Solomon Northup was born free in Minerva, New York in 1808. Northup became known in his community as an exceptional violin player. When two men approached Northup and offered him a good salary to go to Washington, D.C. and perform in a traveling musical show, he quickly accepted. Solomon Northup was drugged, kidnapped, captured and sold into slavery. It served for many masters; some were violent and cruel while others treated him humanely. Solomon Northup experienced torture, cruelty, and loss of dignity throughout his many years of slavery. After many years, he came into contact with an abolitionist, who sent letters to Northup's family informing them of his life and status. He was soon rescued from Louisiana and freed as a slave. The narrative of Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup reveals the lived experience of dehumanization of the male slave, female slave, and masters during the period of slavery in the American South. Slaves were dehumanized and treated more like animals than human beings. Male slaves, and slaves in general, were beaten and sold, auctioned off and owned like objects. They were subjected to extremely hard work and suffered daily mistreatment and physical and psychological violence. Solomon Northup describes the experience of dehumanization in his story. When sold and auctioned off to potential buyers, slaves were required to be undressed and show off their physiques by jumping and dancing. Northup explains: “[They] had us look up, walk briskly while the customers felt our hands, arms and body, turned us around, asked us what we could do, made us open our mouths and show our teeth, just as a joker examines a horse he is about to barter or buy...... middle of paper... Jerusalem. The story of Twelve Years a Slave proved that American society, especially in the 1800s, was not as simple and perfect as it seemed. The harsh realities of slavery outweigh the happy, perfect life. The consequences of dehumanization affected all members of society, including men, women, slave owners and their families. Although on the surface slavery in the American South may seem simple, it is shocking to see that it affected everyone involved. Solomon Northup says: "To brutalize the human and nobler feeling of their nature - dying without attention and buried without shroud or coffin - they cannot otherwise be expected to become brutalized and reckless towards life human...this is the inhumanity I witnessed. , is cruel, unjust and barbaric. Inhumanity influences and has harmful consequences on society and everyone involved.