In America today the majority of people believe that human trafficking is a issue in other countries around the globe, but not in America. The people of the U.S. like to paint pictures of third world women, children, and even men being abducted, abused, sexually assaulted, starved, and used for forced labor. The media has filled the minds of the average United State's citizen with the ideology that slavery does not exist here in The Land of Liberty. People do not want to believe that the people around them are the bad guys. People do not like to think that a threat such as human trafficking is lurking at their doors. In fact many American are oblivious to the millions of human trafficking victims that surround them. But there is a cure because through educated awareness, resources, and organizations filled with passionate people Americans can put an end to human trafficking.

The first step in defeating human trafficking is understanding what it is made up of and analyzing the specific parts. In her article, "Nightmare on Any Street: America's Human Trafficking Dilemma", Dianne Small-Jordan, a PhD in Criminal Justice, outlines the pieces of human trafficking. In the third paragraph of her introduction Small-Jordan informs her reader's that human trafficking is a much bigger crime in the U.S. than one might expect when she writes, "In the United States, human trafficking is the second largest criminal organization on the land, buying and selling people falls just behind drugs as a source of black-market income." (Small-Jordan pg.1) By emphasizing the fact that this crime is the runner up behind drugs Small-Jordan highlights the fact that human trafficking is an issue that must be taken seriously. She then goes on to explain certain aspects such as what exactly is human trafficking. According to The United Nations of Drugs and Crime it is "The acquisition of people by improper means, such as force, fraud or deception, with the aim of exploiting them. The victims are subjected to forced labor, slavery, sexual exploitation, servitude and forced organ donation  --  crimes which rake in an estimated $32 billion dollars a year."  After she defines human trafficking Small-Jordan then goes onto to discuss how many people are enslaved in the U.S., which according to The U.S. State Department there 14,500-17,500 enslaved in the U.S.. She then describes the victims, how kids are exploited and targeted, what is in it for the criminals, how people are enticed into becoming victims, and the dangers of sexting. Yet even with all this seemingly horrible news Small-Jordan ends her article with an easy yet powerful solution when she writes, "Be educated on what to look for, be aware so you can be a part of the solution, and help where you can. Knowledge gives you power." And she is absolutely correct because through proper knowledge more and more people will take a stand in the fight against human trafficking. 

Like Small-Jordan, Katherine Walts, the editor and director for the Center for the Human Rights of Children desires her audience to be educated on the matter of human trafficking. In her article "HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN THE UNITED STATES", Walts outlines the ins and outs of human trafficking in ten chapters. She covers the challenges of identifying the cases of human trafficking, child labor in the U.S., prevention of child trafficking, and much more in her efforts to spread the news about human slavery in today's society. In her article she writes about a conference held in Chicago, Illinois specifically designed to make the public aware of this crime in the U.S.. In the fourth paragraph Walts states,  "This was the first such forum to address human trafficking of children and youth in a broader human rights framework within the United States." (Walts, pg.4). Like Small-Jordan Walts underlines that fact that the majority of Americans are dumb to the fact that human slavery is a severe issue in their country. The worst part, however, is not that it goes unnoticed, but that children and young adults are afflicted by such a filthy plague and most people still turn a blind eye. Still similarly to Small-Jordan, Walts does  not end with bad news, but proposes twelve  steps to end human trafficking such as identifying vulnerable communities, improving protection, applying new human right laws, improving accountability, advocating, and prevention programs. Yet the point still remains that none of these things can be accomplished if Americans are not knowledgeable about the problem. So by the end of her article Walts has made sure to unveil every little detail about human trafficking and uncovered every avenue one could take in order to help end human trafficking.

Sadly, words only go so far. Without an actual or mental picture many people fail to act because they cannot fully grasp the harsh reality without seeing it first hand for themselves. It takes a visual to drill down to the bedrock of most peoples' emotions. That is exactly what Cascadianet from the Internet cite YouTube does with their video. In the clip "About Human Trafficking" Cascadianet shows the entire world the tragic sights of human trafficking. In the comment section the creator of the video said that they put this video together as a school project, but wanted others to see what human trafficking looks like in today's culture. Through a montage of pictures, statistics, and music the maker of the video paints a vivid image into the mind of the viewer and urges them to get involved so that these victims may be set free.

The second thing Americans must have in order to defeat human trafficking is a plethora of resources. To be able to aid those stuck in the nightmare of human trafficking one must know what resources are available and how to use them adequately. One resource available to the public is the National Human Trafficking Resource Center. According to the United States Department of State one can call into this center and file reports of human trafficking instances. Another way one can help aid in the war against human trafficking according to the Department of State is by being a conscious consumer. Try to stay away from products that are suspected of being made by slave labor. One can also distribute awareness materials available at the Department of Health and Human Services or Department of Homeland Security. People can also bring awareness by incorporating it in one's daily work and social life. A crucial and very important way one can be active is by volunteering. It is essential to the cause to give time and money in order to save lives and change the progression of human history. 

