saw this in the theater. The man who played Burch, the slaver who beat Solomon on the ship is a friend of mine. He warned me in advance that it would be a rough watch. That scene wrecked me, watching my friend beat that man like that.I was sobbing. And of course it only got worse. At the end of the movie, there was not a sound in the theater except people crying. I turned to the woman seated next to me and said, "Do you want to get a drink?" She said YES! and so we did. And we talked drank and talked it out. Still friends today. My poor friend said it was it was traumatic filming that scene but that Chiwetel was a wonderful, generous scene partner.
U talk to much
The subscriber talks to much
I'm actually reading the original book by Solomon Northup right now, the one this movie is based on. It's a fascinating, and at times gut-wrenching, read; also no one reading this could deny the man's intelligence. It's an eye-opener for sure.
As a side note, during the Civil War a group of Union soldiers on campaign in the region came upon the Epps Plantation, and one of them, who had read the book, said that it was even worse than Solomon had said it was. Patsy was still alive and still enslaved there when the soldiers came, and she went with them when they left. We don't know what happened to her after that, but I like to think that she was never enslaved again.
Thank you so much for sharing that. It is very tough to read about, but so important because of how deeply it can impact our hearts, and the need for us to care.
@@leedaniels1468 Do you have anymore details on this?
@Ruaidhrí Ryan Personally I like to think Lincoln's words in that debate were just an attempt to appeal to the masses, as he knew that taking a position in favor of black rights would be suicide for a politician in that day and age. There's certainly evidence that that was the case for the oft-quoted Greeley Letter, wherein he said that his primary object was to preserve the Union and not to end slavery, such as his statement at the end of that same letter when he said he was speaking of his role as President and his personal desire was that all men everywhere could be free, or the fact that he already had a draft of the Emancipation Proclamation drawn up when the letter was published. But yes; whether it was his actual opinion or simply an attempt to play politics, Lincoln did indeed say some things which, though certainly in line with the public opinion of the time, today would be more in keeping with the views of a White Supremacist.
As for the book by Solomon Northup, as I said, I am reading it right now, and I gotta say everything about it seems authentic. Using an editor or ghostwriter is a common practice even today, so the fact that Solomon used one doesn't change anything.
British Historian did a video on this - The movie is based on a book written by a white American Abolitionist named David Wilson .
th-cam.com/video/mKAqSqm4lQ8/w-d-xo.html
and
th-cam.com/video/hpK4FUCmbO4/w-d-xo.html
to see the video. Wilson heard about Northup and and wanted to capitalize on his name, by writing a book about him, claiming to be his autobiography.
As author Simon Webb says it is clear from the language in the book that it was not written by Solomon. Quoting the book and said that is what polite white people of the time would say to imply that all black people were stupid, clearly nor written by a black person.
Researching my family tree, I found my family on the Epps Plantation, and found my ancestors on a Will, giving them to him wife… They had over 3,000 people on their Plantation!
An ancestor of mine was also kidnapped into slavery. He was one of the few who was later freed. He was Native and mistaken for Black.
Interesting fact, the American Indians actively participated in the slave trade. Some of the first slave rebellions in America were Africans rebelling against their American Indian masters.
@@ITPalGame That is a wrong myth. The case you refere is the Anthony Johnson's in 1655, but europeans already practiced slavery in our continent, based in color since 1493. Second, there are registers of slave trade in America in 1634 (not indentured service, but slavery). Finally, indentured servitude is not slavery, and the African Slave Trade had a lot of peculiar aspects that made it the most cruel and disenfranchised of all.
I read and understood. I know you didn't say that indenture servitude is slavery. What I mean is, you can't compare when indenture service is converted to slavery (what happened with the Anthony Johhnson case in 1655) with pure, racial slavery. Again, the first slave owner in the US WAS NOT a black African.
Second, yeah every people practiced slavery (irrelevant for this discussion), but (as I've said) in our continent racially motivated (is the reason of this discussion) the first were Europeans with Columbus in 1493 (and not a person of color), and another cases before 1655.
And the most important, don't compare slavery in general in the world with the slave trade in Africa/America. There a lot of specially cruel characteristics that made that form of slavery the worst of all (for instance, lasted systematically almost 500 years, was fundamental/crucial to European capital accumulation and the economy of Europe and America, destroyed the Africa's economy and culture for centuries, the slaves were not considered even humans, they were transported to another continent, was totally support by the Church, slavery was not only a practice but the most lucrative part of nations economy, etc.)
And finally, just for curiosity, the word slave in english may be derived from slavs, but the real origin of the word came from Greek and in other languages (like french esclave, italian and portuguese escravo) has nothing to do with slavs.
@@ebls2000 Its just obvious white supremacist Whataboutism, cherry-picking examples in order to make it sound like Black people and First nations were the ones really responsible for slavery.
One of my ancestors was a slave owner whose wife was a slave who he freed(after owning her for a while.)
23:07 Reading is a powerful weapon for a slave to become free. Fredrick Douglass and other freedmen credit it with their escape. Literate slaves can send messages to each other, forge documents for their freedom, organize rebellions easily, or even prove themselves to be smarter than non slaves. That’s why reading is such a big deal to the slave owners
Not to mention it undermined the justification for slavery
@@elijahstiles3012 the justification for slavery was to gain productivity in holding people as property (Capitalism, ho). This end justified the means. The institution of slavery is way older than American Southern slavery based on racism. Ancient Rome for example held many slaves who could read and write, there were many greek slaves in Rome who were tasked as scribe. In Scandinavia it was even reversed: the christian slaves brought back from raiding mostly were able to read and write, while their viking masters were not.
