Film Supports James R. Bradley's Letter

The film, 12 Years A Slave, supports James R. Bradley's letter of slaves desiring freedom, but kept it to themselves to avoid harsher treatment. In the film, Soloman meets another slave on a ship. On the ship the slave told Soloman that they should not tell the white people of their ability to read and write. The reason the slave told this to Soloman, was because reading and writing were considered to be a freedom especially for a slave, and if their master or overseer found out that their slave could read or write, all the chances of them being able to do that anymore was taken away from them. Once Soloman was informed about not saying anything about his ablilty to read or write, he became cautious of keeping things to himself because his rights could be taken away from him. In James R. Bradley's letter, he wrote about that many slaves including himself longed for freedom, but had to keep it for themselves because if they did not their masters would make them work harder and they could even get beaten. Soloman desired his freedom because he was a free man and he would tell his masters that and at times he would get beaten and yelled at because of it. On one of the plantations Soloman overhears a woman crying because of her separation with her kids. He then tells her that if she keeps crying she will get beaten because shes longing for something she cannot get back, which will only annoy the master. Therefore, the film supports James R. Bradley's letter of slaves desiring for freedom, but kept it to themselves to avoid harsh and cruel treatment.

Soloman tells his master that he cannot read or write because he was accused of writing a letter.