12 Years A Slave TRAILER

[Quixote1818]

This looks amazing and it's getting rave reviews, being called the best film of the year.

[rdharma]

1. I'm a cheap SOB...... but I'm going to see this film at the earliest opportunity. nt

[JDPriestly]

2. Most Americans, especially most Southerners, do not admit to themselves just how horrible

slavery really was.

And yet we all regardless of our race pay for the vestiges from that cruel institution and from the remaining vestiges of the medieval master/servant relationship in our work lives.

The boss has all power. American law provides minimal protection for the rights of a working person who is overwhelmed by the power that "ownership" gives to the employer.

I am not talking about socialism. I am talking about defending the right of a working person to enjoy dignity and respect as well as no discrimination or harassment in the workplace.

Bosses should not be allowed to fire employees in order to hire a family member or a friend. They should not be allowed to disrespect or insult employees for personal characteristics. They should be obligated to train their employees for the job when necessary, not just fire an employee to replace him or her with someone when a new skill is required.

American workers have no voice in the management of the workplace. That is not good for the economy. That is not good for the bosses or the employees.

Slavery has left a terrible legacy to working Americans today.

Especially in the South, but also in the North, the fundamental rotten character of the slavery tradition is present and it is foul. I hope everyone will see the film.

[SheilaT]

3. I have heard people in very recent years actually

say, Oh slavery wasn't so bad.

Then try it, I say. But that response doesn't get them to think about what they actually have said, and I get totally enraged.

I have a feeling the movie will be very, very difficult to watch.

[sulphurdunn]

5. Why not talk about socialism?

[Quixote1818]

6. Here is a PRIME example of that!

[blackspade]

11. That is painful to watch....

[tomm2thumbs]

4. sounds like it is going to be brutally honest about what slavery was

http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2013/oct/18/steve-mcqueen-12-years-a-slave

hopefully will open eyes to some who have shut them consciously

[blackspade]

7. The legacy of slavery is a poison in American society

This movie looks amazing.
It makes me want to go rewatch Roots and A Color Purple.

[JDPriestly]

8. You are so right.

[tomp]

12. slavery is the original divide...

...between progressive and reactionary in america that persists to today. the capitalist/imperialist powers that be are still trying to siphon off as much surplus value (created by labor) as possible, and doing a bang up job at it.

[blackspade]

13. Indeed.

well said.

[JI7]

9. i would like to read the story of this first

[robbob]

10. sounds like the perfect antidote to "Django Unchained"

...sorry, not a big Tarantino fan.

[Courtesy Flush]

14. I read the book several years ago.

I was into reading first-hand historical accounts. The book was actually written by Northup after he regained his freedom.

We all know about slavery, but there were little things that shed light on specific issues. For one, slaves could move around unescorted as long as they had a note from their master, saying where they were allowed to go, and for how long. This meant two things. Slaves could be harassed by anyone demanding to see their note -- hoping to collect a bounty, and the laws against literacy for slaves were partly based on preventing them from forging their own notes in order to escape to freedom.

It was also illegal for slaves to be taught to swim. In those days, there were few bridges here in South Louisiana (where Northup spent those twelve years), so the bayous provided a barrier to escape.

I was certain I had found the book on Gutenberg.org, since it's now in the public domain, but I can't find it there now.

Here's the audiobook.

http://librivox.org/twelve-years-a-slave-by-solomon-northup/

[Quixote1818]

15. Interesting. So being from the North he could swim and was able to escape?

Also he could write his own note because he could write?

[Courtesy Flush]

16. It's been so long since I've read it

I really don't remember. He was held for 12 years, so there was more keeping him there.

Being from the north is no guarantee he could swim, but he was definitely literate.