Assignment task:
The movie "12 Years a Slave" and Walter Johnson's book Soul By Soul, both draw upon Northup's memoir for evidence. Both bring different strengths. The movie makes it easier to visualize the events described in Northup's memoir. Soul By Soul uses a number of sources--including Northup's memoir--to give us a fuller picture of the internal slave trade.
Drawing upon both of these sources, I'd like you to respond to the following question:
What hopes and/or fears did white Southerners see in the bodies of black slaves?
The question is open-ended. You can approach it in a number of different ways. The question is intended to inspire original ideas about these historical interpretations. The response to the question--your thesis statement--should be succinct.