African American Human Trafficking Numbers Will Astound You.
Human trafficking is also known as modern-day slavery. Victims are more likely to be African American than other ethnicities. In 2012, the U.S. Department of Justice reported that 62% of Human trafficking suspects, including both children and adults, are African American. Additionally, African American children make up 52% of all juvenile prostitution arrests. In many instances, these children are not prostitutes. They are victims.
Researchers and advocates alike are trying to understand why African American victims are overrepresented in human trafficking. Some argue that the demand for African Americans is higher than the demand for other races. Others suggest that because African American men abduct and traffic the highest percentage of America’s Human trafficking victims, the traffickers have more connections to African American victims and operate more comfortably in low-income African American communities where many victims live.
Equally as disturbing is that traffickers interviewed for a recent Urban Institute study overwhelming believed that trafficking white women would make them more money, but trafficking black women would land them less jail time if caught. What is more, these traffickers are more than likely selling the services of, their victims to affluent and highly regarded Caucasian men. As a result, advantaged Caucasian offenders are more relatable and thus more credible to jurors than a young, poor, less educated victim. Instead of protection, counseling and training, they are given jail time and the penalties of having a juvenile record.
Cyntoia Brown is a prime example of an African American girl who was convicted of murder for killing her captor in 2004. At 16 years of age, Cyntoia was prostituted by a pimp and later sold to a 43-year-old Caucasian male. In fear of her life, she shot and killed her solicitor. Her story was captured in the 2011 documentary Me Facing Life: Cyntoia’s Story and brought to light by celebrities Rihanna and Kim Kardashian who advocated for her release. On Tuesday, January 8, 2019, CNN announced that Cyntoia Brown has been granted clemency and will be released to parole supervision on August 7, 2019. She served a total of 15 years in prison. The second installment of her documentary is slated to be released later this year.
Source: thevoiceofblackcincinnati.com
