Still Stuck In The Slave Mind
January 12, 2010 by Brian Jenkins
Filed under Be Risen, Featured
Did you know that January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention month in America? That’s just an interesting little tid bit that I thought you would enjoy. But, after learning this, I was immediately disturbed because, how big of a slavery and trafficking problem do we have if we have a whole month recognizing its prevention?
The average cost of a human slave around the world is just $90. These trafficked slaves are exploited by being forced into prostitution, and/or being subjected to slavery or involuntary servitude. Slaves may also be forced to commit sex acts to make pornography, and are often mislead into debt. It is essentially a trap, where the person is seen as worthless.
President Obama said “The victims of modern slavery have many faces. They are men and women, adults and children,” while declaring January National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. “Yet, all are denied basic human dignity and freedom.”
Human dignity and freedom. That is worth exploring, because many of us are not trapped or bound by those same limitations as trafficked slaves, but choose to forfeit our own dignity. There are so many followers out here, claiming to have it all together. It has gotten to the point that having an education, or a talent outside of what the group has, isn’t “cool”. We have an epidemic of group think, where we let our minds be trafficked by the ignorant masses until we are trapped in the mental slavery of mediocrity.
I started out looking into trafficking, and realized that many of us, in growing numbers, are outsourcing our minds. We chose not to be interested. As a matter of fact, that is a great exercise; write down five things that you are interested in. The problem is that after so much time of hiding intelligence, you become the act. You limit yourself, and begin to not even know what you don’t know.
This reminds me of an old quote by Harriet Tubman, one of the founders of the Underground Railroad, responsible to the freeing of many slaves. She said, “I freed a thousand slaves I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves.” If only they knew they were slaves? Those stuck in the slave mind, playing into stereotypes to keep the powers that be laughing.
Freedom is having a free dome, a mind that is constantly exercised and advanced by the truths and experiences of your own life. When I was growing up, I never believed in peer pressure. I always thought it was a joke, told by out of touch adults. Now that I am a father myself, I see that it is real. Yes, Jedi mind tricks only work on the weak minded, but there are enough weak minds out there that were never told they should be a leader. And, what is worse, don’t know that their minds are weak.
Trafficking victims normally don’t get help because they think that they or their families will be hurt by their traffickers, or that they will be deported. They are slaves of their own fears of not being what they are told that they should be, forfeiting their right to their own worth. This is so not unique to trafficked slaves that I am even hesitant to explain it, because if you don’t get it, then we already lost you.
President Obama says that “we acknowledge that forms of slavery still exist in the modern era.” He also says “I call upon the people of the United States to recognize the vital role we can play in ending modern slavery.” That is a “hmm” moment. National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month culminates in National Freedom Day February 1st, Obama said. National Freedom Day? I guess its time to look at the slave in the mirror and release from the chains of conformity.
- Brian Jenkins
Twitter: @Brian_Jenkins
Great Blog Brian, a lot of people are tracking this issue & how it relates to themselves. The world is a Sphere & energy is infinite. So what goes around comes back around. So turn a blind eye & you will get blind sided, down the road.
so true. . . we are our brothers’ keepers.
That right!! Thats why we focuse with two eyes
We train ourselves not to be interested in things that affect us. We have to get off that.
Amazing! We Americans can turn our heads on this issue, helps to keep it underground . . . and thriving!
We turn our heads to many things that affect us, and thats what needs to change first.
You’re right Brian, “out of sight, out of mind” is definitely a problem. It effects so many people but at the same time it’s hard for the average person, who it doesn’t effect, to fully comprehend the magnitude of what human trafficking is. And even if you do comprehend it, it’s hard to know what to do about it, except educate others about it and hope they will continue to pass the knowledge to someone who it may help. It’s just like any other abusive relationship (but this is x’s 100!) the trapped or enslaved person has no idea that there is a better life out there and there is an escape. They would rather suffer the pain than to have their family threatened. Thanks for the blog!
Its always a horrible thing when you look at conformity as your means of survival. We are abusive to ourselves at times too, which makes it all that much easier for outside forces to control what we do.
In regards to human trafficking…it’s sickening…but why it it so prevalent? The all mighty dollar…repulsive…but where do you begin? Especially when you have mothers selling their 5 year old daughters to men?
And I for one am tired of the notion of mental slavery…I do feel that some are held captive by ignorance…yet one you may view as conformity…some look upon as survival.
I go into an office, and I have a friend refer to it as a plantation…(which I hate and I feel is disrespectful and totally discounts my chosen career)…however, I look at it like this…you work for self…and why? For the same man’s money that’s running the “plantations”…so what’s the difference? We’re both enslaved by capitalism.
Great perspective on survival. We may disagree on capitalism and what it is, but your point stiill stands and is well taken
Great post, I never knew slavery still exsisted, human traffickers should be prosecuted under international law
It is most certainly and international problem, but also a HUGE national problem…
Good point!! I don’t know how international laws work for traffickers, I do know that governments work together to get citizens back when they are lost or found. But, I do not think they work on prosecution.
Slavery of the mind is the worst form of slavery, not undermining human trafficking at all. The slave that knows s/he’s a slave has a better chance at freedom than the slave who doesn’t. Individual reflection and awareness is the key to freedom: freedom of ambiguity, freedom of mediocrity, freedom of group mentalities. It’s okay to follow something you believe in, because YOU agree with it. Mindlessly following, however, is not acceptable. Unfortunately, it’s the common route for a majority of people.
A great piece, Brian. Thank you for opening some peoples’ minds.
I agree, in fact, it all starts at slavery of the mind. Acceptance is a major part of it. I wonder what the factors are that destroy individualism. I can guess things like the internet, where we see what everyone is thinking, or music videos where we see how they act and what they do are adding to group think. Its part of why I call music videos the new millenium minstrel show.
Oh, what a timely blog!! This isnt news to any of us, as much as it is a wake up/awareness… Its a serious matter when your lost and dont know it. Its devastating to think of how far we set our ownselves back just by being ‘SLAVES TO OUR FEARS’. One example, I went to a four yr college fresh out of high school. I graduated top 10% with honors.. i got to college and was assigned a suite with 3other girls. (smh as i type) all of my roomates’ speech, writing, AND math skills were nearly developmental… I found it hard trying not to ‘dumb down’ in attempts to not offend anyone. Education has become a party scene and knowledge/wisdom didnt get the invite.
Excellent example!! Education is inherently selfish, I know what I know and that is what I am worried about. We accept ignorance better then intelligence from people. The super well informed are seen almost as a fringe element in society. Interest in things is seen as almost unnatural, and parents pay more for sports then for education, where education is a way more secure lottery ticket.
One thing that I will say is that, while Universities have become party scenes, we probably will never get the same types of intense conversations that we did on campus. That in and of itself makes it worth it if your intention is to be an individual and expand what you know.
Hi Brian–
Very interesting blog. I am very knowledgeable about human trafficking like I was telling you early which my be for the wrong reason because Ricky Martin has a foundation that serves its sole purpose to help and raise awareness about human trafficking. The foundation is called Ricky Martin Foundation and the website is http://www.rickymartinfoundation.org
Keep writing Brian!!
PS– Help Haiti Earthquake Relief Donate $5 by texting YELE to 501 501 right now. (via @wyclef)
Great text, Brian. Unfortunately, slavery still exists and all strength to make it dissapear is not enough. There are places without inspection around this big world we live. Here, in Brazil, sometimes farmers get in jail for that. This places needs inspection!