What u mean is justification for racism.
I read his book after seeing this astonishing film - the film does his extraordinary words a lot of justice, but everybody should read the book too, should be required in all schools, especially America (if it isn't already).
Thank you for your heartfelt and sincere reaction.
Agree !
Don't tell the CRT mom's. They'll burn the books.
@@AdumbDriver Sad but probably true
Thank you Cassie for yet another powerful reaction to an important film. Not only myself but I'm sure you have made many fans due to respecting you for really putting yourself out there and reaction to films like this and Shindler's List among others that depict terrible moments in our human story of what people have done to each other. For me personally I think the unbroken shot of Solomon standing with other slaves at the burial and singing is one of the most powerful shots in cinema history. Up until that point in the film he has resisted acting like them and seeing a difference in himself to them. At that moment he breaks and accepts that he is a slave and will likely live his life as one and die in a cotton field. Expressing the moment in letting out that painful music on which the Blues genre is based on. Thank you once again for your reaction.
Patsy's lashes in this film count to 39. In the book, Solomon did say it was 30 and/or more.
And to add, during their last hug, she told Solomon, "What will become of me?". And it's quite clear those words haunted him.
The worst thing for me was that I grew up with classes that would watch movies like this in school to educate us about humanity. Those same classmates that said "how could this be acceptable... I would never stay silent in that situation if that was me."
Are still silent now.
The are more than silent, the are advocating it in public. Some people never learn from history because the were never taught history - and many were subjected to malicious revisionism to teach them how to hate.
If I’m being honest with myself if I didn’t have 21st century knowledge I’d probably be indifferent to slavery if I was born in the late 1700s 1800s america, maybe help some that I’ve grown to like.
Look at every dictatorship and repressive system throughout history. Standing up to it is far harder than people claim it is. Even knowing what I do with my morals, if you teleported me to the ante-bellum South, Nazi Germany etc, I wouldn’t have the courage to challenge the regime or institutions.
I love when a non African American can be open minded to watch something about my heritage and be compassionate and sensitive about it...Girl you made me cry lol
Its extremely rare.
@@MrRed-tf7bv
Extremely Extremely
Trivia: Before filming their more brutal scenes together, Lupita Nyong'o and Michael Fassbender performed a ritual of "making nice." According to Nyong'o, "We wouldn't say anything to each other, just a look in the eye and grasping of hands. Our characters are in such opposition, but we as actors needed each other in order to be able to go the distance." God bless you, Cassie for having the courage to watch this movie.
My friend Chris played Burch, who beat Chiwetel in the beginning. He said something similar. He said Chiwetel was a very generous and professional scene partner. They both needed time to recover. The scene with Lupita was even more brutal. And this her first role. She's astonishing. (And incredibly beautiful)
I imagine it would be a soul-wrenching experience to play a part in this movie. Like going against your instincts and conjuring up the nastiest of demons and letting them temporarily possess you. Kudos to these actors... many actors wouldn't willing or able to go that far.
The courage to watch this movie..... Lol wow.
Man oh man, watching others react to such emotionally powerful and painful experiences like Glory, Schindler's, or 12 Years, I just wanna give them a big ol' hug! Much love to you Cassie! Especially with everything going on in the world today. No need for hate and war, but love and peace.
There is an interesting play that ties together the worlds of slavery and Jewish persecution. I believe it is called Home on the Morning Train. It discusses the similarities between the Underground Railroad in the US smuggling slaves to freedom and the networks in Europe during the Hitler years trying to smuggle Jews out to freedom. In both cases it took incredible bravery to participate in this operation; if you got caught smuggling not only would the people you were trying to save get sent back to certain death but the smugglers would often get executed as well. I also saw a documentary recently that talked about something I hadn't really thought about. Slaves in Texas, unlike other Southern states, often didn't try to escape to the North to get their freedom, they headed South to Mexico where slavery was illegal. That's right, Mexico was the more enlightened country at the time which was worried about people crossing the border from US to Mexico!
This film is amazingly difficult to watch. I know you, Cassie, have a good heart. So i feared the pain you would have to endure watching this. I've watched this film only once... i just can't a second time and you like Solomon toughed it out. Never change Cassie. The world needs good hearts like yours and Solomons. Sending virtual hugs from NJ, USA. A Time to Kill (1996) is my recommendation. It is not about slavery but how such oppression still continues in the South, even in modern times.
Love your emotional response to this painful film. Your honest reactions are always welcome. You have a sweet soul. English actor Chiwetel Ejiofor was Oscar-nominated for his powerful lead performance but it was Lupita Nyong'o, a Yale Drama School graduate in her first film role, who won for her supporting role as Patsey. An unforgettable performance. The film received 9 Oscar nominations and also won for Best Picture and Screenplay. The fine German/Irish actor Michael Fassbender, who played Patsey's tormentor, was also Oscar-nominated.
Chiwetel Ejiofor was ROBBED at the Oscars. As was Steve McQueen, who should have won Best Director.
Slavery STILL exists around the world even today in 2022. The US abolished it long ago, but yes it is still happening elsewhere in the world.
The US never abolished slavery. That is a very comfortable lie that is told to americans.
