Avoyelles Parish, La. – A new statue has been unveiled in Avoyelles Parish to mark the 173rd anniversary of the liberation of Solomon Northup, a man who was wrongfully enslaved in the 19th century.
Born free in upstate New York in 1807, Northup was tricked into slavery in 1842 and endured 12 years of forced labor in Louisiana under the name “Platt Hamilton.” He eventually regained his freedom in 1853.
Melissa Howell, a direct descendant of Northup, emphasized the significance of the statue’s location. “It stands here as a tribute to his reclaimed freedom,” Howell said.
The statue was created by sculptor Wesley Wofford and serves as a lasting reminder of Northup’s extraordinary journey. His story is detailed in his 1853 autobiography, 12 Years a Slave, which was later adapted into a 2014 Academy Award-winning film.
The dedication of the statue is part of ongoing efforts to preserve history and honor the lives and struggles of those who were enslaved in Louisiana.
