Stolen Into Slavery: the True Story of Solomon Northup, Free Black Man

Stolen into Slavery: The True Story of Solomon Northup, Free Black Man

By Judith and Dennis Fradin

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NarratorEdwin Epps Solomon Samuel Bass

Narrator: We are presenting a reader’s theatre from the nonfiction book, Stolen into Slavery: The True Story of Solomon Northup, Free Black Man by Judith and Dennis Fradin. Solomon Northup, a free man, was kidnapped and tricked into slavery at the age of 32. He was a resident of Saratoga Springs, New York, and has a wife and children who are also free. Hefights for twelve years to find a way back to his family in New York. In the first scene,Solomon’s owner, Edwin Epps, confronts him after Epps finds out that Solomon received a letter. Blacks are forbidden to read and write. Solomon is read by ______, Edwin Epps is read by ______,Samuel Bass is read by ______, and I am ______, the narrator.

Edwin Epps: Well, boy, I understand I’ve got a lar-ned nigger that writes letters, and tries

to get white fellows to mail ‘em. Wonder if you know who he is?

Solomon: Don’t know nothing about it, Master Epps.

Edwin Epps: Weren’t you over to Shaw’s night before last? Haven’t you asked that fellow

Armsby to mail a letter for you at Marksville? What have you got to say to that?

Solomon: How could I write a letter without any ink or paper? That Armsby is a lying,

drunken fellow. Didn’t he want you to hire him for an overseer?

Edwin Epps: I’m damned, Platt, if I don’t believe you tell the truth

Narrator: SamuelBass was not like most of the other plantation owners. Solomon often

heard him talk against slavery.

Samuel Bass: Just because the law allows slavery, that doesn’t make it right. There is a

higher law- the law of right and wrong- that says slavery is evil. In the sight of God, what is

the difference, Epps, between a white man and a black one? You have no more right to

your freedom, in exact justice, than Old Abram yonder.

Edwin Epps: (chuckling) Hope you don’t compare me to a nigger, Bass.

Samuel Bass: (annoyed) Look here, Epps, you can’t laugh me down that way. There’s

fearful sin resting on this nation that will not go unpunished forever. There will be a

reckoning—yes, Epps, there’s a day coming that will burn as an oven. It may be sooner or

it may be later, but it’s a-comin’ as sure as the Lord is just.

Narrator: Solomon wonders how he will ever escape the South with no resources or allies

to help him. Can Samuel really be his savior? To find out what happens to Solomon, read

this riveting tale of a tragic time in American history written by Judith and Dennis Fradin;

Stolen into Slavery: The True Story of Solomon Northup, Free Black Man.