"Exept" is a rather important word.
Slavery wasn’t abolished it in the United States, it was just amended to inmates and later we see the biggest incarceration class in the free world. Coincidence? Naw…
@@livin3179 "Passed by Congress on January 31, 1865, and ratified on December 6, 1865, the 13th amendment abolished slavery in the United States and provides that "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.".
@@cwell510 except as punishment for crime.... still excist then.
@@cwell510 “except as punishment for crime” it was their way of keeping slavery alive.
Michael Fassbender who played the 2nd slave owner was Christianson in Band of Brothers, that's where you know him from. He was amazing in this it takes a lot of guts to play a man that evil.
Steve McQueen was an experimental filmmaker before making genre films and I adored how overtly artful this was for a more traditional narrative. It could have played out like the countless slave films that go for a more melodramatic angle, but this one is special because of how deliberate and beautifully crafted it was.
I also love how we never see, through text cards, how long Solomon had been in captivity. It really puts us in the same uncertain headspace as Solomon throughout the film until we finally find peace at the end.
Powerful stuff.
Great film. He lost the Oscar to Matthew Mccaunaghy in Dallas Buyers Club. Both were deserving. Lupita nyongo did win for playing Patsy.
Nyongo said she got along great with Michael Fassbemder who played the villain. They’d go dancing when they weren’t on set. Funny how I can’t picture it after seeing this.
Sarah Paulson said they went shopping together in New Orleans when they weren't needed on set
I noticed my earlier comment was unfortunately attracting some negative replies/comments so I deleted it. I noticed these comments on a post that I made so I feel partly responsible. If I am, then I apologize. Now there's something I want to say in response to the people who made those comments or to anyone who have been making disparaging comments on this video. First off, I'm not trying to encourage conflict or debate. I'm trying to take a stand for peace and tolerance. To anyone making unsavory, distasteful, uncomfortable, insensitive, or controversial remarks relating to this film or to anyone belittling slavery and the suffering of countless people, I implore you to please stop. Isn't there enough conflict and tension in the world as it is? Do you really need to bring unnecessary conflict and tension to this video, on Cassie's channel, or anywhere else on a public platform such as this? Cassie's channel, to me, is meant to be a peaceful, friendly, compassionate place that values and respects human life. Humans who are real or fictional. To me, to bring ugliness and lack of sensitivity as well as lack of empathy to this channel is illogical and it's just a shame. It may be hard for you to hold back certain thoughts and opinions and you may find it hard to agree with what some people say about this film or about slavery. We're not all going to agree and friction may be unavoidable. But for the sake of peace and for the sake of ridding ourselves of tension I hope you can recognize a touchy subject when it presents itself and consider staying silent if you know your words will offend people. And please try to show some more consideration for others and treat all kinds of people with respect and decency. I put myself in this postilion of encouraging peace and tolerance. Honestly, I don't like doing it because it's emotionally exhausting and challenging. But I was seeing how some people were responding to this film and to slavery and it got under my skin. I apologize if my preaching was uncalled for or unwelcome. I've tried to address this very awkward business as peacefully and respectfully as I can. I hope you can do the same. Now in the words of Charlie Kaufman: "We hurt each other. Hate each other. How silly is that? Like a heart cell hating a lung cell."
"But for the sake of peace and for the sake of ridding ourselves of tension I hope you can recognize a touchy subject when it presents itself and consider staying silent if you know your words will offend people"
u know... back in this time those people who held slaves would have said exactly that sentence to those of the 'radical' abolitionist movement.
Since u deleted ur first comment i dont know the context of ur plea for peace and respect, but i consider conflict and debate a vital part of culture and society, so long as it is civil, in written form, and not carried out in violence.
U can have ur idea of "Cassie's channel", let others have theirs. Dont act as gatekeeper pls
I love you so much for watching this movie and having the courage to sit through it all and react the way you did... it does mean a lot.... never think people of color don't notice ...because we do and it ALWAYS means a lot... to me for sure... so thanks. there is something to be said of sharing in trauma of people . There is a DEEP sad psychology in this country carried throught the many centuries of the USA from the 1700s, 1800s, 1900s to now for minorities that a lot people don't get or care to understand. It affects how we live till this very day.. in big ways and small .
The scene that pushed me over the edge in the theater was where the slave dropped dead and they had the funeral. Solomon goes through so many emotions in that scene and finally relents and sings with them. Just a master class in acting. I was inconsolable after that scene and then got quiet when it was over. About an hour later I started sobbing again.
He had held on to hope for all those years, that was the moment he finally let go, and accepted this was his life now.
@@Russelshackleford that’s exactly how I took it. He had looked down on them until that moment. He became one of them.
😥😭
Your reaction mirrored the reaction I had when I watched this for the first time. The issue I had was, not only is this hard to watch, but I also live with the fact that a good portion of my family owned a number of slaves. Along with my family being large slave traders or "merchants" as they were labeled in the census of their time. It is a very difficult thing to rectify in your head when you look in the mirror and have to accept that the people you come from were capable of the atrocities that were displayed in this film.
We all descend from villains, victims, and heroes, if you look far enough back. We're only responsible for our own choices and actions.
@@averyfineloafer But it's still must be a hard thing to accept.
Thank you so saying what so many whites won't put down their ego long enough to admit... Case in point, the comment above is a common rebuttal. But thank you for the courage, honesty and humility it takes to admit and take down the pink elephant in the room.
