THE PROCESS
Our Mission
To create the opportunity for all persons who encounter Wesley Wofford’s statue of Solomon Northup to experience a profound, even visceral response, to the depravity of slavery in all forms and places, past and present, through the transformative ‘Out of Darkness’ for a renewed life of freedom again.
Our Vision
Our vision with the creation of this monument to Solomon Northup is twofold:
· To honor a native New Yorker’s life and work – who was wrongfully enslaved as a free citizen in Red River region of Louisiana, rescued and authored the written work, Twelve Years A Slave.
· To create a community gathering space in which to honor our shared past, uplift our diverse histories, and inspire new generations of trailblazers toward equality and justice for all.
Our Goal
The Solomon Northup Committee for Commemorative Works has established a goal to be embodied in its public commemorative works of art:
“Each work shall perpetuate the memory of significant elements of American slave history in a permanent manner.”
In doing so, we believe that these artistic memorials represent the continuing efforts to engage injustices through alternative lenses, and can transform communities across America through conversation and self-expression, thereby reflecting a more truthful past in the present.
DREAM IT.
It Began With an Idea
In 2017, Rev. Theus met artist Wesley Wofford who had been commissioned by his church to sculpt a bas-relief of him to mark his retirement as founder and leader of The Summer Chapel in Cashiers, North Carolina. Several years later, in 2022, Rev. Theus visited Wesley’s studio in Cashiers as he was engaged in a commissioned work of one of Northup’s contemporaries Harriet Tubman. During his visit, Rev. Theus remarked to Wesley, ‘there is a story as powerful as hers – that of Solomon Northup’. He paused and asked Wesley if he would be interested in creating a work of art that would tell Solomon’s story, and without awaiting a response he left Wesley’s studio. And the rest is history.
FOUND IT.
Build the Dream Team
The Solomon Northup Committee for Commemorative Works was founded in the summer of 2022 by Reverend James Theus. The team is a cross-section of the people of communities in Central Louisiana as well as in Solomon’s native New York.
PLAN IT.
Design the Inaugural Monument
The committee began working with award-winning sculptor Wesley Wofford in the fall of 2022 on the concept for the monument.
BUILD IT.
They Will Come
It is our hope that the inaugural monument of Solomon Northup placed at the site of his regained freedom in Avoyelles Courthouse Square will shine a light on the tragedy of slavery in the United States and abroad, and the importance of uplifting the stories of the survivors, and lends a voice to the many thousands who remain silent.
ABOUT US
Allen Holmes, President
Allen is a retired Civil Rights Attorney who even in his retirement, helps bring justice to the marginalized. He is past president of the Avoyelles NAACP chapter and currently serves within the Church as a Baptist Minister.
Reverend James G. Theus, Founder & Vice President
James Graves Theus, Sr. resides in Louisiana and is a native of Monroe, Louisiana. He holds a master’s degree in theology from the University of the South. Jim has served in the ministry of the Episcopal Church since 1969 to the present. He became involved in the Civil Rights movement in the 1960’s during his first assignment as a Chaplain to the students at the then all black Grambling College. Now retired, he continues to work for harmony among all people. He is married to Caroline and together they have six children. Jim is the founder of the Solomon Northup Committee for Commemorative Works and the visionary behind the project.
Charles Riddle, III, ESQ., Legal Adviser
Charles was born and raised in Marksville, Louisiana. He is currently the District Attorney for the 12th Judicial District in Marksville, Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana where he resides with his wife Jamie. Charles holds a law degree from LSU Law School, and in 1981 he opened the Charles Riddle Law Firm. He works tirelessly to apply the law evenly and fairly through the legal justice system. His interest in Solomon Northup’s harrowing saga dates back to his collegiate years and a professor by the name of Sue Eakin. Charles has been most inspired by Solomon’s life story for its ties to local history having authored the 2019 work The Life and Diary of John P. Waddill; The Lawyer who Freed Solomon Northup, 1813-1855 published by UL Press.
