Lecture: The Kidnapping of Free Citizens before the Civil War

CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. - May 13, 2022 - PRLog -- The film 12 Years a Slave told of Solomon Northup's kidnapping and enslavement before the Civil War. But Northup's victimization was not an isolated incident: Fiske will detail the factors that made such crimes profitable, and explain how kidnappers could operate with relative ease. Along with a recap of Solomon Northup's story, several other cases--including some from upstate New York--will be related.

Mr. Fiske is a retired librarian, who started doing research on the life of Solomon Northup over 20 years ago. He has been called "Northup's current and most devoted biographer." He then conducted additional research, uncovering the stories of other kidnapping victims.

This program will be a HYBRID program that can be accessed via Zoom, or attended in-person at the library. At the library, copies of Fiske's book, Solomon Northup's Kindred: The Kidnapping of Free Citizens before the Civil War, will be available for purchase.

Registration is required to attend either virtually (via Zoom) or in-person. Register by accessing the web page for the event:
https://events.cphlibrary.org/event/6506689

Library phone number is: 518-371-8622.