Finally, the fullness of time has arrived. This nation—our Motherland—has matured into the prophetic vision of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. when he said, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but the content of their character.”
Dreams can come true, but first, we must feed them so that they can feed us. My dream has come true. Doing ministry in Cenla for a half a century now, lately in south Rapides and Avoyelles parishes, has awakened in me an awareness of the heroic fiber and faith-filled character of Solomon Northup. His autobiography, “Twelve Years a Slave,” was unearthed and edited at LSUA by Sue Eakin (Myrtle Sue Lyles was born in 1918 just north of Cheneyville). The award-winning film based on the book and directed by Steve McQueen, the Black British artist, has become an enduring salute to this extraordinary human being.
Northup was born a free man in 1807 in upstate New York; kidnapped and sold into slavery at the slave market in New Orleans. He was then shipped to Cenla in 1841. Twelve years later, he was rescued by gaining his freedom at the courthouse in Marksville. This true American hero returned home to write about his experience as an enslaved person. These writings became fuel to the fire which led to Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. Evidence suggests that he join the Underground Railroad effort to help rescue others from slavery.
In my work as a pastor over the last half century, I have felt the shadow if his legacy in my attempts at helping others find their own path to freedom from all that shackles the human spirit. His story is filled with the salvific power of God’s redeeming Grace. All the boxes are checked which define Solomon Northup as a true hero.
Thus and therefore, I am pleased and honored to announce that the Solomon Northup Committee for Commemorative Works (snccw.com) has created a masterful statue of Solomon Northup. The artist is the Emmy award-winning sculptor, Wesley Wofford. “Hope out of Darkness” is the title of this masterful piece of public art. This a true odyssey of a real man, worthy of the title “hero.” Solomon Northup serves as a role model of courage, endurance, and faith. In the words of the sculptor, “It stands as a reminder that our freedoms are rooted in uncomfortable truths we must continually face. Solomon Northup’s steadfast perseverance will echo for generations, inspiring others to overcome their own struggles, no matter how insurmountable they may appear.”
This month, on Thursday, March 20th, the Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce will host a reception at the Alexandria Museum of Art, located at 933 Main Street in Downtown Alexandria, beginning at 5:00pm. The reception is open to the public and will include refreshments following. For the remainder of 2025, the statue will travel, retracing the steps of Northup’s amazing journey.
The statue’s permanent home is the Marksville Courthouse grounds, the place where Northup’s freedom was recognized. The statue will be unveiled at 2:00pm on Sunday, January 4, 2026, the anniversary of his release from slavery. The public is invited, so mark your calendar and be sure to attend.
Note: The print version of this article mistakenly identified the date of Solomon Northup’s arrival in Central Louisiana as 1814.
