One of these women I fell in love with last Fall while reading her first memoir.
One of these women I heard speak last week in a video montage at the DNC.
One of these women I came to know yesterday via a friend, who is being her badass consciousness raising self.
What do these three women have in common?
They have all been trafficked for sex.
I read Maya Angelou’s second memoir, Gather Together in my Name, just last week. I was blown away to discover that as a teenager Maya had a pimp and didn’t even know it. Her poetic storytelling painted a picture of just how easily and unintentionally becoming a sex worker can be– how through impeccable grooming, the relationship between “lovers” can morph seemingly nonchalantly to that of master and slave.
This book landed in my lap shortly after learning of the conspiracy theory QANON and its singular obsession with connecting child trafficking to those opposing Donald Trump. Doing some research, I discovered that over 50% of child trafficking is not done by predators at the park, celebrities at pizza parlors or on remote islands, but rather at the hands of family members, which leads me to Donna Hylton.
I discovered her in much the same way I discovered the above mentioned conspiracy theory. There were posts going viral about a convicted murderer being celebrated by the DNC. I dug a bit and came to discover that Donna was sold by her mother in Jamaica to a NYC couple at the age of 7. She ran away from this abusive home at 14 and at 19 was convicted of murder. She spent 27 years in prison where she earned her BA, MA and became an ordained minister. She is now a Criminal Justice Reform Advocate.
The universe never messes does she?
Friday I became aware of Zephi Trevino, age 16. Like Maya, Zephi entered sex trafficking through a man who appeared to be a boyfriend. Like Donna, she is convicted of murder, despite not having pulled the trigger. Zephi is being held in the Henry Wade Juvenile Justice facility, where she has been for almost a year, as she awaits trial for the murder of a man she was being forced to perform sexual acts with. The man who pulled the trigger was her trafficker, and he is out on bail. While we work to change our criminal justice system there are ways you can help Zephi and her family.
1. Educate yourself and follow #freezephi
3. Donate money for legal fees
4. Call DA John Creuzot (214) 653-3600 and demand Zephi be released to receive the care and recovery treatment she needs.
5. Stop victim shaming and blaming when you hear it.