Bill > K00794

This resolution commemorates the unveiling of a bronze sculpture titled "Hope Out of Darkness" honoring Solomon Northup, a free Black man from New York who was kidnapped and enslaved for 12 years before regaining his freedom, and whose memoir "Twelve Years a Slave" became a powerful first-person account of American slavery. The resolution highlights Northup's significance by noting his compelling life story, which has been featured in various documentaries and films, and emphasizes the importance of telling a full and inclusive historical narrative that recognizes the experiences of African Americans. The sculpture, created by artist Wesley Wofford and commissioned by the Solomon Northup Committee for Commemorative Works of Louisiana, will be unveiled on July 10th (what would have been Northup's 218th birthday) at Saratoga Spa State Park, with plans to eventually be permanently located in Marksville, Louisiana, where Northup was enslaved. The resolution frames the sculpture as a memorial designed to inspire learning, remembrance, and unity by honoring Northup's life and legacy with dignity, and promoting truth and historical healing.

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/K794