Tuesday, December 3, 2013

my sister Jade

So, here's a little story - a glimpse into a one life, one of my girls:

Last night as i was making my way back into the city from speaking up on the north shore i was biking down tremont st (around 10:30pm). As I pass Park St, and the Blackseed cafe and St Pauls and down to the Lowes Theater, i always scan the sidewalks, steps, and roadside curbs for friends of mine who are struggling with homelessness and often hang out around there. I especially look out for my friend Jade. She is one of my "sisters" here in Boston. She has almost the same hair as i do, and except for the dark eye make up we really look very similar. Ive known her for about a year now i think. She struggles with addiction to alcohol and some drugs, and she doesn't like the rules and "stuff" at the shelters so she basically sticks to the streets. She is about 23 years old. Her mom passed away a few months back. Her boyfriend is in prison. She wants to be an advocate for the homeless, for the abused. To stand up for her rights and others who can't speak up for themselves. She doesn't trust people. she is angry. She wants to move to california... someday. 
So, as i was biking down the street i saw something out of the corner of my eye that made me think perhaps Jade was there around the corner, so i crossed the street and got off my bike and went to check. Yep, it was Jade, swearing loudly to a friend of hers that she doesn't F'n believe in a god that can let child molesters and rapists go free... roaming around hurting people. its just not right. how can God allow this??! "They let these rapists get out of prison and go into the shelters and abuse us! No body cares!" 
I walked up and gave her a hug. 
I said quietly, "you know that breaks His heart... that breaks God's heart" 
"I don't F'n care! I don't believe in an F'n god that allows that. Its so good to see you!"
"oh, no i mean the fact that there is molestation and abuse and rape happening, breaks God's heart. He is wanting to use us - you and me to do something about it!"
"oh i am! Im helping with a documentary, and helping organize a sit in up at the capitol to let people know...I am an advocate, I stand up for my rights. My sign there. Its a statement. a political statement" 
I look down at her cardboard sign taped together laying on the sidewalk and written in black sharpie it says "Please don't ask me to move. I don't want to Prostitute. This is my first amendment right to panhandle" (see the attached picture. I asked if i could take it to share and help spread the word) 
She told me about how the police tell her to move on- that "Stemming" or "panhandling" isn't allowed. but, as she says "what would you rather me do? Isn't this better then sell drugs or selling my A**??" I don't want to prostitute, i've done that and... no... i don't want to. 


ahh... my heart screams out - NO, please don't! and everyone in the city, can't you see how this is driving her to desperation? police officers, can't you help her rather than just shove her aside?! but i don't really say much - just nod in affirmation of her statement, of her sign. yet the right to panhandling wherever you want is not the answer either of course. a few bucks an hour, going to more booze and candy is not helpful here.

I watch her stuff while she goes over to the commons to pee in a cup. (there are no public restrooms around the commons that the homeless can access freely) she feels to ashamed to ask for the key at the Blackseed when she isn't buying anything. she didn't want me to get something. So, she leaves with her cup, and i stand with her stuff... and the sign there on the ground by my feet, and talk with her friend - i think his name is Daren. people walk by, glancing at the sign, at me, at us. confused. maybe? or maybe they don't really notice. I turn invisible amazing how easy it is. To be invisible. Ive never really understood why people want that as a super power. 
anyway - Jade returns and we chat for a bit more about ending child abuse and discrimination and then i give her some fire drops (thanks mom) and a Lara Bar (had to sneak that in her bag, she hates taking stuff from friends) and i give her a few hugs, and let her know she is in my prayers. Sisters. 

thanks for joining me in prayer for Jade. For safety, for a good network of supportive people around her where she can begin to build trust, and that Jesus will lovingly woo her to Himself. 

goodnight! 
sarah

Thursday, August 29, 2013

A psalm:

I wrote this today on the train heading north for a meeting for Amirah. It is opening so soon!!! 
There has been a lot of sickness, and sorrow and pain this week: two friends passing from this life unexpectedly and young, and taken by senseless violence, perhaps accidental? unknown?  So much brokenness. it can be confusing, frustrating, exhausting  overwhelming .. and yet, still will i rejoice knowing that God IS, and He is HERE with us. One of the scriptures that is referred to below is Isaiah 61. 
so here goes... 

