Sex trafficking is the heinous act of unlawfully using coercion or force to make individuals perform sexual acts or perform acts at a forceable location against their will. Black children comprise 71% of all juvenile prostitution arrests—more than any other racial group—a statistic that underscores a disturbing reality where victims are criminalized instead of protected. Take Tonya, for example, an underage 15-year-old Black girl at the time in a “relationship” with an adult she thought she loved and trusted, and whom she thought loved her. He didn’t. He manipulated her and forced her on a multitude of accounts to have intercourse with different people against her will, beating her when she spoke up or tried to refuse. Unfortunately, though, the doleful story of Tonya isn’t just her own. It’s the story of millions of people, specifically Black girls and women. Things that are happening to Black girls and women every day and have been for centuries, and more to come if we don’t attempt to stop it. Sex trafficking happens to everyone, mostly women, mostly Black women, leaving not only physical marks, but also taking a toll on the human body, and vastly harming them mentally as well.
Sex trafficking is an incredibly excruciating issue that affects millions of people, yet African American women and girls are one of the ethnic groups that are affected the most. For example, the article “Snapshot on Black Women and Girls: Sex Trafficking in the U.S.” by Samatha Davey cites, “research has indicated the continued sexualization of Black women and girls’ bodies, which has played out since slavery.” She also states, “According to the FBI, 57.5% of all juvenile prostitution arrests are Black children… In an interview with the Urban Institute, traffickers admittedly believe trafficking Black women would land them less jail time than trafficking White women if caught.” This interpretation explicates that for centuries, Black women have been sexualized, automatically planting the seed for sex and human trafficking. Black women have an immeasurably higher chance of being trafficked. Traffickers look at Black women as a quick nab, knowing they’d benefit from torturing a group of people who have already been affected for such long periods of time and in such detrimental ways.
Additionally, it doesn’t stop there. There is an abundance of external and internal issues that come with human trafficking. Human trafficking can lead to various health issues as well. “Health Issues of Human Trafficking” by Julie St. John, Phd says, “Human trafficking leads to scars and other physical signs of trauma and abuse, mental health illnesses, and psychological trauma.” Formulating not only physical scars, sex trafficking implants mental ones as well, leaving forever-lasting impacts on victims. Furthermore, “Sex trafficking victims also may suffer from sexually transmitted diseases, HIV and AIDS, pelvic pain, rectal trauma, urinary issues, pregnancy that results from rape or prostitution, multiple abortions, particularly in young females, and infertility from chronic, untreated sexually transmitted infections.” This demonstrates the severity that the physical effects of human trafficking can take on victims. They don’t just brand victims with physical trauma, but they also lead to health and life-threatening issues, as well, putting victims into holes they can’t dig themselves out of. Holes they didn’t ask or want to be in. The extent of the impact of sex trafficking is substantial.
Although human trafficking is such a detrimental issue, like most problems, a feasible remedy can be identified. There are little steps that can aid in diminishing sex trafficking. The informative “20 Ways You Can Help Fight Human Trafficking” article, written by the U.S Government, reads, “Become a mentor to a young person or someone in need.” When people know they have people who care about them, that slims their chances of being manipulated as easily because they know they can speak up. Also, in the early stages, they will understand that there are people who can do things about it. By simply being there for someone, you give them less of a chance to be trafficked because they’ll have someone they can at least trust. They won’t feel so powerless or trapped. The article also states, “The media plays an enormous role in shaping perceptions and guiding the public conversation about human trafficking.” Over time, many people have begun excessively using technology, so by spreading awareness and informing people through technology, people are more likely to understand and know what to look out for when it comes to sex trafficking. People will pay attention nowadays since the use is so common. Supporting people may be overlooked, and a lot of the time, tackling sex trafficking won’t be easy, but with little steps, a solution can be found.
Sex trafficking is a truly heartbreaking issue in which people affected by it are seen as objects and criminals instead of what they should be seen as: victims. This problem affects millions of Black women and girls globally. It impacts mental health and takes a toll on the human body. From African American young girls to African American adult women, victims undergo sexual force, even sometimes from people they trust, profoundly eradicating self-esteem and self-perception. Alarming evidence from the two aforementioned articles shows the global issue and a plausible solution if people take action. It is so imperative that a world is formulated in which not only African American women, but the world as a whole feels safe, especially in the comfort of their own home or streets in which their homes reside.
