Introduction:
Written by Solomon Northup, a free Black man who was abducted and sold into slavery in the
1840s, "12 Years a Slave" is a riveting memoir. This book tells the story of Solomon Northup, a
slave in Louisiana who was subjected to severe treatment and saw the horrors of the slave trade
firsthand. Readers are immersed in Northup's evocative and frighteningly honest description of
life in the antebellum South, when slavery was not only legal but intrinsic to daily life. As
Northup was a free man before to his abduction, he is in a unique position to write about slavery
from a comparative viewpoint. A strong reminder of the continuing fight for racial justice and
equality, "12 Years a Slave" is a moving and significant movie that illuminates the horrific
reality of slavery in America.
Code of Ethics:
The film "12 Years a Slave" is based on the life of Solomon Northup, a free Black American
who was abducted and sold into slavery in the middle of the nineteenth century. The film's
examination of issues of privilege, injustice, and power serves as a sobering reminder of the need
for universally upheld ethical standards.
An ethical code is a collection of rules intended to promote moral decision-making in a specific
setting. No moral norms existed to safeguard the freedom and self-respect of slaves like Solomon
Northup throughout the era of slavery. Slavery, on the other hand, was founded on the idea that
certain people were so inferior that they should be treated like property and exchanged for other
people. Nonetheless, there are ethical norms in place to make sure everyone is treated with
respect and dignity in today's world. Several fields of work, for instance, publish codes of ethics
that spell out the acceptable levels of conduct for its members. The Hippocratic Oath, taken by
medical professionals, pledges them to put their patients' well-being ahead of their own.
In a similar vein, the film "12 Years a Slave" emphasizes the need for ethical standards to
safeguard the human rights and dignity of those who are most at risk of being exploited and
abused. To provide just one example, the slave trade thrived on a foundation of moral corruption,
with slave dealers and plantation owners seeing their captives as nothing more than commodities.
Ethical standards, on the other hand, call on people to treat others with kindness and compassion
regardless of who they are or what they've been through. The Canadian carpenter Samuel Bass,
for instance, who befriends Solomon and plays a key role in setting him free, is a prime
illustration of this principle at work. At the beginning, Bass is reluctant to assist Solomon
because he is worried about getting in trouble for aiding a slave in his attempt to escape. Yet, he
chooses to aid Solomon because he thinks it is the proper thing to do. Bass's deeds highlight the
value of moral standards in encouraging others to do the right thing even when it's inconvenient
or dangerous to do so, as seen by his own acts. A second illustration of the value of moral
principles is provided by William Ford, the plantation owner who buys Solomon soon after his
abduction. In contrast to many other plantation owners, Ford is shown as a kind slave master
who treats his captives with dignity and compassion. Ford may have been relatively kind with his
slaves, but he is still complicit in the institution of slavery and reaps the advantages of the work
of those who are forced to serve him. This exemplifies the reality that without a robust ethical
framework to guide their behavior, even ostensibly "good" individuals may get embedded in
immoral institutions.
The film "12 Years a Slave" is a sobering reminder of the value of moral principles in promoting
equality of treatment for all people. While the events of the film take place in the setting of
slavery, the concepts it explores are applicable to any situation in which a person is at risk of
being exploited or abused. Ethical standards may promote social justice and equality by
instructing people to treat others with kindness, fairness, and reverence in their daily lives.
Obligations:
The film "12 Years a Slave" portrays the narrative of Solomon Northup, an unenslaved Black
man from upstate New York who is abducted and sold into slavery in the South. Several topics
are covered in the video, including people's moral duty to work against slavery and tyranny.
The concept of duty is explored extensively throughout the film. Early on in the film, Solomon is
a free man with full citizenship in the United States. Nevertheless, after being abducted and sold
into slavery, he loses all of his freedoms and is subjected to terrible treatment. The film prompts
viewers to question their responsibility towards an innocent victim like Solomon.
Throughout the film, it is implied that we have a duty to take action against slavery and other
types of tyranny. Characters like the white slave owners who perpetuate and profit from the
institution of slavery, or the white spectators who observe the horror of slavery but do nothing to
stop it, are instances of those who fail to live up to this commitment throughout the film. In the
same breath, the movie implies that it may not be simple to carry out our duty to end slavery;
rather, we may have to take considerable risks and make substantial sacrifices. For instance, we
learn that Solomon's escape from slavery is very challenging, and that he can only succeed with
the support of a small group of white people who are ready to put themselves in danger to free
him.
The video concludes that we must fight slavery and other types of tyranny not just because it is
wrong, but because it is necessary for our survival. Perpetuating slavery is harmful to everyone
in society, not just those who are slaves, since it is an unfair and unsustainable institution. To
sum up, the film "12 Years a Slave" is an effective call to arms against slavery and all kinds of
tyranny. The video prompts us to question our personal and social responsibilities in the face of
injustice and hints that doing the right thing may include taking risks and giving up things we
care about. In the end, however, the video implies that eradicating slavery isn't only the right
thing to do; it's also necessary if we want to create a fair and equal society for all people.