Praise him, praise him
Let all the earth rejoice
For The Lord is on the throne
The Lord of love and peace
Of righteousness and justice
Of holiness and purity 
He sits upon the throne and will never be shaken 
His victory is sure. Has already been won  
His beauty and joy advance into the darkness
The enemy territory yet tries to hold fast 
Tries to fight back 
The army of The Lord is stronghearted, yet meek
Quietly bold. 
Never intimidated 
Quick to listen 
Humble 
Ready for anything
Life screams from the gutters of destruction 
Fighting for breath 
Feeling abandoned, forgotten, abused, crushed 
Lord Are you there? Do you care?
Warriors among the trash heaps 
Sitting in silence 
Praying a prayer, grasping for hope
Breath of wind
Bird in fight 
Beauty of the sea and sky sings out 
"Take heart!!" 
Do not be afraid-
Rejoice! 
Let all the earth sing praise! 
For The Lord is on the throne
And has moved into our neighborhood 
Is here among us
The battle is won
In gladness trickling down our cheeks
In beauty bursting up from what was burnt and rubble 
In lives connecting breaking down barriers. 
Confessing 
Forgiving
 Love unfiltered, holy pure 

Stand firm, rooted in love, beauty and mercy 
And be not afraid 
Victory is here.

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

opportunity

Opportunity
access to...
   what you need to...
             Live?
Thrive!
Create
Dance
Imagine
BE

food to feed... Justly grown, harvested, processed, left alive to nourish, sometimes...?
Clothes to clothe... Justly grown, picked, spun, woven, pieced, shipped, purchased
Trends shift.
Tossed out.
What next?

"Id die for a pair of those!"
"really?" He asks. "I'll get you those baby - now, just help me out with one little thing..."
Opportunity seized.

who buys the shoes made by slaves for the girl he wil sell to a buyer purchasing her body for the same price or less?!
She is looking to belong, to be loved. He treats her nice, she wanted those shoes for since forever! (since they came out last month)
He is looking to belong, fit in, make money, prove his "manhood"
What is this "manhood" ? Identified by abuse and oppression and manipulation of others?!

The camera goes on.
abuse. Mutilation. violation
video uploaded - streamed to millions
viewing
corrupting
corroding heart and soul. destroying intimacy
on TVs, laptops, iphones and blackberries... Justly made? mind, molded, pieced, assembled... Sold.
to increase access to information
education
the world opens up ... to this??
Opportunity seized.

No! How can we create access to what you need to LIVE a life connected to the respect and dignity of self and others
THRIVE when others thrive and not on the oppression of anyone else?!
create, dance, imagine, BE
a world where life can be lived to the full

To love and be loved.
Opportunity seized.

"But unconditional love is always tied to justiceJustice is love on legs, spilling over into the public sphere" - Cornel West 


Monday, April 22, 2013

A week in April

One week ago, Monday the 15th of April at 2:50pm two bombs went off- one at the finish line of the 117th Boston Marathon, and one a little way down the road.
Boston, and the world was shocked.
#prayforboston

