Descendants of '12 Years a Slave' subject, Solomon Northup, release video

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Descendants of former slave Solomon Northup released a video, in collaboration with Fox Searchlight, to commemorate the day Northup regained his freedom — January 3, 1853.

Twelve years earlier the free man from upstate New York was kidnapped and sold into slavery in Louisiana.

Northup’s memoir, 12 Years a Slave, was recently made into a film by director Steve McQueen, starring Chiwetel Ejiofor as Northup.

The new YouTube video features some of Northup’s descendants, who now live all over the country.

Follow Carrie Healey on Twitter @CarrieHeals.