How wonderful it is that you realize the importance of forsaking your comfort to learn the truth of life... Especially through movies. Keep doing that. I love your channel.
I took a graduate seminar in 19th century African-American history, and I have to tell you, this film is probably the most accurate portrayal of Antebellum slavery ever made.
Director, Steve McQueen, is such a talent. So many great films. Hunger might be too inaccessible unless you’re good with Irish accents and know a bit about Northern Ireland’s history. Shame is a rough watch but amazing. The best film he’s done, for me, is called Lover’s Rock, centred around a night in the British Caribbean community. It’s an absolute mood. Best film of 2020 for me.
Feel so bad for you going through the emotional roller coaster of this film. But, love your heart for doing so. I vote Cassie watches “won’t you be my neighbor” next. Yes, you’ll cry, but at least this time they will be happy tears.
Yes, yes! "Won't you be my neighbor" is a great suggestion. She needs a movie about human kindness to balance out this one about human horribleness! Mr. Rogers is my hero.
I would counter you with A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. I preferred that one to the documentary.
@@billiebuffalo mr. Rogers would say both films are beautifully inspiring, and worth reacting to. 😉
And keep in mind, Cassie... this is the history that certain people in power here in America don't want people to learn about... even now.
THIS IS why the US is like it is... History was never worked up.
Big difference between teaching about slavery, which they already do and teaching kids that white people are monsters and hate people of color. And this is coming from a POC.
@@damexican22 i doubt that bud. And they do want to limit slavery history in some states. No state teaches white people are monsters.
@@damexican22 Suuuure...Many people didn't even know about the Tulsa Massacre until a work of fiction (Watchmen) put it out there. Sundown towns existed until the late 60's. Not widely known until a work of fiction made it known. Jim Crow laws and how those laws shaped and affect the bureaucracy even now not widely taught. There's a problem when what's taught is no more than a footnote.
The German people don't shy away from their history during Nazi Germany the way Americans shy away from theirs. They seem to understand better that they need to heed it and burden that shame. And this is coming from a POC.
@@nimawhe you guys either had shit schooling or never listened in class because all of this is taught through high school and a little bit before you reach high school. But why is it being pushed onto younger kids that can't comprehend what actually is going on? Especially when there have been countless stories of parents fighting school boards because they are teaching them that white people are bad in elementary schools? Most of the parents arguing to be taken out are predominantly POCs that are in mixed relationships and don't agree with teaching kids that young.
Lusitania Nyong’o won an Oscar for supporting actress. Her first movie role.
*Lupita Nygo'o
By the way, you should also see "Lincoln" with Daniel Day Lewis. Another incredible film about those times and the people who tried to bring the institution of Slavery down.
This is one of those movies where you can only really watch it once, and everyone should.
Cassie, this was a time that a lot of people want to forget, but we should never forget.
For you to watch both Glory and 12 Years A Slave, I can only give you a round of applause for picking such emotional and heartbreaking pieces of historical cinema. I almost wanted to cry with you on both films, but at least, you do understand. Great job.
Yeah let's just keep going over the same thing to creat fake trauma and victim complex
@@baccaratpro9278 Jesus. Stop with the neo-confederate propaganda. Ellison is an anomaly of anomalies. 99.999999% of slave owners were white. And throwing in “Democratic Party” is more nonsense as we know the parties were polar opposites. Democrats were the party of conservative and small government. Republicans were progressives. That was the ideological platforms for decades after as well until essentially FDR with the remaining democrats existing as southern Dixiecrats before Nixon’s southern strategy and the final shift of those Dixiecrats to the modern GOP.
@@baccaratpro9278 And the irony for you to cherry pick some neo-confederate propaganda to push while at the same time saying this isn’t taught because of “white guilt” is hilarious. The actual “white guilt” is the one of conservatives trying to prevent any mention of our evil history committed by the ancestors of those same people. The “anti-CRT” while not wanting children to know about our evils of slavery, Jim Crow, etc. while simultaneously fighting for the shrines of enemy generals who attacked the US to uphold slavery (and stop before you start with “uhh it was a states rights issue bull). This movie was so powerful showing the most evil institution known to man we perpetuated for generations, fought a civil war to put an end to, followed by another century of slavery by another name in Jim Crow...and this was what you came into the comments to promote. So gross.
@@baccaratpro9278 LMfAO picking a 1 out of, 10000000 situations that align with your process of thought is so sad and desperate, you really came under this comment section to say that but for you, I guess the fact that a few people like Ellison existed justifies what slave owners did back then .
@@mattskeens803 Personally, I'm always of the view that history is too complicated to draw clear lines between different groups of people. There was no delineation between races and where they ended up in the hierarchy, there was off course a clear majority of certain races in specific classes of society, but there were always clear exceptions to the rule.
There were slave owners who used their Bibles to justify their ownership of slaves, and there were Christian abolitionists who based their opposition to the trade on the same Book. There were black slavers and slave owners, and there were white abolitionists. The South profited from the slave trade, but also suffered the effects in that they as a result were far behind the North in terms of industrialisation, meaning Confederate troops were always less better equipped and supplied than Northern troops. They were behind intellectually as well, as they had ostracized and ran off Southerners who opposed slavery, which included a large proportion of their intellectual community. The Confederate States are rightly remembered as a slaver state, but it is important to remember that those who actually owned slaves were about 26% of the population. These were clearly the wealthy elites, they controlled 68% of government positions, and held 78% of the state's wealth. On Emancipation, these people sacrificed and doomed hundreds of thousands of ordinary, poor, mostly young men, to hold on to their lifestyles. One of the prominent Dixecrats who switched over to become a Republican found religion and was the first Southern Politician to hire black people as advisors. There was always crossover.
