“There is Slavery in America” - How People React (I)
October 4th, 2011 by Mark
I talk with people about human trafficking. One on one and larger audiences. When people first have their consciousness jarred by the reality of slavery in America, they respond in several ways. Here are the most common.
1. “I HAD NO IDEA!” I recently got this reaction from the father of a large family, including daughters and several young children. He was completely unaware. There are many - many, MANY - people who have no idea.
2. “THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM IN SOUTHEAST ASIA!” “I want to help with anti-trafficking, but I don’t want to go to Asia,” someone told me recently. (I recruit for ITeams‘ End Slavery program). These people haven’t heard John Walsh (America’s Most Wanted); he said that child sex trafficking is worse in the United States than in any other nation (short video & article).
3. “WE GOT RID OF SLAVERY IN THE 1800′S.” The trans-Atlantic slave trade of the 18th century was ruled illegal. In that form, and much of what came from it, we “got rid of slavery”. But many other forms have arisen. (Like sex slave trafficking, as in Cleveland’s suburbs or South Florida.)
Awareness is rising, but there are still just waaaaaaaaaaaay too many millions of people WHO DON’T KNOW that slavery exists in America. This is why AWARENESS is a huge part of Redbrown. Here’s a step toward greater awareness.
Part II shortly.