i didn t, either. we ll see you soon. no matter how much money you have, even if you just won $636 million if you did by the way call me you can t just do or say whatever you want. folks, even though the n word has been said countless times today all across this country it s extremely offensive to a whole lot of people. maybe you re one of them. i want to warn you you re going to hear that word several times in this broadcast and more words as well. because in order to have an honest conversation about words, and what they mean, we have to say what we mean. miguel marquez has that for you. well planned i believe they could be strong. three can t go against a whole group. the rest here are niggers, born and bred slaves. 12 years a slave, a story of our history and the extraordinary real life of solomon northup. the n word used throughout the
book and film. doesn t carry near the weight or steam it does today. what i ve done here is marked all the instances where the n word is used by him. it s used in different ways. part of this story is looking back on the whole history of slavery. and i think in 2013, even though most individuals know and believe sha sheriffry waslavery system, we don t understand the system. we don t understand where the attitudes came from and how the system evolved from indentured servitude to slavery based on inferiority. john ridley adapted the book, a free man from new york state in 1841 kidnaped, sold into slavery and finally rescued in 1853. of all the terrible words out there that we call each other and say this word in particular still has the ability to be a fire bomb at a gas factory.
an anti-gay slur against a photographer. baldwin clearly in a rage. but of all the words out there, it is still the n word with its brutal history that america struggles with the most. whatever its use today, at its root the experience of slaves like solomon northup more than 150 years ago. it s a story nearly lost to history. we don t know the circumstances of his death. we don t know where he s buried. but to me, he is everything that is good and great about the world and about america. to have that material have that effect on me the way solomon s words did, the way his work did, i can absolutely say i will never have an experience like this as a writer. i survive. i will not fall into despair. for the 11th hour miguel marquez, cnn, los angeles. you heard about matt barnes of the los angeles clippers in that story. he accepted our invitation to come on the show tonight and talk about what is admittedly a