Attempting to cast history in a sorely binary light, whether by either party, smacks of revisionism.
Did you recognize the actor who played Solomon also played the evil bounty hunter in Serenity who punched Inara and beat the living crap out of Mal?
Scrolled through the comments to see if someone mentioned that. Ejiofor is so good, one could be forgiven for not realizing it.
Then watch him in Kinky Boots, the 2005 British film that now is a stage musical, the man's extremely versatile.
She should watch Children of Men with him next. Or if she wants something more light hearted, 2012 or Love Actually
@@CadTrii234 She should do a run of musicals. Little Shop. Rent. Hamilton. Moulin Rouge (though I think she said once that she has seen that one already)
"Mr. Parker and Brad Pitt's character, I hope I would have been like that." As a descendant of slaves I just wanted to say thank you for that genuine sentiment.
No one knows how they would have been in the past, and that goes for everyone of every race. No population of humans is pure.
@@sup9542 Would you agree this Broad doing the videos would probably be nice and caring back then?? I can safely say that
You need to watch Lean On Me, it will be like a balm to your pain after this movie. It's also based on a true story, a real life person, and it's a very inspirational film. Also it was directed by the same person who directed Rocky.
Best Regards!
Absolutely agree. Morgan Freeman's best performance, or one of them, and you're right, it would be a balm.
Great movie
"They can't just do that!"
*Sigh* Cassie, they could and they did.
The acting performances for a single movie are among the best ever. Everyone absolute A-Game.
Ugh….. this was a gut wrenching reaction to watch. God bless you dear for doing it.
When Roots came out as a mini-series on television (before the age of video tapes). My family watched every episode. It changed us because it was the first time slavery was accurately portrayed other than books. Hard to watch, yes at times but that is why we must.
There was nothing accurate about Roots
Victim mentality like that has done nothing good for the black community.
@@thetannareeI'll gladly stay in the lane of truth 🤣👍irrefutable in every way. I'll stick to respecting everyone regardless of the color of their skin, all year long, instead of a measly month.
Yeah and the writer Alex Haley said it was a made up story that his people could believe...
I want to check roots but Idk where to watch it
I cried along with you, and I've seen it 3 times. The horrible slave owner was Michael Fassbender, if you see him interviewed he's a lovely man and really funny
At the beginning of the movie you when Solomon first appeared in chains and it became clear that they were holding him as an escaped slave you said "they can't do that", actually they can. The people who's job it was to capture escaped slave became what's we now call police officers. This, in my opinion explains to some extent the culture we see today when it comes to police culture. This was actually very common.
You also wondered why the slave owners wife didn't like Lupita's character. Slave owners often lusted after female slaves and their wives were jealous.
Sadly, this story and the cruel treatment was the norm not the exception. The reason the other slaves couldn't help Solomon when he was hanging was because they world be punished. Example would be made of them.
Lastly, the reason slaves were not allowed to read and write is because by keeping them uneducated they thought they'd be easier to control. When is why leaders in one particular political party today, wants to keep people uneducated. And also why one former, twice impeached president said "I love the uneducated".
Slavery made the United States the wealthiest and most powerful country on earth. After slavery ended they promised freed slaves 40 acres of land and a mule so they could survive. But the US government never paid that debt. As a result a lot starved to death...they had NOTHING!
But ironically, around that same time Europeans were coming here in droves and the US literally gave them plots of land.
This is what explains how decedents of slaves don't have the same generational wealth that provides basic things like housing and education.
And then to consider after slavery ended their was 100 years of Jim Crow and lynching. Black people in the United States have had to fight for every basic right that the so-called constitution says they should be born with. At the end of the day, the United States needs to settle this debt.
Thanks for having the bravery to see this movie Cassie. A lot of school systems in the south are now trying to cover this up.
All school systems also don't tell the truth that many slave owners were black and owned other black people. In some states, more black people owners slaved than white people. Also, there were more white slaves pre 16th century than there ever was black slaves post 16th century. It's pathetic that schools refuse to teach kids the truth and try to push a narrative.
Bravery? Lol come on it’s a movie based off the horrors her ancestors did to African Americans she’s not a child she knows
Say that again
Source please
Where are you getting this from? Because slavery is taught a lot in the south, even in the predominantly white schools.
This is one of those movies that you see once and never again
My dear, sweet Cassie! Thank you for reacting to this important film! I cried with you just like I did when I first watched this movie for the first time. It was so hard to watch! :( Thank you so much!
Thank you for selecting this movie. One of my favourites, sadly not a lof of reactions on TH-cam. Amazing reaction.
It was really hard to watch you experience this Cassie. Some moments of history are too painful to even contemplate but we recognise how essential it is to represent them and honour the truth. Our hearts broke at the same time.
I know a lot of people have said it already bt I also wanted to say thank you for making this. And like u said, sometimes its hard to watch these difficult movies bt we have to because it history, and just because we ignore it doesn't mean it goes away. It's important to remember and learn about these things. Great video, great movie. Thank you.
