Slavery Quote by Solomon Northup
““The influences and associations that had always surrounded him, blinded him to the inherent wrong at the bottom of the system of Slavery. He never doubted the moral right of one man holding another in subjection. Looking through the same medium with his fathers before him, he saw things in the same light. Brought up under other circumstances and other influences, his notions would undoubtedly have been different. Nevertheless, he was a model master, walking uprightly, according to the light of his understanding, and fortunate was the slave who came to his possession.””
About This Quote
Source Narrative: Twelve Years a Slave, Solomon Northup, 1853
Social conditioning can blind individuals to injustice, even when they benefit from it.
In simple terms: Conditioning hides injustice.
Key Takeaway
Question inherited beliefs.
Themes
slavery
morality
social influence
Mood
somber
reflective
Type
historical
educational
When to use this quote
- education reform
- historical remembrance
- activism
Key Concepts
historical context
ethical blind spots
systemic oppression
Questions to Reflect On
- What influences your moral view?
- How can you recognize blind spots?
A Different Perspective
Changing mindset is difficult.
![“Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period and pursued unalterably through every change of ministers, too plainly prove a deliberate, systematic plan of reducing [a people] to slavery.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/00c/thomas-jefferson-43_change_single-acts-of-tyranny-may-be-ascribed-t_5515.jpg)
