Orestes Brownson, in his article “Slave Labor vs. Free Labor” argues that free labor is worse than the former. The main assertion is that there are many people who are willing to work but cannot find jobs. Consequently, these people are unable to provide crucial needs for their families. Brownson seems to suggest that slaves did not have problems with the provision of basic needs for themselves and their families. He posits that the slaves would not trouble themselves with where they would sleep, what they would eat and wear because the basic needs were provided with their masters. Secondly, Brownson mentions in his article that in free labor, people are given meagre wages, which cannot solve all their problems (Brownson, 2018). He even criticizes those in support of free labor of sinister motives; that they pretend to contribute to charity initiatives but cannot provide reasonable wages to their employees. Additionally, Brownson rejects the popular assertions that people are living in hard times, therefore cannot meet their needs or get employed. Upon keen analysis of Brownson’s article, one would be tempted to say that the reasons given are valid. However, Solomon Northup, the author of “Twelve Years a Slave” would disagree strongly.
According to the movie “Twelve Years a Slave” there are many reasons why Solomon Northup would disagree with Brownson (BlanchePope, 2017). Perhaps Northup would first note that Brownson’s article is an analysis of the economic dynamics while his (Northup’s) book is on the unfortunate experiences the slaves were subjected to. However, to argue against Brownson’s article, it is important to analyze the circumstances under which Northup found himself in slavery. At the beginning of the movie, Northup plays the violin to an excited audience, mainly comprising of the whites (Fuller, 2013). The large number of people who attend the occasion demonstrate that Northup is good at the instrument. Secondly, Northup looks contended in life; he has a happy family. The evidence is that he kisses and embraces his wife as well as children. However, Northup is lured by two men who pose as clients for his services. The two men promise him of better returns for his music if he accepts their invitation. Just as any other person would do, Northup sees it as a good opportunity to earn extra income for his prowess at the violin.
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Unfortunately, Northup wakes up in a space that is similar to a dungeon, with his hand and legs tied with chains. Solomon at first is surprised and does not understand the situation. In a little while, his aggressors come in and he tries to plead for freedom. The abductors hear none of his pleas. Instead, he is insulted and smacked severely. When Northup is asked at first whether he is a slave, he denies and is beaten the more. It is at this juncture that he realizes he has been abducted into slavery. Northup is given a new identity and is told to say that he is from Georgia despite being obvious that he was from Washington. The main reason is that slavery in the United States at that time was practiced in the South and not the North (BlanchePope, 2017). Perhaps if he said he was from the Washington, the revelation would have led to undesirable consequences to the slave traders and owners. The main argument that Northup would put forth in regard to Brownson’s article is that they were abducted against their will. Secondly, the slaves were not idle originally. It is evident that Northup was a violin player and was even leading a more successful life than when in slavery.
One of the crucial questions that Northup would ask Brownson is that although they worked, were they offered any wages or compensation? In the movie, the slaves work on large cotton and sugarcane plantations but are not paid. Though they are provided with basic needs, they are inadequate. First, many people are crammed in a small space where they sleep (Resource Sheet #3, 2018). On top of that, they are not offered any blankets to cover themselves up, meaning that they have to endure cold nights. Secondly, the food that the slaves are offered is not enough. After working on a sugarcane plantation, the slaves are offered a piece of bread, a piece of meat, and three wild berries (Fuller, 2013). From the expression on the faces of the slaves, the food is not enough. In regard to clothing, the slaves are given cheap clothes, which they wear daily. Additionally, basic hygiene is not available. Both men and women have to bathe at one place using small buckets.
Northup in the movie seems to be very skilled. He is not only a good violinist but also a skilled builder and a critical thinker. When the slaves are given the task of cutting down trees and transporting them to William Ford’s homestead, Northup comes up with a solution of transporting the logs by water to shorten the distance, as well as save time (Northup, 2012). However, while Ford rewards him with a violin, Tibeats is cruel and looks for any slight chance to mistreat Northup. Perhaps he fears that Ford, who was the overall overseer of the farm would render him jobless in favor of Northup. The chance sets in when Tibeats gives Northup wrong instructions during construction. They engage in a fight after which Tibeats, together with his friends, try to hang him. Luckily, Ford finds them and saves Northup. In view of all these torturous events, were the slaves being paid justly? The slaves were being mistreated instead of being rewarded for their hard work.
The biggest torture the slaves experienced was the emotional and psychological torture. Northup witnessed the torture and killing of other slaves on many occasions. Before being taken to their first master, Ford, one slave was stabbed and killed for trying to fight a slave trader. He was then thrown into the sea (Gates & McQueen, 2014). Secondly, when Northup is sent by his second master’s wife to deliver a message to another white man, he witnesses the hanging of other slaves in a bush. Thirdly, a slave dies while picking cotton, and Northup with other two male slaves are given the task of digging up a grave and burying him. It is a very emotional occasion, which breaks Northup’s heart. Towards the end of the movie, Northup is instructed to whip a female slave, someone he was too close to. Because of the consequences he would face if he did not obey the master, he whips her.
Conclusively, Brownson seems to compare two wrong things; slavery and economics. For unemployment, the situation faces almost everyone regardless of the color of their skin. And if people of color were being discriminated in regard to employment, Brownson ought to have come up with better ways to address the situation. Some people would perhaps argue that Brownson’s article is satirical. Someone like Northup, who has experienced slavery would not find it satirical. Clearly, nobody would want to work very hard and be mistreated just to be provided with inadequate and deplorable living conditions. Everybody would want to have the freedom to move wherever they like as well as to interact with the family. Therefore, Northup would strongly condemn Brownson’s article, owing to his experience in slavery.
References
BlanchePope . (2017). 12 Years A Slave 2013. YouTube . Retrieved 27 June 2018, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQnbfZlSLWU
Brownson . (2018). Slave Labor vs. Free Labor. Albany.edu . Retrieved 27 June 2018, from https://www.albany.edu/history/history316/Brownson.html
Fuller, G. (2013). 12 Years a Slave. Film Comment , 19.
Gates Jr, H. L., & McQueen, S. (2014). 12 Years a Slave. Transition: An International Review , (114), 185-196.
Northup, S. (2012). Twelve years a slave . Courier Corporation.
Resource Sheet #3 (2018). Life at Lowell Mills: Factory Rules from the Handbook to Lowell, 1848. Umbc.edu . Retrieved 27 June 2018, from http://www.umbc.edu/che/tahlessons/pdf/Methods_of_Reform_The_Lowell_Mill_Girls_RS_3.pdf
