It all started when both of them needed some money to support their families. So they went out looking for a job. They both found people that needed some help. So they went with those people and then they were sold and taken into slavery. Even though there were both born as free men they were still taken into slavery. In the video it starts off with introducing the two men and then showing what position they are in. And then it goes on about how they both wanted jobs, then how they got jobs but were taken into slavery. It then tells about how Solomon was kept in a slave pen, and how Vannak was on a fishing boat in the middle of the sea.

Another similarity they have is that they were both sold for a second time. Vannak’s ship how to go dock to pay taxes and when this happened he escaped and then ran to authorities and told about what was happening to him. Then a man came and picked him up from the police station and then was taken to a new owner and was placed at a plantation. In the video it shows many of the pictures of what happened and even the name of the plantation, Palm Oil Plantation. Solomon was in a slave auction where he then was sold to a new owner who had a big mansion and then made him an apprentice to the carpenter. It the video, it then talks about how he fought his master and tried to make a run for it but had nowhere to go.

A third similarity that they have is that they both got in contact with a lawyer who would bring them out of slavery. Solomon met this man who thought slavery was bad, so Solomon told him his story, and asked for the man to write a letter. He did and then a few months later a lawyer came to take Solomon home and make him free. In the video, it goes on and states how this was a very good lawyer and that he was already on a quest to end slavery. He finally got Solomon free and Solomon got to go home and see how much his family has grown since he left them. With Vannak he was at the hospital because he got stabbed and he got hold of a phone and called authorities and got in contact with a lawyer, who then told him how to lie at court and say that he was illegal so he would be sent to jail and then be sent out of the country where he could return to his family. In the video it goes into more detail and said that he was going from prison to prison for 7 months which is 4 months longer than he was supposed to be in jail in for. When he got back to his home his wife wouldn’t let him in because she thought that he walked out on her and was with another woman, and when he was in contact with the non-profitable organization his wife then believed that he was captured and imprisoned.

So Solomon Northup and Vannak Prum may be about 200 years apart but have very similar stories about their experiences with slavery and human trafficking.

One example of how similar Solomon Northrup and Vannak Prum’s experiences were included expressing their hardship through drawings or a book. According to Vannak Prum’s perspective in the video it states, “I draw pictures to show that my story is true. I wanted the people of Cambodia and everyone else to know. I wanted to share my story.” In a similar way in the video Solomon Northrup said, “So I finally sat down once and for all what had happened to me. A local publisher even thought my 12 years as a slave was worth telling as a story. My hope, my eternal hope is that anyone in the north who reads my story, anyone at all gets a true picture of the evil nature of slavery.” Both of the men used either drawings or a autobiography to prove that they did go through an incredibly rough spot in their life. Northrup and Prum also wanted to tell others that weather they like it or not slavery does still exist yesterday and today. They both wanted to depict the idea in a way where more people will possibly do something to make a change. Writing and autobiography and drawing images helps ordinary people understand how difficult and mentally damaging experiencing a life as a slave can be.

Another example of how Solomon Northrup and Vannak Prum’s experiences were similar includes both watching either friends or acquaintances die before their very eyes. In Journey to Freedom in Solomon’s perspective it says, “I was handcuffed to a man named Robert who was also born free. And he had children and a wife back in Cincinnati. Robert and I we became friends right quick…And Robert was taken ill and died a few days later. And I watched them throw Robert’s body over the ship.” In this case Robert and Solomon had became close friends. Just as they began to get to know each other Robert didn’t make it. On the other hand Vannak Prum said, “There was a man who might have been around 50 years old. He was walking about on the deck when suddenly he jumped overboard. The ship turned around to pick up the man, and pulled him back onto the ship. The man hadn’t died, but he was choking on water. The captain ordered that the man be thrown back into the sea.” It is inferred that this man along with Robert had also died because of being thrown back over board the ship. Both men had experienced the event of having an acquaintance suffer and die all while still being held captive. This shows that there was not even an ounce of pity given to these men who were working for their lives. This also portrays that no man weather it be yesterday or today was taken into account, they were all just items with a number who were treated unfairly.

Finally, one last example of how the experiences of Solomon Northrup and Vannak Prum were similar includes that they were sold between careless masters. In the video Northrup says, “And the several of us were bought by a man named William Ford. And I was known as a plat, that’s the name they gave me down at the slave pen.” Similarly in the video Prum says, “So half way down the road, another man came to get me. He handed money to the man who picked me up from the police station. I knew that they were selling me from the first time they exchanged money.” Both were being treated much as like an object when being bought and sold between men. They experienced the horrific act of buying people and learned quickly how careless they were treated by the men purchasing them. It is almost unimaginable to think that buying and selling people is still an act that takes place in today’s society. It is almost as sickening to think that both men from the 1800’s and 2000’s experienced practically the same terrifying events that have caused for much disruption yesterday and today. All in all, there are many similar experiences that both Solomon Northrup and Vannak Prum lived through all based around the cause of slavery.

One example of something that they both went through is the process of being kidnapped although being born free. In the video although being promised jobs in both scenarios, and being born free they both were taken advantage of and became part of an elaborate human trafficking chain and were sold into slavery. The worst part about this is the fact that Vannak Prum was going out because he needed a job to support his growing family. Similarly Solomon Northup was trying to get a little extra money to support his family which led to his enslavement which is a major similarity that didn’t change throughout both cases.

