CAPITAL REGION, NY (WRGB) — A monument honoring Solomon Northup, a free Black man from New York who was kidnapped and enslaved in Louisiana, was unveiled in Marksville, La., this weekend.
The dedication of the Solomon Northup Monument Plaza features the first bronze sculpture of the abolitionist, titled “Hope Out of Darkness.” Northup’s story, famously chronicled in “12 Years a Slave,” remains a significant testimony in U.S. slavery history.
Melissa Howell, a descendant of Northup, described the event as “incredibly emotional.” She reflected on Northup’s “compassion, the emotion, the courage, the strength, his resilience, of looking north.” Howell emphasized the importance of remembering his journey and invited everyone to learn about his legacy.
Northup’s family settled in Saratoga in 1834, and the region continues to honor his memory with Solomon Northup Day. January 4 marks the 173rd anniversary of his freedom.
