And the Oscar Winners are . . . 12 Years a Slave - Solomon Northup

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HOLLYWOOD - OSCARS |  March 2, 2014, the 86 Academy Awards was saluted with historic value of outstanding talent and win by a Brit Black man, a Black African male Nigerian actor, a Black African female Kenyan actor and an African American male writer born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and raised in Mequon.  They captured:

• BEST PICTURE - Steve Rodney McQueen, Director
• BEST SUPPORTING ROLE FEMALE - Lupita Almondi Nyong'o, Actor
• BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY  - John Ridley, Screenplay Writer

It was a first of many to come - soon and very soon.

Steve McQueen and Bianca Stigter

We salute and thank the freeborn African American author, Solomon Northrup (1808-1863) for writing "12 years a Slave".

We salute and thank Bianca Stigter, Steve McQueen's partner for finding and sharing the book with Steve.

We  salute and thank Steve McQueen for pursuing the characters, funders, cast and wherewithal to make the film and share with the world Solomon's story.

We salute and thank each of the actors and contributors to 12 Years a Slaves; i.e., actors Brad Pitt, Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano, Sarah Paulson, Alfre Woodward, Michael K. Williams, Paul Giamatti, Adepero oduye, Qwvenzhanie Wallis, Garret Dillahunt, Taran Killan, Scoot McNairy, Dwight Henry, Anwan Glover, Chris Chalk, Bryan Batt, Jay Huguley, John McConnell, Marc Macaulay, Marcus Lyle Brown, Thomas Francis Murphy and so many more.

The cruel and brutal chaining and beatings reality of how the Black man and his family were thrust into being service renderers without their permission, stolen and purchased at-will as products-of-sale for the Caucasians' selfish will.  It also speaks of the separation of families with no regard for the parents or family members.  There was also the wanton lust of the Caucasian man for African American females which was at-will with NO option of refusal from the female or any legal repercussions.  This history known by many and spoken too softy is how resilient African Americans have remained without retaliation in spite of the barbaric and horrific conditions their fore-parents and they find happening today in the public square.

"We must all work very hard to rid our society of this unacceptable "privilege-thinking" and actions of enslavement.  Milwaukee Professionals Association LLC has added a doctrine it will advocate for.  It is called, RESPECT-4-RESPECT.   We also have a REPEAL STAND YOUR GROUND PETITION for signers.  JOIN US," said Mary Glass, Chair/CEO, Milwaukee Professionals Association LLC.

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