I was on the south shore at the time, heard from my friend's mom that something had happened and turned on the news 20 minutes after the explosions went off. Then after a bit I came back into the city. I live just down the street, and a friend was staying with us who had run the marathon, and was right there. many many other friends were right near by, or just up the road. It seems everyone in the city knows someone who was there if they weren't there themselves.
Im not sure how to process this entire week - yes, violence, tragedies, bomb explosions in war zones, guns and stabbings with gangs in our cities, earthquakes, tsunamis, catastrophic accidents...  are happening all over the world, even as im writing this. Yet. The world watched these bombs go off - random, senseless, sickening violence that had everyone shocked and confused. News casters didn't know what to even say. Blood, missing limbs, caos, panic... WHY??? I think that is what really strikes us all - the seeming lack of motive- the random act of violence to hurt people, whoever happened to be there. All on a beautiful Marathon Monday when we were watching the world's finest long-distance runners, spending time with family and friends - the sky was blue, bright clouds floating by, just the right air temperature. and then this.
Something happened here, that impacted this city, and the world, that is not so much related to the amount of injuries or how many people died... it is a taste of senseless, random violence against humanity... against us - crowd of family and friends at the marathon - Boston.
Not gang related, drug related, no war of power and political control motivating the act of setting these two explosives in the midst of the onlookers.
And yet, there were motives, we still don't know or understand, but we must acknowledge the pain and frustration, and trouble that drove these young men to do this. (what will we learn from this? are we listening?)
The world was watching. So it was an act of violence against all who were a part of that day - from all over the world.
It could have been so much "worse" - though from friends who were there, I have heard gruesome nightmares of stories. I try to hold it in "perspective" with whats happening around the world... yet, ive come to realize today, that I should not limit my reaction of sorrow and lament "Because others are experiencing this too and 'worse'" But rather, may this build my compassion, empathy, and ability to grieve along with others around the world, and here in my city who go through traumatic experiences, have had bombs dropped on their communities by us Americans, had friends killed in a street shooting... It is all heartbreaking.
To lament is to hope for, and have faith in something better- This is not what was meant to be. We are longing for a new City - the Kingdom of Heaven to come!

I just wanted to post a few images and some of my favorite quotes from people and friends from this past week.

------

Sadly after the bombings, people jumped to racially profiling those from the middle east, even in some media assumptions were being made. So maddening and sad. 
This author had some good and provocative thoughts to share... 
"White privilege is knowing that even if the Boston Marathon bomber turns out to be white, his or her identity will not result in white folks generally being singled out for suspicion by law enforcement, or the TSA, or the FBI.
White privilege is knowing that even if the bomber turns out to be white, no one will call for whites to be profiled as terrorists as a result, subjected to special screening, or threatened with deportation."

Good job Colbert! I was skeptical, but you did good. And i needed to laugh. So thanks. 


Marvin Richards, 8 years old. Killed in the Marathon Bombing 

 from this blog: http://principlepictures.com/blog/2013/04/16/to-boston-from-kabul-with-love/
thoughts form my friend: http://marymitchell.co.uk/blog/2013/4/18-1

boys in Iraq have a message for Boston... from the website: Upworthy.com 
"original source of this picture i posted earlier. Let's keep sharing, and break the cycle of prejudice, racism and violence! I am so sorry friends from the Middle East for the way many in America jumped to blaming and racially profiling! Please forgive us! Lord have mercy! "

A sign with light near Symphony hall - I love the double meaning "Be Love!"
"darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that!" - MLK jr. 
Excerpt from Prayer request email sent out wednesday the 17th from a nurse at BMC, and friend of the Emmanuel Gospel Center:
please please please continue to pray for the victims and their families- this is a trauma that will go on for many days and weeks to come....

for so many there has been & will be the need for additional surgery.... (for the burns, to revise the amputation stump..... or as new amputations become necessary secondary to infection, poor vascular profusion, etc. ).....newly paralyzed, runners who will never run again, never dance again; embedded PLASTIC shrapnel- harder to locate in soft tissue (abdomen / arms /legs / faces)...the newly deaf - so many many have perforated ear drums - some will regain hearing - some will not.....this is an example of the "secondary trauma phase" - things that are not life threatening - but as people stabilize they are then hit with the new loss like their hearing, and the retraumatization of it ---- catastrophic loss on yet another level.
 

Then Thursday night- a robbery of a 7/11 near MIT, a car hijacked, a shoot out killing an MIT security guard just an hour or so after i had left the area. I didn't realize it was connected to the marathon bombing until the next morning when i got a text "stay safe" at 6am. I checked the news on my phone, and the next 18 or so hours of surreal, city locked down, waiting, watching, not sure what might happen next, unfolded.

my FB status friday morning when we heard we were in "lock down": 
continuing to pray for our city! Stay safe friends, and lets not feed into the frenzy of fear and chaos... "You came near when i called on you; you said, "do not fear!" Lamentations 3:57


