Who William Ford is
William Ford is one of several enslavers under whom Solomon Northup works in Louisiana. Northup is a free Black father and violinist who is kidnapped and sold into slavery. Ford treats him with some kindness, but that treatment does not change Northup's condition as an enslaved person.
William Ford and the others in the story
Ford's relationship with Northup brings together personal kindness and the acceptance of human ownership. Northup acknowledges that kindness without presenting it as a defense of the system that holds him. The distinction matters in a memoir that describes how slavery denies people control over their bodies, labor, and time.
Questions
Who is William Ford in Twelve Years a Slave?
William Ford is a Louisiana enslaver who holds Solomon Northup as property.
How does William Ford treat Solomon Northup?
He shows Northup a degree of kindness, yet continues to enslave him.
Is William Ford a good person?
The memoir acknowledges Ford's kindness while also showing his acceptance of human ownership. His treatment of Northup does not make enslavement defensible.
