Well, this is just great. Behind the gated and planned communities of Southern California housewives aren't just employing children as drug dealers, they're smuggling children into the US to work.
As affluent immigrants move here from Africa, where the rich think nothing of employing children for little to no money, many bring children with them to employ for meager wages ($30-per-month meager). The US State Department found that in the past year, children from at least 10 African countries were sent to the US and Europe to work as maids.
To learn about one former child slave who found justice, if that's even possible, read more.
The family that brought Shyima over when she was 10 from Egypt was reported by a neighbor. After a long court battle — where the couple tried to claim her as their child — they pleaded guilty to forced labor and slavery. They were ordered to pay $76,000, which hardly seems like enough but is the amount she would have earned at minimum wage; sentenced to 22 months (wife) and three years (husband) in prison; and deported upon release. Shyima was adopted, finished high school, and at 19 now wants to become a police officer.
If it's possible to call Shyima lucky, it could be said. Because child slaves are cloaked behind the curtains of private homes, her case is an exception. Tasks like sorting laundry, taking out the garbage, and ironing shirts can easily be mistaken as chores, so nobody can even estimate how many children are enslaved. And since none of it is considered abusive (at least not physically), cases are rarely prosecuted.
People who keep child slaves not only see themselves as employers but also as benefactors, giving poor children opportunities. Sure, if you call 12-hour work days and no education in a nice American home an opportunity. And many in Africa, including Shyima's parents, do.
Princesse Tam-Tam
Emilio Pucci
Free People
They can call themselves benefactors if they like, but it is still slavery.
1this happens in all over Africa, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Vietnam, Philippines, and many other places all the time. It's sickening but unfortunately a lot of the poor truly do believe that their child are being educated and getting a better opportunity.
2I read about this yesterday and was very struck by the emphasis in the article(s) on the nationality of the abusers. The way the story is presented (not here on Sugar, just in the media) seems very accusatory and suspicious of any wealthy individuals from Africa.
I will be interested to see if this 'child slavery' revelation will become a new racial stereotype.
3this sickens me just as much as when it is done to the children of Mexico, or any child for that matter
4So African immigrants are enslaving their African brethren?? Shouldn't the African American community be a little more upset about this? When do we expect to get the "apology" they so richly deserve?
5UnDave you never seem to amaze me. You are right - we should be outraged.
6lol bellaressa, join the club, UnDave never fail to amaze a lot of us on here.
7"When do we expect to get the "apology" they so richly deserve?"
8There's just nothing you won't trivialize, is there?
Glad to see that Africans and African Americans are the same nationality.
9I always wondered what we had in common besides knowing that African Americans - the decedents from slavery had in common with Africans despite being maybe of the same hue and having the same culture. But, what country in Africa did slaves come from or even know since their culture, history,language, religion, and their African roots taken from them they had to conform to a new country and their captors.
I know I have so much in common with people from West Africa - I know this now from unDave. Bravo.
10This is absolutely disgusting, and the idea that many parents of the child slaves willingly sell their children into this kind of service is just heartbreaking.
"So African immigrants are enslaving their African brethren?? Shouldn't the African American community be a little more upset about this? When do we expect to get the "apology" they so richly deserve?"
Errr...there's sort of a difference between the nationally institutionalized, totally legal, and socially accepted practice of slavery which haunts America's past, and this current behavior, don't you think?
11Bella,
Of course Africans and African-Americans are of the same nationality, they also all look exactly alike
12Why of course, Tia! Because we all know that race trumps everything, even national culture and socioeconomic background
13Tia, you think I can find my cousins and them in Africa. I should just ask someone from there if they knew my family right. What was our last name again?
14"So African immigrants are enslaving their African brethren?? Shouldn't the African American community be a little more upset about this? When do we expect to get the "apology" they so richly deserve?"
Every once in a while Dave, you show your true colors. I'm no longer surprised by what you write. But it's sad that after reading the post, you felt the need to take a swipe at Blacks/ African Americans and trivialize a serious issue all at the same time.
15Is anyone else waiting for the eye roll and the oy and the "I was just joking" comment?
16I am.
17Waiting.
18Sorry, I am also waiting for someone to come out and call us sensitive.
19"As affluent immigrants move here from Africa, where the rich think nothing of employing children for little to no money, many bring children with them to employ for meager wages ($30-per-month meager)."
African immigrants are enslaving the less fortunate African children.
20everyone trivializes import issues once in a while. Give him a break.
21Hainan in Dave's case it's not once in a while.
22Unbelievable!! What in the world are people thinking? 30 bucks a month? To add insult to injury.......
23I don't see any import issues here. Oh, wait, slaves are imported. Gotcha.
..............................
24chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp
25It sounds like we need to make immigration laws to check into people coming to the US to ensure they aren't bringing along any slaves.
26em- you knew I meant important.... damn spell check.
27It's a sad question to ask, but is the child slavery option, assuming no physical or sexual abuse, actually a better option for these children? While I think it's horrible for the wealthy to take advantage of the poor, they could adopt them or educate them and pay them decent wages, I'm not as quick to criticize the parents of these children. If the kids live in villages where people are starving and dying of disease, maybe what seems to us like a horrible situation is actually better. I'm assuming that in addition to the $30, they are being fed and housed?
28WOW! "Blacks", "Hispanics", and "Whites"! Are there no other people involved in this well covered slave trade? Maybe there are a few dozen others out there too. Or maybe their problems should be swept under the carpet and we should be misdirected by the presses slight of hand. Anyone know the words India, or China? These are in the news all the time too. Women and children being imported as various kinds of slaves. Used for the sex trade or indentured household or agricultural workers by their own people or the highest bidder. And all in this wonderful country under the guise of freedom and opportunity. And how about the blacks in the news only recently getting free of some of our "countrymen" here in our south?
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