When I saw that you were going to watch this, my heart ached for you. These are the things that we can't afford to forget. If they could survive it, then we should be able to see it.
That ending is one of the few times I've actually cried in a movie.
This film is required viewing. It shows the ugly history of slavery and helps us understand our world today. Amazing reaction as always, Cassie. Much respect for watching this important film. May we all work for a world in which all people are free and living together in just community. 💙🙏🏽
Chiwetal Ejiofor and Michael Fassbender were robbed of Oscars.
I watched this movie twice in theaters and sobbed my eyes out both time. One of the great films of the 21st century.
Last post: I read an article in the NY Times around the time this film came out. A scholar's roundtable on the film and slavery in general. These experts explained that the film actually goes light on the brutality. Things were actually worse in real life than the violence shown in this film. Hard to believe but true. 💔😢🙏🏽
Your reaction to this movie broke my heart. I never expected to see you react to a movie like this. I appreciate you featuring this movie.
Wow! Thank you for watching this film. You showed incredible courage by watching it and allowing us to view your reactions to it. This movie is intensely moving from start to finish. It's horrifyingly raw with the brutality of treatment against the slaves; how any persons can 'disconnect' themselves from the emotions of humanity is beyond today's modern cognitive and cultural comprehension. Watching this movie that was brilliantly written, exquisitly directed and casted, not to mention the passion within the performances by all the actors is second to none. If ever there were a film that can comprehensively detail the enormous gravity of human suffering (as well as being based upon a true story) this movie is certainly within the Top 5 of all time. Once again, thank you for sharing.
12 Years A Slave was one of the hardest movies I’ve ever seen, along with Schindler’s List. Plus Sarah Paulson was absolutely terrifying as Mrs Epps. Plus watch carefully when Solomon is leaving the plantation, Patsy collapses to the ground in shock.
I'm Black This movie came out when I was 17. And I saw in the theaters and it was absolutely silent. When the movie was over it was absolutely silent everyone exited the theater and nobody spoke. I have never ever ever watched it again. I read the book. But I could not bring myself to ever see this movie again.
Lupita shocked the world with that performance.
Michael Fassbender also; evil is not close to enough to describe that man, and he played it so well….. Lupita praised him during her oscar speech when she won for this
Calling him her rock
I also really wish Chiwetel Ejiofor had won an Oscar for this performance! He succeeded at showing us such complex emotions that would be hard for the audience to fathom without a truly world class actor conveying it. He was nominated, but he lost to Matthew McConaughey for Dallas Buyers Club. CE's acting is a much greater accomplishment, IMHO.
MM was great in that movie, but I think in the long run that will go down as a mistake by the academy. CE is one of those actors who I always recognize and then immediately forget they're acting, because they sink so deep into their roles.
This movie was a difficult watch, I went to watch it in the theatre and I felt my heart ripping in pieces with sadness and anger.
Really appreciate that you took the time to watch this no matter how hard or uncomfortable the film is.
It's extremely hard to watch movies like this as a black man. But I appreciate you for having an open mind and big heart for doing this.
One disturbing rumor about the main character, apparently somehow he was sold back into slavery.
nothing is known about when, where and how he died. the likelihood he was sold back into slavery is extremely unlikely though
The mind boggling thought that this is just one story in a world of millions upon millions of insanely traumatic instances that individuals of the human race have experienced. And not just black slavery. We have done some immensely horrible things to our brothers and sisters -- all done out of greed, selfishness, and pride.
Exactly. Every race has experienced slavery on a large scale.
@@MisterDevos Chattel Slavery in the Americas was the first time that one specific RACE were dehumanized and target for slavery. Thats why its call systematic racism. So not, its not All Lives Matter in this specific case, and that is not what MomoMyPup10 meant with their comment.
@@kyraspikes7542 You would be incorrect, the Arab led Saharan Slave trade in Africa existed LONG before the Transatlantic Slave trade as well as long after the Transatlantic Slave trade. The Arabs were slaving in Africa for over 1200 years. They enslaved millions more Africans than the Transatlantic slave trade but you are never going to hear about it because it does not fit the narrative of the evil white man and the poor innocent black man. I will also point out that the The Barbary slave trade between the 16th and 19th century refers to slave markets on the Barbary Coast of North Africa, which included the Ottoman states of Algeria, Tunisia and Tripolitania and the independent sultanate of Morocco. European slaves were acquired by Barbary pirates in slave raids on ships and by raids on coastal towns from Italy to the Netherlands, Ireland and the southwest of Britain, as far north as Iceland and into the Eastern Mediterranean. The Ottoman Eastern Mediterranean was the scene of intense piracy. As late as the 18th century, piracy continued to be a consistent threat to maritime traffic in the Aegean. MILLIONS of Europeans were enslaved and sold into those slave markets so despite what you have been programmed to believe the black experience in America is not unique or even special.
@@CRAZYHORSE19682003 It's funny how people-of-colour across the planet, who as you say have 'all been slaves' at some point in their past, don't fall for this "All Lives Matter" bullshit, but insecure small dick energy white people fall for it every time. If millions of peoples of color can grow their heart to feel for others who are not like them, what does is say about white people that they constantly fall into the "what about meeeeeeeeeeeeee?????" childish squealing for attention?