FB status mid day friday,  during the "lock down" 
thanks everyone! may we pray for a response globally to break these cycles of violence. And keep in prayer the many around the world who have lost loved ones this week... in TX, in all the shootings in the cities of the US and the world, the on going violence in syria, in Iraq, congo and others... the earthquake in Japan... and the yet unborn... yes there are differences in motives, in context, in 'impact' but lives are lost, and may we pray for those grieving. My we take a stand to say "another way is possible!" Lord we pray for Salam, Shalom, Peace.
http://www.facebook.com/In.Tanzir.We.Believe
A group of Bostonians sent a message of love back to Syria! YES! 
FB status update Friday
John 16:33

"...I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." Thanks for sharing this Verse bro! (Joe Durfey) 


FB status Friday night: 
Suspect #2 Dzhokhar has been taken into custody, alive in Watertown. Pray for officials, for medical team treating his injuries and blood loss. What does "bring to justice" mean for this young man? What does it mean to love our enemies? Lord we pray for wisdom, and not a spirit of revenge and hatred. It is all just so heartbreaking. I am glad he is not still on the run with the potential of doing more harm.

RT @TheBatman When Gotham needs a hero they look to Batman. When Boston needs a hero they just look to the person standing next to them.

And now today, is the one week anniversary of this tragedy. I was walking through the city at 2:50 when there was a moment of silence. at the coffee shop a sign was posted that they would be joining in the observance. I heard over the radio on a police man i was walking past "Moment of Silence, we will observe a moment of silence" .... and i stopped for a while. then walked a bit, and people all around the commons were standing still. I hear at the memorial down on Berkeley and Boylston the "moment" lasted for close to 10 minutes. silent. remembering. grieving.
but life was continuing around the city. music playing in the commons, hippies out celebrating Earth Day with their hoola-hoops and drums, kids running and playing. I think it seemed everyone had an extra depth of thankfulness for life, for the sun, for the breath that we have been given. I pray that people turned to thank and find their creator today.
I walked down to the memorial later today and read through some of the signs. 


On Twitter (which i don't actually have... but saw this) 23h
How do we spell team? We spell it like this: BPD, FBI, ATF, MSP, MBTA, WPD, ICE, NEMLEC, EMS, BFD, MIT, SWAT and YOU. We r

And then- the question is - What is to be done with Dzhokhar? "Suspect #2", "white hat"?

What does justice look like for this young man... only 19 years old? found bleeding, hiding  in the bottom of a boat. 
I don't really know. But my heart aches for him. What led him and his brother to commit such an act, what must have been going through their heads and hearts. So very sad. 
He was shot through the throat. somehow survived. He can write responses but can't talk yet. He is still in critical condition, though they say improving. He asked about his brother first thing.
 Today he was officially charged with the crime at his bedside. That just makes me so sad. 
He is alone in the hospital unit... they cleared the rest out. 
Alone.
The amount of wreckage, damages, loss he has caused is hard to even count... yet, as Cathi said and I agree - i see Jesus there with him when he was laying in that boat calling to him. Can we pray for him? pray for a change of heart? For his redemption?
The debate is around death penalty, where and when the trial will happen... What does LOVE in action look like here? I dont know. But, it doesn't seem that nursing him to life, to then sentence him to death is what Justice looks like.
 i will pray. 
from the blog post: The Offensive Grace of God
Lord have mercy on us, and may your Kingdom come! your will be done, on earth (in Boston) as it is in heaven.
amen.


Saturday, March 23, 2013

Ignorance. Deliberation

Anger
Power
Ignorance
Deliberation
Abuse
Violence
Rape
Manipulation
Again and again
The cycle continues
Unseen
Why?
Ignorance
Deliberation
Look the other way
Question the source
Disbelief chosen
Shhh
It is your duty to stay
Be a good wife
Be a good mom
Be a good girl
Shhh
Secrets
Cover up the lies
The bruises
The unseen penetrations
The Deeper than physical
Words cut
Emotional tearing down
Spiritual covering? Domineering 
Dominance
Dominate
Domain
She's mine.
Be a good...
    Christian
You dragging God into this? What god do you know?!
To use as a means to control and abuse. To get her to do what you say.
You talk about Love
Love? What is this?
You need her... You want her... You say you love her

