The “S” Word Is Not a “Safe word”
We live in a world of buzz words that make us want to overlook things and not call certain things for what they really are. No one wants to hear the truth because it implies that there is a call to action to fix what is broken.
We are living in a world where tragedy and violence has become second nature to those who are living in it. In modern day times like 2018 we are still facing repressive disasters after repressive disasters. Social disasters are happening everyday along with natural disasters. There are some disasters that are down right “unnatural”. The robbing of a human being from their freedom to be free is a social disaster in itself. Most people in this modern day era like to believe that “slavery” does not exist. It may not exist in its most obvious forms, but still practiced under the guise of private prisons, and in some of the most “unlikely” of places such as everyday fast food restaurants. Powerful people affect those that are most vulnerable no matter the size of profitable places. People want to avoid the “S” word because it is not a safe word — especially in times like these. Lets just call it what it is — SLAVERY.
What is “slavery”?
Slavery is a method of labor by importing workers from a different continent, supervising them on 16 hour shifts to ensure the “workers” don’t run away, providing them a place to stay to be fed and kept, and exerting corporal punishment for doing something unwanted.
Happening Here at Home
For a man named John Christopher Smith his own personal prison was caused by Bobby Paul Edwards. Bobby enslaved John at his privately own establishment called J&J Cafeteria. From the duration of 2009 to 2014 John was Bobby’s own personal slave working him a hundred hours a week with out pay. He used tactics of intimidation, violence and coercion to force labor services at the J&J Cafeteria. This man, Bobby, was able to strip another human being from their humanity. He kept John in an ugly run-down apartment to keep him from running away. This man was kept away from his family, so he had no one to run to for help. John was denied access to his own family and his own life. He was able to escape this seemingly hopeless situation because a long time patron of the establishment noticed that John had bruises and burns from the beatings Bobby gave him and reported him to the authorities. These were routine beatings heinously committed by the owner and added insult to injury by calling him the “N” word. Bobby Paul Edwards faced charges for his crimes, but did not call the crimes for what it really was. His lawyers’ statement:
“ We deny any allegations of slavery and abuse. We don’t believe there was any slavery involved. That word — in the climate we’re in in this country, quite frankly — makes it even more of a story.”
(Scott Bellamy; Bobby Paul Edwards attorney)
I for one am appalled at these egregious crimes that were committed against John Christopher Smith. The nerve that the accused had to say that the word “slavery” makes it more of a story. Then what should we call it if not for what it is. It hurts me because that could have been any of my family members in that situation. This incident was not brought into the light until someone finally noticed that something was off in the workplace. I would feel hopeless and mentally destroyed. More importantly I would have felt robbed of my sense of trust in people and peace of mind. I would definitely delay any decisions to re-join the work force. Since we are taught and able to comprehend that in this life if you are not born rich you have to work to survive. The worst part of all this is we are living in a developed 1st world country. How can we define ourselves as being 1st world if we can’t even fix the social issues, disasters and repression that happens here in the U.S.?
Let’s Take Notes
In the wise words of Aime Cesaire, “A civilization that proves incapable of solving the problems it creates is a decadent civilization”(Discourse of Colonialism, pg.31). Situations like John Christopher Smith should not be happening to begin with. Fortunately for him he was able to get justice for the crimes committed against him. The only downfall to this is he now is facing a lifetime of mental recovery for what has happened to him. There is a decline in people’s morality and it should not be declining especially with what is happening today.
According to Cesaire, “A civilization that chooses to close its eyes to its most crucial problems is a stricken civilization (pg.31).” Even the most powerful of nations can turn a blind eye to it’s own people’s needs. Those that we vote for to help take care of us do everything to take our power from us and not give us anything back. Like in the case of John, how much time was needed to pass in order for someone to notice him? It only takes one person to make a difference in saving or taking someone’s life. Now imagine a whole civilization working towards progression or regression. How did it look? I think that helping someone is progress and not a backwards way to improving humanity. Once humanity improves then we can prosper as a civilization.
Indeed, in the text Discourse on Colonialism states, “A civilization that uses its principles for trickery and deceit is a dying civilization (pg.31).” If we manipulate the masses by imposing agendas that only benefit the few it only has one outcome. The outcome for future generations is bleak. We have been tricked into thinking that someone else is better or that someone else will take care of what has been broken. If we don’t hold people accountable for what they say or do then we live on principles of trickery and deceit, which will lead to our downfall. When that happens someone else will take charge and it will either benefit or hurt us all.
I like to think that there is hope for us, but I am also not blind to see what is going on in the world. We must work together for a better tomorrow and always make improvements to help the many and not the few. The right to life is our own and not a privilege to be earned. All in the hopes that situations like John Christopher Smith never happen again. Call things for what they are and maybe we might have a chance to improve on what has broken.