My people were enslaved. My sister in law's peoples were literally not classified as human beings until the 1950's. But we support the Black Experience and the racism they face today in one of the Western World's most racist countries. All you do is go around whining like a little bitch that nobody has any love for you. It's little wonder they would if you just consistently shit on the experiences of other people to make your own, insignificant, miserable little life feel important.
And for the record, historically speaking, its not how people were treated back then that matters. It's how they're treated now and how the past informs how people treat them now. All the white slavery of the last 2,000 years has not caused an entire planet to think of white people as inhuman, inferior or as chattels. Even in the East, white people aren't deemed to be disposable except by other white people.
For all your historical ranting, you don't' even understand the perspective of the people you're trying to fight and you're embarrassing yourself in public punching the very air itself while your "enemies" lean on a wall behind you and watch in fascinated horror that you haven't realized you're fighting nothing but your own shadows.
@@kyraspikes7542 I will also point out that the word Slave comes from the word Slav, an ethnic group in Eastern Europe who were so heavily enslaved by the ottomans, Mongols, and other invading powers that their race became the word for slave. So your claim that the Transatlantic Slave trade was the first time a specific race was targeted it completely false but it shows how well you have been programmed to believe that the poor widdle black man has had it worse than anyone.
I'm amazed you watched such a heartbreaking movie. As incredible as the film is; it is hard to watch. You are true to your words.
The Fassbenders live close to my in laws just outside Killarney. My mother in law taught Michael in primary school. I watched this with my wife and her parents. Let’s just say jaws were on the ground with his performance. They were all shocked. My mother in law wanted to watch Shame too. I told my wife they’d be a bit more shocked to watch that as a family with all the full frontal in it. They decided against that one for family night…. 😆
Thank you for watching, Cassie. Next October, you shouldn't be afraid of any film for your scarefest.
I’ve always said this is a horror movie.
The biggest takeaway for me from this film after I saw it in the theater back in the day was the atmosphere of crippling fear that southern slaves had to endure on a daily basis. Just knowing the facts about chattel slavery in the US does not convey this lived experience of plantation slaves with the force or immediacy of a dramatization of this quality.
Also, in reference to your question regarding the kidnappings legality - you should look up the history of the fugitive slave act, I believe the events in the film pre-date the acts passage but the law only codified what was already regular practice in some locations. (Basically, it was illegal for slave catchers to apprehend free blacks in non-slave states but the law meant there was very little to stop it from happening anyway.)
Huh? I’m confused to your understanding of the law or maybe I’m misreading it. The fugitive slave act, the second one in 1850 which was passed towards the last few years of his captivity, wasn’t a law that prevented any illegal kidnappings. The original one made it legal dor slave holders to recover their slaves who had escaped and this second one made it easier for southerners to travel to the north and arrest slaves who had escaped and be returned to their masters but required those in free states to cooperate and aid in in doing so. While the 1850 compromise was one of the worst laws ever passed, it at least rallied the northern abolitionist movement bringing the issue of slavery directly to them instead of out of sight and mind.
History serves the purpose of everyone to learn from it. Recent years there is an effort to rewrite or delete history. If that happens we will be doomed to repeat history eventually.
"Recent years there is an effort to rewrite or delete history."
Try decades. some people get very uncomfortable around truth and real history. And it get's weirder because they are at the forefront telling us not to forget history lol
You have such a beautiful soul, we need more people like you in this world.
I have to say that I am SOO PROUD OF YOU for making it through this film, there are many who can't make it through these types of films. It's a very hard pill to swallow about that reality.
Winner of 3 Oscars including Best Picture.
Just have to say, Cassey you just restore my faith in humanity with your kindness, thank you so much! greetings from México.
I was so happy this movie was made with so much care and honesty. Generations back, my family actually purchased the New York home directly from Solomon's son, and my family knew about this story for a while. Truly a tragic story, but important to prove how horrible people can be when given power over others.
Another great reaction video, Cassie.
I've seen this. This was so tough. You've got a damn good heart. Please don't ever lose it.
The acting by everyone in this film was amazing. Lupita won the Oscar for her role as Patsy. The horror of this movie (based on a true story) is the HISTORY of America. While this had a happy ending, most of our ancestors' stories did not. Thank you for reacting to this. It's important to give these amazing films a platform.
This is an important movie and a true story. Thanks for watching this and honoring black history month. And I love that you said that there will be more movies coming that will lift up black stories and actors. My favorite actor is Denzel Washington, who has made so many great and important roles and is a strong Christian, and Glory was a fantastic pick. MLK is my favorite hero, and maybe the U.S.'s greatest hero. So anything featuring those two men would be awesome picks!
One of the worst things in life period is knowing that this insane practice of slavery (and discrimination after) happened. But even worse when these slave owning devils hold a Bible in their hands. It's ironic, since it only holds fire and condemnation for them.
“Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death."
Exodus 21:16
This single verse (if followed) would have annihilated the entire slave industry, and put anyone involved in it to a quick death.
Slavery in Israel (in the Bible) basically had to do with prisoners of war, from attacking nations, etc (in contrast with the Roman Empire, that enslaved 1/3 of its population), which obviously zero Africans in the slave trade ever went to war with Europeans, so there should have been zero slaves in the history of the Americas.
But even the biblical term "slave" meant something entirely different.
“If slaves should escape from their masters and take refuge with you, you must not hand them over to their masters. Let them live among you in any town they choose, and do not oppress them.
