Breaking Racial Barrier: 12 Years A Slave Wins Oscar For Best Picture

The 86th Academy Awards on Sunday night awarded its highest honor to “12 Years a Slave”, naming the movie best picture.

Three awards were won in total by this incredible drama which told the story of the life of free man turned slave, Solomon Northrup. “12 Years a Slave” won for best picture, best supporting actress played by Lupita Nyong’o and best adapted screenplay written by John Ridley.

Lupita Nyong’o’s acceptance speech was one of elegance and pure joy. New to the Oscar scene, Nyongo thanked her family, friends and professors who taught her that acting was her true calling.

Her performance in “12 Years a Slave” as Patsey in 1840’s Louisiana was her first role in a feature film. Born in Mexico to Kenyan parents, she graduated from the Yale School of Drama in 2012. She is the first Mexican born female to win an Oscar.

British Director Steve McQueen was clearly a bit overwhelmed at the film’s success. Born October 9, 1969, in London, England, this was McQueen’s first Oscar nomination. He is also known for his work on “Shame” (2011) and “Hunger” (2008). He appeared tongue tied when it was time to give the acceptance speech.

One of the film’s producers, famous actor Brad Pitt, accepted the award for the entire crew and then handed over the microphone to a stunned McQueen. He is the first black man to win the prestigious award in the 86 years of history of the Oscars.

McQueen said that Solomon Northrup’s legacy lives on and that “Everyone deserves not just to survive, but to live.”

The story of Solomon Northrup is one of hope, perseverance and strength. It gives life to what should not be forgotten in the history of the United States.

Making movies like “12 Years a Slave” is critical so that we can continue to teach our youth about the horrors of slavery.

The movie portrayed the life of Solomon Northrup who was a free African-American kidnapped and sold into slavery. McQueen added, “This is for all the people who have endured slavery, and the 21 million people who still endure slavery today.”

In this adapted true story of Solomon Northrup, the cast brought to life the struggles Northrup faced as a once free man in New York who found himself in the grips of slavery in the south. Northrup was living in Saratoga, NY with his wife and two kids. He supported his family by working as a violinist.

He was tricked by a slave trader, and believing he was going to an out of town work gig, went with the trader instead. With full papers stating that Platt was indeed a slave, the slave trader easily convinced others that Northrup was an escaped slave. Northrup was then drugged and sold to the deep south under the name Platt.

He fought to survive and faced incredibly cruelty, trying to become a free man once again. The movie showed the struggles for slaves, who were at the mercy of their owners.

Northrup tried to stay quiet and please his owners but even that proved to be futile.

During his ordeal, Northrup meets a Canadian abolitionist and his life changes once again forever.

After 12 years, Northrup is returned home after a series of fortunate events unfold. His family is there waiting for him. 12 years older, his daughter has married, and gave birth to a son that she named after her father.

Although Northrup tries to sue his kidnappers, he is not successful. He later becomes an abolitionist and becomes successful at helping many runaway slaves reach their freedom.