Ignorance
Deliberation
Controlling me like I'm some sort of property??
Is this love?!
Anger welling up
Explosions coming
God why?! What have I done?!
Words of comfort syrupy sweet one moment and the next im cringing
Crying
Yelling
Safety? Where?!
No one will listen
Where will I get help?
Ignorance!
Deliberation?
Places of "refuge" for the broken hiding the instruments used for breaking.
Hiding
Secrets
Shhh
They tell me
Don't destroy his (our) reputation
What would everybody say!?
You would slander God's name
You would hurt them... All those people
What about me? What about him!?
Manipulation.
they say, We can't really do anything
Its too messy
Figure it out
It's your issue
but keep the marriage together
You can't leave
Don't say anything
We don't want the cops involved
Don't want the state interfering
'Worship' continues as scheduled
Going through the motions
Lies and secrets
Fester and rot
Deeply rooted
Sickness spreads
The Church is sick
Dying
Love is twisted
And covered over.
Ignorance?
Deliberation!
Fear
darkness creeps in, takes a hold
We are sleeping
Ignorant? No.
Deliberately choosing not to notice the ugly, dark evil mess that has taken root among us
It effects us
We are guilty too
We must humble ourselves and repent. Turn from our wicked ways
Cry out for forgiveness
Jesus hear us!
Heal us!
May what is done in the darkness be brought to light!
Pull up the root!
It will hurt
Deep deep pain
Sickening
Shocking
We cannot be ignorant any longer
We chose to deliberately reveal the secrets
Light bursts into the darkness
Refreshing
burning
Cleansing
Waters rush through
Purify
Bring us to justice and wash us clean!
Renew us, your Church Lord
Forgive us.
We cry out
artist unknown. found in a 24/7 prayer room. My brother took the picture. 

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

cards, cows and mindsets

Nika and I have been traveling for 9 days now. We have seen and learned a lot. we have met some incredible people, wrestled through systems thinking processes like hexagonning and causal loop diagrams, tried new foods, enjoyed old favorites from the region...I remembered the Arabic alphabet after a while of reading signs in Dubai and taught Nika a few letters. Hindi completely left my brain though - but i still remember some words, now that we are in Delhi.

Dubai is like a house of cards... a glittering, polished (on the inside) house of cards. large buildings towering out of the sand. half finished construction stand like skeletons in the landscape. luxury cars buz around the streets. dust and sand blow and cloud the view. Where is the heart of the city? Im listening, but i don't hear it... im still, but i don't feel it against my cheek. life blood flowing? what is this city built on? business, money, clean? perhaps not.
Malls everywhere... going forever. shop after shop, indoor pedestrian only streets paved with marble weave through the city. People from all over the world meander. headscarvs, full burkas, Galabayas, Koftas, skinny jeans, stilettos, miniskirts... you see it all. Some women are fully covered, even their eyes covered with a black veil, and some women hardly had anything on at all. Meandering through the mall. Children running and playing. laughter. chatting, honeymoon couples, and old couples, teenagers hanging out after a school day.
what a crazy world.
Women are seen yet not seen. Violence against women is hidden and hushed up. "No it doesn't happen here".
The United Arab Emirates, controlled by the King, and the small percentage of emirates. power, wealth, control. Law enforcement, and government officials are all Emirates.
The rest of the country is made up of people from all over the world - mostly India. yet they are never allowed citizenship. merely work visas. subject to being kicked out at the will of the Government. If you don't have an adequate job, or studying in school you can't stay. You must work and contribute to the well-being of the country.
Trafficking? Exploitation? Yes it happens. Entertainment, prostitution. and Labor slavery as well. I wasn't sure how or if i would learn about what was happening with human trafficking in the Gulf, but on my last day there i talked with a friend who has a heart and passion to help women caught up in prostitution and those who are abused in the labor camps. What would this look like? How can she and her community help?
As I began to talk with her about various ideas I realized how incredibly blessed much of the world is - and specifically thinking about Boston - we have multiple hotline numbers to call if you are being abused/ raped/ exploited... the system isn't perfect, but there is a high chance the police will respond and will attempt to help you. Perhaps your story is not fully believed, but generally there is a care for the victim, connection with services, an attempt to prosecute the perpetrator. At least that is the generally accepted "norm" of how the system works. But, apparently in Dubai there isn't even one hotline number to call to report sexual abuse. or at least my friend did not know of one. It is as if the work to help those who are being exploited, must be done in secret, because the government wants to keep the problem hidden. So a double secrecy! What an incredible challenge!
I am so thankful i was able to meet and talk with these friends though, and i look forward to staying connected with them - and see what God will do in and through them.