Another resource Americans can utilize in order to help make an impact against human trafficking is the government. According to the White House human trafficking is an extremely important issue and one that President Barack Obama prides himself on backing zealously. President Obama  stated in a  public address concerning human trafficking, "Our fight against human trafficking is one of the great human rights causes of our time, and the United States will continue to lead it  --  in partnership with you. The change we seek will not come easy, but we can draw strength from the movements of the past. For we know that every life saved  --  in the words of that great Proclamation  --  is 'an act of justice'; worthy of 'the considerate judgment of mankind, and the gracious favor of Almighty God'." Here in his Global Initiative Speech President Obama pledges to help the United States lead the way in destroying one of its top crimes along side the people of this great nation. However, our government cannot do it alone. America is a "democracy" and our government can only go so far. It takes the voices and actions of the people in order to achieve the goals set before us. People of the U.S. must unite under their leaders in order to abolish human slavery from our shores.

Now one way people can unite in order to fight human trafficking is organizations. Organizations are a combination of all the other millions of sources packed into one ultimate nuclear weapon that can cut the head from the snake. Organizations are filled with people linked together through one purpose. The time, money, and energy are all funneled toward one direct cause. Most organizations are even backed and supported by the government. And the best part is the organizations themselves have their own unique resources that can be used in a variety of ways. Organizations such as POLARIS, which is a global safety net monitor human trafficking around the world. They have a hotline and a place where people can donate. They have different initiatives and projects that people can be apart of. They offer news updates and stories. They have calls to action and plenty of material to help raise awareness. There are organizations scattered through the Internet just waiting for normal everyday citizens like you and I to contact them and be a part of something much bigger than ourselves. 

The final thing Americans need in order to succeed against human trafficking is indeed organizations. Organizations are the heart and soul of reformation movements. It is because of organizations like Passion in Atlanta, Georgia that human trafficking is being made known across this great nation's college campuses. Erin Edgemon, a freelance writer, writes about the Passion Conference in his article "College Students Fight Human Trafficking". In this article Edgemon writes, "No one really talks about it. Most of us probably don't even know that there are more slaves now than ever in human history. Depictions of human trafficking are often seen in movies and television shows, but we don't think of it happening in the United States. Regan Kramer, a Florida native, didn't either. That was until she went to a Passion conference that highlighted the topic of domestic human trafficking." He tells the story of how a young college student came to learn about human trafficking. He goes on to write about how this particular student was  touched and how she went on to make a instrumental impact on her college campus and others around the country.

Now there are skeptics out there who believe that human trafficking cannot be brought to a halt. One of the major skeptics of our day is Priscilla Alvarez, the assistant editor of the Atlantic, which juts happens to be one of the biggest and widest read magazines. In her article, "When Sex Trafficking Goes Unnoticed In The U.S.", Alvarez claims that there are several reasons as to why Americans cannot stop human trafficking in the U.S.. The first reason Alvarez asserts is that the U.S. government has trouble picking out human trafficking victims out of the vast American population. She goes on to say that the government is not even totally sure that the estimated numbers of victims are entirely accurate. She furthers her argument by telling her audience that most victims stay silent therefore, there is insufficient evidence and identity remains a problem. Alvarez then moves on to her next point, which is that the criminals involved in human trafficking are very cautious and are not easily caught. Through the use of tricks, deceit, and manipulation the criminals lure their victims in and then use force and threats to keep them under submission. Alvarez then uses the previous statement as a foundation for her next point, which is that human trafficking cases are hard to prosecute. Not only are the cases  hard to prosecute, but there are also very few laws that protect victims from human trafficking. In addition to this the charges brought to court are often fuzzy and very unclear, which allow the criminals to walk free. Yet all of this is just a drop in the ocean in the big scheme of things. Alvarez believes that the overall issue is that most people in the U.S. know little to nothing at all about human trafficking in their own  nation. People are unaware of the drastic problems it causes, the moral issues, and how to be of help. All of these arguments role into one enormous obstacles that Americans face in the wake of defeating human trafficking.

However, there are two sides to every coin. According to the U.S. Department of State one can indeed identify human trafficking victims. The U.S. Department of State writes, "Everyone has the potential to discover a human trafficking situation. While the victims may sometimes be kept behind locked doors, they are often hidden right in front of us." The Department of State then goes on to list some common indicators in order to help common people identify and help victims. Some of these indicators are living with one's employer, poor living conditions, multiple people in a cramped space, inability to speak to a person alone, signs of physical abuse, fearful, paid very little, and many more. The Department of State also lists common questions one might ask such as: can you leave your job if you want to, can you come and go as you please, have you been hurt, have you been threatened, and has your family been threatened? The Department also informs their readers where one can seek help. So in contradiction to Alvarez's first line of thought the government can in fact identify victims through evidence, questions, and common factors, which lead to suspicion. 