Nealie Hale, Secretary
Nealie is the Library Director of the Avoyelles Parish Library in Marksville, LA. Her love of learning transmits through her devotion to educating the next generation.
Melissa Howell, Project Manager & Direct Descendant of Solomon Northup
Ms. Howell is a great, great, great granddaughter of Solomon Northup and was born and raised in the Finger Lakes region of New York- a hotbed of Underground Railroad activity and the home of the Women’s Rights movement of the 19th century. Melissa’s great pursuit is to protect and perpetuate her third great grandfather’s life story as told through his 1853 autobiography Twelve Years A Slave, the 1984 award winning television movie Solomon Northup’s Odyssey, and the internationally acclaimed 2013 film 12 Years A Slave. In 2014, she founded The Solomon Northup Legacy organization. Her research and work includes the establishment of the Solomon Northup Memorabilia Collection; the Solomon Northup Legacy Historical Collection at Seymour Library, Auburn, NY; installation of the Derby & Miller historical marker, Auburn, NY; and inclusion of Solomon Northup in the New York State Equal Rights Heritage Center, Auburn, NY. She has founded the annual Solomon Northup Freedom Day at Auburn, NY, and the annual Solomon Northup Homecoming Day at Glens Falls, NY. She is also the co-founder of the Solomon Northup Partner Cities Union in collaboration with seven municipalities in the New York Capital region in support of the Northup’s historical ties which unite them pre- and post-enslavement, and it is the foundation to the establishment of the New York Northup Trail. Ms. Howell was recognized in 2019 by New York State in “The People of New York” exhibit for her work and how it continues to impact, inform and instill a sense of identity amongst New Yorkers.
Wilbert Carmouche, Executive Director of Avoyelles Commission of Tourism
Wilbert is the Executive Director of Avoyelles Commission of Tourism in Marksville, Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana. He is actively engaged in seeking opportunities to keep Solomon Northup’s time spent in Avoyelles Parish and Central Louisiana alive. Wilbert was on the organizing committee for the 2014 Northup Freedom Day Celebration event in Avoyelles, and was instrumental in the development of the Northup Trail alongside its creator the late Dr. Sue L. Eakin in mid-1980’s. Wilbert is committed to the mission of the Solomon Northup Committee for Commemorative Works in seeing this jewel of a monument installed at the City of Marksville, and bring the story of Solomon Northup full circle in Central Louisiana.
Hon. Daryl Deshotel, LA State House of Representatives – District 28; Member
Daryl is a fourth-generation Avoyelles native. He attended Louisiana State University and earned a law degree. in 2019, he was elected as State Representative for Avoyelles Parish, 28th district of Louisiana with interest in progress and development of Central Louisiana. Daryl and his wife Olivia are parents to three children.
Jacques Goudeau, Founder at Marksville Main Street
Jacques Goudeau is a local businessman and community leader with a primary focus on economic development. As a proponent of the community benefits of historic downtowns, Jacques and his wife, Melissa, founded Marksville Main Street, a non-profit dedicated to the revitalization of downtown Marksville. Born and raised in Marksville, Jacques graduated college from LSU with a bachelor’s degree in Electronic Engineering from LSU and a master’s in International Studies from American University in Washington, DC. He worked for the Defense Department for twelve years prior to returning to Marksville in 2017.
Hon. Ed Larvadain III, LA State House of Representatives – District 26; Member
Ed is a third generation Civil Rights Attorney holding a law degree from Southern University. He is a State Representative for Rapides Parish,26th district of Louisiana. As a descendant of people enslaved in the vast sugar cane fields of Louisiana, he insists that “We need to tell the whole truth” about the life of Solomon Northup in and out of slavery.
Larry Wilmer, Member
Larry is an active community member and lifelong native of Louisiana. He is a retired law enforcement officer.