Regulation:
A dramatic and emotionally compelling picture, "12 Years a Slave" exposes the harsh reality of
slavery in the United States in the nineteenth century. The film is a powerful reminder of the
atrocities committed against Black Americans during this period and the need of legislation to
avoid a repetition of these tragedies. The term "regulation" is used to describe the process of
establishing norms and regulations to control the actions of people and organizations. Slavery
occurred in a framework where there was almost no oversight, which gave slave owners free rein
to do horrendous acts against their human property. Slavery and the inhumane treatment of
slaves by their masters are shown graphically in this video.
Slavery's utter absence of legal safeguards is one of the film's most striking features. In the eyes
of the law, they were just possessions, and as such, they had no special privileges or safeguards.
Because of this, slave owners could abuse their slaves anyway they saw fit, including beating,
torturing, and murdering them, without facing any legal ramifications. Slave owners were able to
freely exploit and mistreat their slaves since there were no laws in place to prevent them from
doing so. Slaves had little chance of escaping their bondage or even bettering their living
circumstances since they had any legal remedy. Many slaves in this film are shown as living in
constant pain and fear, with little prospect of ever breaking free.
The significance of laws and rules to curb abuses like this is a major subject of the film. As the
plot develops, we find that slave owners were free to commit any number of atrocities on their
human property because of the absence of any regulations restricting such behavior. We also
learn how the work of abolitionists and other activists led to improved legal safeguards for
slaves. New rules and regulations were created to protect slaves and prevent such tragedies from
occurring again because of the brave efforts of individuals like Solomon Northup, the film's
protagonist, and the many other abolitionists who battled to eliminate slavery. These actions
were crucial in abolishing slavery in the United States and continue to motivate modern-day
activists for social change.
At the end of the day, "12 Years a Slave" shows how important it is to have rules in place to
protect the most defenseless people from abuse and cruelty. The video is an effective reminder of
slavery's atrocities and the critical part that legislation played in putting an end to the institution.
Moreover, it highlights the ever-present need for stringent control and monitoring to safeguard
the rights and dignity of all people, regardless of their color, ethnicity, or socioeconomic
standing.
Solution and Implementation:
Slavery in the United States in the 19th century is shown in all its brutality in the film "12 Years
a Slave," which is both compelling and horrific. Solomon Northup is a free black man from
upstate New York whose tale is told in the film. He is abducted and sold into slavery. The video
is a powerful reminder of the terrible conditions in which slaves lived and the urgent need to find
ways to prevent such horrors from ever occurring again. Making sure everyone can get an
education and knows their rights is one way to stop slavery from happening. This will lessen the
likelihood that people may be forced or deceived into servitude. It's also crucial to make sure
anti-slavery legislation exists and is followed. This requires well-functioning legal institutions
and a firm position against slavery on the part of governments.
Tackling issues like poverty and lack of economic opportunity, which contribute to slavery, is
another option. Education and training initiatives, new employment openings, and financial
investments in slave-prone areas are all ways to combat this problem. The poverty trap that so
frequently leads to slavery may be broken if people are given the means to improve their
economic standing.
It will need the combined efforts of governments, NGOs, and people to put these ideas into
action. It is the responsibility of governments to safeguard their people against slavery and to
guarantee that anti-slavery legislation is strictly implemented. When it comes to combating
slavery and aiding victims of it, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) may be invaluable.
Contributions from individuals may also be made via financial support of anti-slavery groups
and public denunciation of slavery and other kinds of exploitation. Insufficient political will to
end slavery is a major barrier to adopting these measures. Those in positions of authority
frequently stand to gain from slavery in some way, which helps ensure its continued existence.
Those in positions of authority must be held to account for their deeds, and it must be ensured
that they are not enriching themselves at the expense of the oppressed.
There is also a shortage of resources to properly execute remedies. It will take a lot of money to
tackle the causes of slavery, and many countries and organizations may not have that kind of
money to spare. Avoiding slavery is not only the right thing to do from a moral standpoint, but
also makes good financial sense. Since slavery keeps people in poverty and slows economic
development, it's important to put money into finding ways to end it.
Finally, "12 Years a Slave" serves as a potent reminder of the evils of slavery and the need of
finding effective anti-slavery measures. It will need the combined efforts of governments, NGOs,
and people to put these ideas into action. However difficult it may be to put these plans into
action, we must never lose sight of the fact that ending slavery is not only the right thing to do
but also the smart thing to do from a purely financial standpoint. We can give everyone the
freedom and respect they deserve by working to end slavery.
Conclusion:
Finally, the film "12 Years a Slave" serves as a sobering reminder of the inhumanity of slavery
and the need of finding ways to stop it from happening again. The video stresses the value of an
education, having access to the law, and economic independence in avoiding slavery.
Nevertheless, a concerted effort by governments, NGOs, and people is necessary to put these
proposals into action. It is imperative to hold people in authority responsible for their roles in
perpetuating slavery's underlying causes, such as economic inequality and poverty. While there
may be obstacles to putting these plans into action, ending slavery is both a moral and economic
need. Together, we can put an end to slavery and give everyone the chance of a life of freedom
and respect.