Steve McQueen on "12 Years a Slave" and our Racial Past and Present
665 views · Published 16 December 2013 · 0:55 · Indexed 22 October 2026
Channel: Walker Art Center · 2013 · Entertainment
In the months surrounding the release of Steve McQueen's "12 Years a Slave," Trayvon Martin was killed, Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act was struck down by the US Supreme Court, and the abolition of slavery celebrated its 150th anniversary. Recalling these facts, McQueen told audiences at his November 9, 2013 dialogue at the Walker Art Center of his first time reading the book his film was based on, Solomon Northop's "Twelve Years a Slave" (1853): "I thought, this is like science fiction. But it actually happened—and is happening." Video of the full dialogue will be published here soon. Click here to view the full dialogue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KM_5z9WvUc
