Contemporary or modern-day Slavery is a growing concern that requires a swift hand internationally. According to The United Nations, there are approximately 38-46 million people enslaved throughout the world. The International Labor Organization(ILO) estimates that by their definition some 40 million people are in some form of slavery today. 24.9 million are in forced labour, of whom 16 million are exploited in the private sector as domestic work, construction and agriculture, and 4.8 million are forced or sexually exploited. A further 4-5 million people are forced into labour by a State Institution. It is believed that The Chinese Government employs approximately 10 million prisoners in forced labour projects throughout their nation. 15.4 million women are in forced marriages.
Horrifying statistics. The very nature of slavery leaves us with the problem of multiple definitions of what slavery can mean, what is and how can it still exist today?
Slavery’s definition according to Webster: is the state of a person who is held in forced servitude. The forced submission to a dominating influence.
See what I mean, the definition leaves a large grey zone. Can a child be enslaved by their parents or family? Are corporate workers who are dependent upon their wages to survive also enslaved? Are people enslaved to their faiths, culture, governments, and employers? Is slavery a state of mind? Children can become addicted to games? Is addiction a form of enslavement?
The traditional “slave”, is often the loser in a conflict, between different cultures or races as we know happened throughout history the enslavement (imposed by others or self-imposed). Your state of mind can be the agent of your own enslavement, what with addictions and social impulses placed upon yourself. Slavery is a very common contemporary thing. You bought yourself a home, with a high mortgage payment. Perhaps you have enslaved yourself to the object, the house, working your ass off to pay the mortgage. I know many people who are economically enslaved. We have a lot more in common with the slaves across the world than 1st thought. You may hate your boss and the job you have, but the bills need to be paid right?
Like the wild animals in a Zoo, we perform for our collective and private slave masters. I hope this realization of what state you are truly in will encourage and inspire you to seek collective and personal equality and a search for “freedom”. There are many inspirational historic and present-day leaders of this movement. The 1811 Slave Rebellion in Louisiana was short-lived, leaders like La Mulatresse Solitude of Guadeloupe, Spartacus of Italy, Ali Bin Mohammed(East Africans rebelled), and Jean-Jacques Dessalines of Haiti led a revolt against their French oppressors. Samuel Sharpe, a Baptist Preacher and slave lead a rebellion against the British in Jamaica in 1831. A year later the British Government abolished slavery within their empire. It took America a lot longer to see the light.
Slavery has a real contemporary influence upon us all, historically and in very practical ways. Whether we are horrified by the way our police treat us because of our particular demographic or race, or at what we see in the media from far off places in the world, the struggle to end “slavery” in whatever form experienced by us, is real, significant and life-changing.
La Mulatresse Solitude was a slave in Guadeloupe. She became an inspirational leader to the slaves of her island, and even while pregnant fought her slave masters. The revolt was crushed and most rebels hung. She was allowed to have her child, who was then sold into slavery and Solitude was hanged the day after she gave birth. Modern day slave masters are no better. The addiction you have or that which enslaves you personally lingers still. Have the courage and personal awareness to challenge yourself and that which enslaves you. Be a Rebel with a cause. Be true to yourself.
Steven Kaszab
Bradford, Ontario
[email protected]
