Reclaiming Humanity
Anxiety across the country is increasing in tandem with the “colorization of America.” This shift is challenging many (white) people’s sense of security causing racial, social, economic, and political division and polarization. These divisions lead to “othering,” the process of marginalizing people who are of a different race, gender, sexual identity, religion, ethnicity, class, or ability. And not only are these people deemed unequal, they are unseen, unheard, and dehumanized. How can a democracy represent, or government care for, people that it does not even “see”?
According to John Powell, Director of the Haas Institute for a Fair and Inclusive Society, this separation is occurring on three levels: first, separation from self; second, separation from the “other”; and third, separation from the earth. The separation from “other” is not only a conscious rejection of those who are different, it is also occurring on a subconscious level — manifesting as unconscious bias, prejudice, and even disgust.
Powell describes a “circle of human concern.” Society forms around the groups in the middle of the circle and establishes policies for their benefit. Historically, people within the circle included children, elderly, and mothers, for example. This was not an ideal system because there were still groups on the outside, such as undocumented immigrants, incarcerated minorities, and members of the LGBTQ community; however, it has now shifted to an even more extreme imbalance. Now, at the center of the circle of human concern is the elite and corporations. This means that governing priorities and policies, and distribution of resources, are centered on what is best for corporations and the wealthiest members of society — rather than the people. Government has been repurposed. The threat to our democracy is that a small group of people are using their wealth and power to control the government, thus disenfranchising the majority.
I first became an advocate for victims of trafficking when I realized the thousands of victims who had no voice, no seat at the table, no place in society. In human trafficking, the majority of victims are from marginalized groups outside of the circle of human concern. Victims are so far outside the circle, many in society do not even act like they exist. In fact, they are not even seen as human, they are seen as a commodity. Racism, poverty, homelessness, and gender inequality have made these populations vulnerable, whether a victim was coerced into trafficking or simply saw no other option for survival. Trafficking proliferates because victims are figuratively and literally “unseen.” Victims of labor trafficking are hidden in plain sight as migrant/agricultural workers, domestic servants, restaurant staff, construction laborers, factory workers and more. Victims of sexual exploitation are also hidden — sold over the internet, kept in secret locations, and ostracized by society as “sex workers.”
Once a victim is rescued, her plight is not over. The survivor might break free from her trafficker or pimp; however, she is still in the grips of the socio economic drivers that made her vulnerable in the first place. And to add to this, those who are currently at the center of the circle of human concern are the buyers who drive the demand for her exploitation! With human trafficking generating a $150 billion dollar industry, society will not be able to end these forms of modern day slavery without disrupting demand.
Powell does leave us with a glimmer of hope. He illuminates a path forward with the goal of having no one outside of the circle of human concern. It is inconvenient, Powell explains, but we are all connected and we are part of each other. The first step on this path is to create empathetic space by beginning to “see people in their humanity.” For those who are being marginalized, this might be a tall order, yet, “we can’t deny someone’s basic humanity, even if we don’t support their politics.”
I believe for those of us who are nearer the circle, even if not inside, Powell’s edict is a good and honorable direction to work toward. For victims of trafficking, and for other groups who are marginalized to the point of invisibility, it is our responsibility as fellow humans to see their humanity, to advocate for them, and to reclaim our democracy on their behalf.