Alvarez's second claim is that victims stay silent and often do not speak out in search of aid. Yet in their article, "Sex trafficking: The New American Slavery", authors Leif Coorlim and Dana Ford, both writers and editors for CNN, recount the story of a fourteen year old girl who was herself a victim of human trafficking. These two individuals recount this young girls vivid story with excruciating detail and even often quote the young female herself. Throughout the text the reader is able to relive the dramatic experience and see clearly once free from bondage that victims do not keep their mouths shut, but rather vocalize their frightening tales of horror in order to raise awareness and aid those who are still under the yoke of slavery. 

Alvarez's third point is that the criminals involved in human trafficking are rarely caught. However, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation Alvarez could not be farther from the truth. The FBI states, "Among the Civil Rights Unit's priorities is its human trafficking program, based on the passage of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which provided that "neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States."' The FBI later goes on to list categories with which criminals might be charged such as: domestic sex trafficking of adults, sex trafficking of international adults and children, forced labor, and domestic servitude. The FBI the explains that it has several task forces that carry out these investigations in order to apprehend those at fault. These forces include: The Anti-Trafficking Coordination Team and the FBI Human Trafficking Task Force. The FBI concludes its statement by writing, "FBI human trafficking investigations are conducted by agents within the human trafficking program and members of our federal human trafficking task forces, and every one of our 56 field offices has worked investigations pertaining to human trafficking." Finally, the FBI informs their readers that victims are protected under Trafficking Victims Protection Act created in the year 2000 and this act is used to identify and place criminals behind bars. So by the end of the FBI's report one can clearly see that not only does the FBI regularly investigate and catch criminals, but they also abide by the laws that the U.S. government has established.  This too goes against Alvarez's assertion that the U.S. does not have laws, which help fight against human trafficking. 

Still Alvarez has one leg to stand on and that is not many Americans know about human trafficking. Or do they? Now I could not find the exact number of U.S. citizens  who are aware about human trafficking, but through my extensive research one thing has become clear and that is more and more Americans need to be made aware of human trafficking on their own shores. In their article, "Enslaved in America: Sex Trafficking in the United States", the Women's Funding Network cite an essay by Tina Frundt  in which Tina writes, "The pimps who are trafficking young women and girls on the street in the U.S. have a great marketing tool: the media. When we hear the words "sex trafficking," as Americans we immediately think of women and children overseas who are being forced into the sex trade or who are brought into the United States for the purpose of sexual exploitation. We don't usually think closer to home  --  Americans trafficked by Americans. A little later on in the essay Tina writes, "To understand all aspects of sex trafficking in the United States, you have to open your mind and let go of what you have seen or heard on television. You need to let go of the media's portrayal of the "joys" of street prostitution, and open your eyes to the violence and control the pimps and sex traffickers exercise over their victims, who are mostly girls and young women."  From this one can clearly see that many Americans are in denial about the fact that human trafficking happens right outside their front door. And let's face it no one would want to admit that such a abominable practice exists all around in the Land of the Free. Yet Tina infers that we as Americans are responsible for turning a blind eye toward this issue. She explains that the media often misinforms us on human trafficking and that in order to better understand human trafficking  one must put aside what one has been ideologically taught about it so that one can start having a positive and influential impact on the lives in the American communities.  Information is power. On the plus side we as the people can control that power and use it for good. Americans could easily transition from blind, deaf, and dumb to people who stand out among the crowd and advocate for those without a voice. 

So what? What does this have to do with the American society? How does it affect the American culture? And most importantly what can Americans do in order to help slow down and bring the sex train to a stand still? Human trafficking and slavery in general have been the scourge of society since the beginning of human history and has afflicted the American nation since its foundation. It is a black smudge mark on the American society. It is equivalent to the Holocaust in German history. It is one that still affects America as a whole to this day. It has lead to racism, racial profiling, and stereotypes that are unjust and that do not resemble true American equality. Human trafficking mocks the rights that our forefathers risked their lives to preserve. As citizens of the United States we have an obligation to defend the weak and to help the poor in order that they may pursue life, liberty, and happiness. According to humantrafficking.org by becoming apart of awareness campaigns like "Be Smart, Be Safe", and Global TV Campaign on Human Trafficking one can help prevent human trafficking. The website formally mention also says by supporting institutions like the Center for International Crime Prevention and the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute one can help fund the and encourage the prosecution of those involved in human trafficking. Finally, according to the online website one can also join groups to help protect, rehabilitate, repair, reintegrate, and advocate for those oppressed by human trafficking. 

In conclusion by taking advantage of educated awareness, resources, and organizations the United States can put human trafficking to an end. Though there are hurdles, pitfalls, and nonbelievers I am confident in the American peoples' will, enthusiasm, determination, and passion. I am well aware that human trafficking cannot be solved in one night. I realize it may even take decades before anything is accomplished, but I have faith that one day  the darkness will yield to the light. My fellow Americans and friends I leave you with two wise quotes. The first from the English politician, philanthropist, and leader to abolish slavery William Wilberforce, who said as a warning, "You may choose to look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know." And the other from Margaret Mead, an American cultural anthropologist as a beacon of inspiration, who said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." 