Now we have been in Delhi for a few days. amazing full and alive city! soooo many people! and the laws? well, they are more like guidelines... or completely ignored. new ones made up.
wonderful food and bright colors, but oh- so many contradictions everywhere you look! Spending time with friends here who are giving their lives for their country - answering God's call to serve. Giving up business and just asking God what they are to do. It seems so impossibly overwhelming in many ways, yet exciting to see steps being taken towards justice, integrity, and honesty. small steps, but steps. The book of Isaiah always seems to come alive for me when im here in india! God's heart desires Justice, and he is calling his church to step out here- he will fulfill his promises!
Crazy traffic, cows, sewage, metro lines, curries and corn rotti, flowers, bright colors everywhere, new little friends- giving candies, prayers, songs, laughter, passionate frustration, heart cries for justice. strong determination. Do not be afraid! The Lord is with you!
 Jai Mesai! जय!

Monday, March 4, 2013

flowers outshine

I wrote this while praying for one of the groups we are working with on this trip. A prayer for them, and for all of us.
 I had just been reading through Matt. 5 and 6, so that is the larger context.

Joy - abundant Joy!
One lord - savior
  No two masters
One
Abundant radiant life
Despite circumstance- not
     determined by.
Beyond. Above. Within and bursting through.
Visions for life
Laid down
Surrendered
Die to live
But first death. Painful. Cold.
   Surrender as a living
   sacrifice... Over, and over
   and over...
And life begins again
  Refreshed. Pure.
Fire unquenchable
  Rivers rushing
Pursuing beauty
    Excellent beauty
Laughter at what the wold holds so dear
The flowers outshine
Love abounds
No fear
    Death is conquered
Open hands letting go
Victory is won
Unexpected glory
   Where you would never look
To Him be the glory
Over and over and over
                    again

Monday, February 4, 2013

"slavery"...?

Words only have meaning when attached to stories.
Everyone has different stories behind each word.
To one, a word could signify life and hope, to another the same word means control, guilt, 'savior complex'...
What then do we do when we are telling our story of revolution? Of changing the reality of vulnerability, exploitation and oppression? What words do we use? How do we define, unpack, make clear the message?

Here are some thoughts from friends and community members i've been talking with the last few months:
(I am keeping names out of it, but trying to give a glimpse of the "Story" each is coming from by sharing their ethnicity, race, gender, age, and geographical location. These can seem like unhelpful boxes, and i in some ways cringe when writing them out. Why can't we just all be "human". Yet, we do have unique and beautiful stories. Painful injustice committed and felt. As Richard Twiss shared last week, "We each see a piece of the night sky through our telescope, and we must learn to use one another's telescopes to braden our vision and understanding. And you can't use another telescope just by reading a book.")

Abolition/ Abolitionist: 

  • "Seems to connect with the White savior complex" - LT, African American Woman in early 30s from Boston 
  • "I use the term Abolitionist because thats what we are - we are abolishing human trafficking" - JW, African American Male in late 20s from Virginia 
  • "Could have a negative power dynamic, someone better than the other" - RC, asian american Male in Early 30s from Boston
  • "There is an urgency to write the wrongs of history- a deep sense of guilt for what happened and a desire to be on the side fighting for justice this time. If i had been alive then, i would have wanted to be an abolitionist - so today, we are continuing the fight against the purchasing and selling of human beings. But its important to examine motives." SD, Euro-American woman in her late 20s. Boston
  • "Sort of could seem to mean 'whites saving blacks'. Although there were black abolitionists in the history of slavery." - JK, African American woman in her 60s from Boston 
  • "Its different today, so I say, if you use 'Modern Abolitionist' it works" RT, Native American Male in his 50s from SD
  • "The main problem with "abolition" is the disconnect is the lack of abolitionist interest in prostitution. The problems of human trafficking and prostitution are connected, but one is not the other. Fighting against human trafficking is popular--but fighting against prostitution or labor exploitation? For these battles, we will meet strong opponents who will criticize us at every turn and we won't be able to feel as good about ourselves." - GH, Euro-American Male 40+ 
  • "Some communities might really love the term Abolitionist; white folks and even immigrant communities. But I don't think the Black community resonates with that language for today" - WR African American / Caribbean islander Male. 60+ from Boston 
  • "It has religious connotations" - Ero-American Male. early 30s from Boston

