The Price Tag of a Modern Day Slave

Slavery at any time, under any circumstances, in any culture is wrong! For many people slavery is a topic in a history book. For the informed person, slavery is as much an atrocity in our present society as in any period of history.

Life has been even more devalued today than when this country was at Civil War. The price of a slave in the 1860’s was generally between $400 and $2000 according to many sources.¹ Today the average cost of a slave globally is just $90.² Estimates place the total number at twenty to thirty million slaves worldwide.³

We tend to think of the international implications of this problem, forgetting its rampant nature in America. Researchers estimate approximately 300,000 kids are trafficked yearly.  Their average ages are 12 – 14.⁴ This is a $32 billion industry in this country alone.⁵

Much of the blame has been placed on the internet and perhaps justifiably so. Too many times teens are lured into this world via chat rooms or other seemingly innocent social venues. Students must be instructed in internet safety. One location you might have your students check out is https://love146.org/action/online-safety/omg-the-internet/

However, I would like to suggest a couple of other areas that should be considered. Here are some crucial preventative ideas to help students make wise choices. These are suggestions for you, as well as the parents and students you work with.

• Be a friend to the fringe students. – Often girls and guys are on the fringe just before they go over the edge into a darker world. A simple friendship with some Christian teens could make all the difference in their world.
• If you see something, say something! – Be proactive when you or your students see questionable things happening with other students. Contrary to Cain and Abel’s situation, we are our brother’s (or sister’s) keeper.
• Respect, respect, respect! – Respect and value others as God’s creation. Sometimes lending value to a teen who has no personal value will keep them from giving up and making wrong choices.
• Listen twice as much as you talk .– Students often reveal their genuine feelings to people who genuinely listen.

Obviously we need law enforcement, government agencies, churches, plus the general public taking action. I also believe a student can make a difference in the life of an at-risk teen in their sphere of influence. We all need to do our part because any Price Tag is appalling when it is related to Slavery.

I suggest you go to the following websites for current statistics on human trafficking for more facts and information.

• https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-human-trafficking
• http://www.churchesagainsttrafficking.com/learn.html
• http://www.missingkids.com/Home
• https://www.freetheslaves.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/FTS_factsheet-Nov17.21.pdf
• https://love146.org/parents/
• https://www.namb.net/send-relief/human-trafficking
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_trafficking_in_the_United_States

Footnotes:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_in_the_United_States
2. https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-human-trafficking
3. https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-human-trafficking
4. http://www.churchesagainsttrafficking.com/learn.html
5. http://www.churchesagainsttrafficking.com/learn.html

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