Another similarity that is extremely fortunate is the fact that people were willing to, and did help prove the innocence of these kidnapped once free slaves. For example with in the video Solomon Northup met multiple people that made it their life goal to reunite him with his family, and to prove his innocence. Throughout systems of letters and attempts of contacting home and lawyers Solomon was able to prove himself as a free man. With Vannak Prum he had to make an adrenaline filling escape off the boat using empty fish sauce containers, and made way to a police station. Here he was sold back into slavery this time on an oil plantation. This goes to show how wrong and corrupt some places are considering the fact that some of the police officers were exchanging money and selling innocent people back into slavery when these people thought it was the one safe place to go and to have their freedom restored. From here his friend got in a fight and doing what most would do in the circumstance Prum defended his friend and got slashed with a knife and sent to a hospital. This was the first time he had access to a phone and was able to reach back home, because at this point he was in a whole new country. He got a lawyer like Northup and was able to make it back home to his wife and his once new born now six year old daughter. People helping in both stories is another similarity in the two stories that both of these courageous people went through.

One last similarity between both stories is the fact that the journey and everything that they went through was long and perilous. Proof of this is the fact that when Vannak was kidnapped, he and his wife were still just expecting a child. By the time that he had gotten back his daughter was now six years old and growing up without a father,because of these human traffickers. In the story of Solomon Northup he spent twelve years trying to prove he was a free man and that he belonged back at home with his family that he like Vannak was taken from.

In conclusion, despite the fact that these stories took place with about a 160 year difference their stories still had many similarities and had to go through the main same conflicts, and shared the same benefits for the most part of people wanting to help. 

From 1:16 to 1:33 in the video, Vannak states, “I struggled with not having enough money to support my wife who was pregnant. I wanted to go look for work. I never had any intention of crossing the border.” After that, Solomon says, “I was looking to provide some extra money for my family.” This time in the video shows that the two have similar experiences because they both had to go look for somewhere to work to support or make extra money for their families. They never expected they would end up around 7 years a slave, held captive and working as slaves against their will. 

 From 5:51 to 6:30, Vannak and Solomon both show how they were both locked up in small places with little connection to the outside world. Both Vannak and Solomon have similar experiences in this because for 7 years, they were kept from keeping up with the news, seeing their families, and basically learning anything new other than related to working as a slave. They both went through this, giving them similar experiences. 

In the youtube video, the two captured civilians were both threatened if they were to leave. Solomon was whipped if he called himself a free man or angered the plantation owner, and Vannak was told if he escaped he would be hunted down and killed.  Since the two were threatened if they left and were taught that consequences would come if they escaped, this made them both afraid. The fact that they were whipped and told they would be hunted down definitely caused them to have doubts about escaping, leaving them both wondering if their last breath would be taken by the own who captured them, giving them the miserable life of a slave. 

Both Vannak Prum and Solomon Northup share same experiences due to their life of a slave, how they were tricked to be a slave, and how they both were terrified because of the things they were told. 

Solomon Northup and Vannak Prum started off their journey by leaving their families and homes to look for a job. However, things took a turn when one was forced to drink and the other was piled up in the back of a truck. Mr. Northup was placed in a room with chains around his wrists and ankles. While Mr. Prum was thrown into a broken down room. Solomon Northup said that after he was taken into the room there was a wall and over it he could see “Life liberty and the pursuit of happiness”. Basically what he is saying is that slavery is taking that from them. Mr. Prum never states this in his story but he does get taken away too and his rights are taken away. His life, his liberty, and his happiness. He doesn’t directly say it but while you hear his story you can just tell that is what it took from him and many others.

Solomon and Vanneck during their journey lose hope. They fear that their is not an end and they will never see their family again. “I lost hope” those were Northup's words. After writing that letter and after everything was starting to look a little better he lost all hope. Same thing with Vannack. He finally got to the police away from the human trafficking guys and tried to ask them for help but it didn’t work. The human trafficker came back and out them right back into slavery. Just when he thought that everything was going to be okay. 

After a lot of time and help they both end up returning home. That letter that was written on for Northup it finally got to someone who could help. Two men in a carriage came to Northup while he was working and said you’re cotton picking days are over. He finally was able to return home to his family. While Prum he lied to the judge saying he was an illegal immigrant and then he was imprisoned for three months. After those three months he was able to return home. After being home they both wanted to share their story. Vanneck remarked “I wanted to share my story”. He wanted to share his story because he wanted to help people through his stories and ideas. He also wanted to to make everyone understand that this is not okay. Prum also wanted to show the evil people,human traffickers, that they were being challenged by people. While Northup sat down with a publisher and told him his story. The publisher thought his experience and journey was worth telling. All Northup wanted to share was his hope and an inside to slavery. He even said “My hope my eternal hope is that anyone in the north who reads my story anyone at all gets a true picture of the evil nature of slavery”. 

Our times may have changed. We may not have the same way we did in the 1800s but we do still have slavery. Most people think that in the 1800s slavery was completely abolished but was it really? If we are treating people like slaves then their is still slavery. All Northup and Prum wanted to do was get home to their families and share their story. To show what it is really like and to make people end this awful thing. No matter what political thing is addressed will slavery ever not be a thing?