Deuteronomy 23:15-16
This completely redefines what slavery means and how you would treat them (essentially something entirely different). If you can't stop them from leaving, it redefines the relationship. Also if they brought physical harm to slaves, it released the slaves from any political or financial obligation and set them free immediately, and the "masters" would be harmed themselves for treating them like that.
They are also described as equals, and masters are given warning since the true master in heaven is watching.
"because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him."
Ephesians 6:8-9
"There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
Galatians 3:28
"Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven."
Colossians 4:1
Very great choice of movie, exposing true evil for what it is. And I'm so glad for the heroic Canadian in the movie. But just so sad that there weren't more who did right, and that there was ever a single African slave ever. And I think it's really important to care about the black community and to lift up their stories and heroes.
Looking forward to fun movies too, but thanks again for taking on such an important one.
WOW!! Yeah, this is one of those "hard watch" movies. I've only seen it once cause once was all I needed. But it is important to watch these movies. Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan, Green Mile are all movies that will stick with you after just 1 viewing.
This is a really hard movie to watch, and watching you broke my heart. Your not the only one who cried. This was the most RAW reaction... thank you for sharing this. 😔❤
Incredible, gut wrenching film. No words can express how this story got to me. Simply brilliant.
Being able to read and write is education. They didn't want them to develop any sort of power or communication to rebel. Education is power.
I got chills when I saw the trailer for this film. Chiwtel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Giamatti, Lupita Nyong'o, Brad Pitt, and Alfre Woodard. That is a monster cast if I've ever seen one. It is based on a true story and it is speculated, I believe, that Solomon was recaptured and enslaved again, the reason for his disappearance. This film is hard for some people to watch, for those who really take in what is being shown on screen. For others, it kind of goes over their heads.
How bout Paul Dano. Such an underrated actor. I’m glad he’s getting more recognition for the riddler in the batman
@@netrunner2326 Him too. I forgot to list him, and you just reminded me who plays Riddler.
@@reelthought3867 just watched the batman an hour ago. Holy fucking shit it’s a masterpiece.
@@netrunner2326 Really? I do reviews on my channel so I will be watching it soon. Earliest showing is at 3pm. I hope I enjoy it.
@@reelthought3867 if you like really dark and gritty movies. Detective noir movies. The movie Se7en and zodiac. You’ll love this movie. This is the type of shit I’ve been waiting for in a batman movie.
I wondered what ever became of Patsey. From what I read, during the American Civil War, the Union Army reached edwin epps'plantation. They were specifically looking for Patsey, I think. They found her and took her away from there and freed her, however, nothing yet is known about Patsey's life after freedom.
Yeesh, you're not going easy on yourself this month. Much respect to Popcorn.
Those who don't remember their pasts are doomed to repeat it.
Whoa. Cassie might have been better off watching a horror movie. Anyway, I love seeing non-Americans react to United States-centric stories. They hold an unbiased look at the subject matter. From the fantasy of Rocky 4, to this. I love it. Having said all that, you could have eased into Black History Month with a Malcolm X or something, though, LOL!
Agreed, Malcolm X is fantastic!
Wait isn't she American?
@@Aggelostououranou I believe she lives her now but she’s Canadian.
@@Aggelostououranou Cassie lives in Utah, but she was raised in Canada. -Jon
@@tanelviil9149 "It's amazing to me what a fool needs to believe to get by."
You do realize that former African slaves in the U.S., like Frederick Douglass, wrote their own stories once they learned how to read and write, correct?
You do realize that a simple Google search will show you pictures of post-slavery lynchings, correct?
You do realize that you can read the U.S. Constitution and see how former slaves were only counted as 3/5 of a human, correct?
You do realize you can look up the word "redlining" and find a plethora of information on the subject, correct?
You do realize that I could go on, correct?
I see this as being similar to Schindler’s list. We had no idea what happened and how cruel and how bad it was. It’s so sad to watch and learn what these peoples lives were like. But the stories have to be told, we can’t forget what happened. And yes it might be a little better now than it was back then I’ll admit, but we have to remember not to treat people as property, never judge a book by its cover, and do onto others as you would have them do you unto to you. It’s the easiest rule to remember. And if you want to take a step further, when you see something happening that you know is not right, step up, get involved. It’s a beautiful thing to help someone who needs it especially when they’re not expecting it. Thank you for watching this and understanding it’s importance.
I didn't see Schindler's List when it was released. I grew up in an Army family (I was 26 when he retired) most of it during the cold war and a lot of time in Germany. We'd even visited Belsen concentration camp. Our neighbours on base went to see it in the cinema and said that they drove back from the cinema in silence, stopped in the driveway, hugged each other and cried.
I knew it was a film I had to see, I think everyone should. It was some years later when I was actually at the Military Academy doing officer training, that one Saturday night, I sat down to watch it, making sure I wouldn't be disturbed. I lost it at the end when the actual survivors and relatives were walking past Schindler's grave. Cried my eyes out I'm not ashamed to admit. It certainly is a story that needs to be remembered.
Definitely a tough watch. A brilliant film, and truly reflective of the circumstances for many people. I feel for you, Cassie. Thank you for choosing to endure this.
32:00 - 32:48
Probably the most tearfully, but empowering scene. The fact that he Solomon feels the need to apologize to his family for leaving them all those years, but still his family does what they can to assure him that it wasn't his fault, just hits so hard.
This made my stomach turn, but my heart goes out to those that endured this torture.