Slavery:

  •  "I think it can be helpful to use the term Slavery. But its important to be careful of using "modern-slavery". It cancels out the pain of the historic struggle with slavery. It says that pain is over, this is the modern version, the new story. In reality we are still struggling with the impact of 'historic slavery' and it is connected with what is happening today." - LL, African American Woman. 30+ from Boston
  • "I don't like to use Slavery to talk about what is happening today. Today, globally, it is not legal. In the past slavery was a legal institution. So today it is a very different thing" - VB Biracial (african american / white) male 30+ in DC
  • "No, it is not slavery, it is not a racially based, institutionalized realty in society today" - WR 
  • "We don't like to talk about slavery. It hurts. What we need to do is present the information of what is happening to each community, and let them decide what language to use in describing and communicating about it" - JK
  • "I think it's powerful to talk about a continuum of conditions and a mixture of circumstances that lead to these conditions, from kidnapping to coercion to economic enslavement. The terms slavery and abolition cover some conditions, fair trade and economic justice cover others, I think the anti-trafficking movement needs a term that covers a wide range of injustices with the common theme of freedom and justice...." - JL, Euro-american woman 50+ in Boston
  • "ahh slavery... Have you been to the Caribbean? to the auction blocks, the slave trading posts?" - African American/ Caribbean male 30+ from Boston
Human Trafficking:
  • "It is very much legal language. disconnected from what is happening on the street corner in Dorchester at 5:30am when i am dropping my daughter off at school" - African American woman. 40+ from Boston
  • "I prefer to use Human Trafficking for whats happening today" - VB
  • "When a person of color tries to stand up for their rights, or make known an injustice we get shut down. 'what are you still complaining for?! you have a black president! and he was even reelected!' We are ignored, seen as wining, no one wants to listen. So then 'human trafficking' is all over the news. Disconnected. thats frustrating." - (paraphrased) LN Latina Woman 30+ in Boston
Emancipation Proclamation:
  • "Well, how do i say this? It wasn't empowering. It didn't really do anything. It didn't have teeth to make change. So its not really something we celebrate" - MG African American Male 30+ from Boston
  • "President Lincoln and other Republicans were concerned that the Emancipation Proclamation, which in 1863 declared the freedom of slaves in ten Confederate states then in rebellion, would be seen as a temporary war measure, since it was based solely on Lincoln's war powers. The Proclamation did not free any slaves in the border states nor did it abolish slavery.[1]Because of this, Lincoln and other supporters believed that an amendment to the Constitution was needed." - Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/13th_ammendment
More to come! 

My girls


He's gonna take my girls
My babies
If I do or say anything against him
What he wants goes
That's just the bottom line

Housing, food, presence
Where is he?
He said no. Don't like the neighborhood.
So I turn down the 3bedroom
No.
I'm living at my grandma's
He is couch surfing with friends
He asks for money, so I give it. And more. And more.
Til I i need to ask grandma for some money for milk.
And is he working?
No.
Every month.
I can't say no.

"nooo don't tell daddy!"
They are scared of him too
I'm surprised grandma hasn't strangled him!
But dont you dare say anything against him!
He's my man.

He is all I've got. Right? I love him... Don't I? He wants me, doesn't he? I matter?

I do what he says because we are in a relationship!
...And he threatens to take away my girls.
forever.
I can't live with that.
They need a mommy.
They need a daddy!

This is what I've got. Don't tell me to change. Him or me - I can't.
No.
What he sayes goes. That's just the bottom line.

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This is my friend's granddaughter's story. My friend (the grandma) is grieving, angry, frustrated - what can she do?! Its so hard.