NEW WAVES OF AFRICAN SLAVES ARRIVE IN THE U.S.:
GROUP REQUESTS THE COMMUNITY HELP FOR THE VICTIMS

New York, October 1, 2003—Africans In America is reaching out to the public especially to immigrant Africans to review the way it respond to the issues of human trafficking within the community.

Making the call, the Executive Director and Co-Founder of the organization, Mr. Bonaventure N. Ezekwenna released two chilling case studies, which exemplifies typical community handling of the human trafficking situations.

Case Studies

For purpose of confidentiality, survivors’ names will not be used

Case #1 Female from West African country:

• Illegally smuggled into the U.S. in 1988 when she was 11 by an immigrant African (with falsified documents claiming to be the parent)

• Forced to raise the two children of an African physician (employee of City of New York), did the household jobs and light shopping without pay

• Raped by her captor starting at the age of 11; impregnated at the age of 13

• Removed from captive situation by New York City Child Welfare Administration in 1990 and placed in foster care. Pregnancy terminated. No immigration services provided

• Interviewed by Bronx District Attorney, and testified during trial of her captor. No immigration services provided

• Has no relative in the U.S.

• Immigrant African professionals especially medical doctors in Harlem Hospital in New York conducted citywide fundraising for the captor when he was arrested. No support for the victim

• Her captor plead guilty to rape charge in 1992

• Remained in the foster home till present (age 26)

• In 1999, Africans In America Board members intervened when she received INS voluntary departure letter and advocated for her

• Africans In America board members provided affidavit of support

• An African consulate in New York approached refused to offer assistance and support

• Africans In America board member linked her with her family in Africa, and translated their telephone conversations

• INS reversed itself and issues her a Law Enforcement Statement identifying her as victim of trafficking clearing the way for adjustment of her immigration status and other benefits

• Recently, she received T Visa, which makes her eligible for various benefits

Case #2 Female from West African country:

The remarkable point here is that immigrant African communities are generally in denial on the existence of this problem. They are in denial because it is a practice in the continent most of them look forward to bring to the United States or in the least to perpetuating when they go back to the continent. The free service of maids and servants is very tempting indeed.

An example of such denial manifested upon the arrest of the captors in 1999. Their associates unleashed massive propaganda both in the U.S. and Africa in clear attempt at character smear and to mislead the investigation. One U. S. based immigrant African community association states in its constitution that it: 1. Shall not assist any member arrested for involvement in criminal activities. 2. Shall expel any member arrested for involvement in criminal activities. However, upon the arrest of the traffickers, this association conducted fundraising for the traffickers, spread misleading information to the public and the authorities in a clear attempt to assist the traffickers and obstruct the investigation. This represents typical U. S. based immigrant African community response and it represents gross violation of state and federal laws.

The American public and authorities we came in contact with were horrified at the community response to the two cases. They are outraged that the victims situation are known within the community many of whom are social services/healthcare workers, religious bodies and attorneys whose responsibility is to protect children, the economically disadvantaged, and those in distress.

They were mostly outraged that when the traffickers were arrested, the community largely New York City government and private social workers, healthcare professionals and religious bodies conducted fundraising during working hours for the captors and attempted to mislead the investigation. The victims received no sympathy and support.

An immigrant African newspaper publisher (not African Abroad) devoted pages of his newspaper attacking and vilifying the victim of trafficking for cooperating with the United States Authority. He claim Ph.D. and authorship, and could be seen mingling with African Heads of States, high-ranking diplomats, and business executives. Some of the perpetrators are African leaderships who allow the practice in their countries, diplomats and religious leaders among others.

This is exploitation, not culture
Africans In America is educating the American public that human trafficking and slavery is not part of the African culture. Rather, this practice exemplifies institutional decay, corruption and exploitation of the lower classes - the poor, the illiterate and the powerless citizens on the continent. The children and wives of the wealthy - the rulers, the people in positions of power, authority and influence, both in public and in private sectors are normally not lured into trafficking and slavery. The survivors are generally individuals who do not have access to a decent life, nor hope for a better future due to their socio-economic status in the society.

The traffickers normally procure falsified documents claiming the survivors as their children or family members. The fact that they devise various sorts of ways to hide the survivors from the authorities underlines the fact that they are, of course, aware they are violating the law. The traffickers are definitely not hiding their cultural titles, cultural attires, cultural music, cultural dance, cultural arts, cultural names and cultural foods stuff from the authority. It is un-cultural, and violation of African culture and tradition to falsify documents, and to lie.

Reaching out to help these poor, and helpless victims should be made part of African culture here in the United States at least.

Fellow Africans and Americans believe us when we tell you that this modern day slavery exists next door, at church and in our Embassy officials’ residence.

“Madam Hoohaa’s babysitter is today known around the world as a adjudicated victim of human trafficking, has a lot of legal protection, has become a U.S. citizen, graduated from college (B.S. Accounting for a start), sits on the Board of non-profit corporation that send chills down the spin of human traffickers both high and low, receives letters of support from leaders including U. S. Congress, gets invitation for issue discussion by top government officials, and receives numerous speaking engagements and she has no doubt has become somebody. God definitely bless America.”

“Immigrant African communities need to seriously review their response to those in distress especially victims of human trafficking if they will remain relevant in this new dispensation. Do unto others, the way you want done unto you, your daughters, your sons and your family, we believe, is part of African culture; and because, no condition is permanent”, summed up Mr. Ezekwenna.

Our Approach
Africans In America will make every effort to resolve each individual case in a culturally sensitive way before exploring other options.

Who We Are
Africans In America, Inc. (AIA) is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to providing social services, self-empowerment and community awareness to the underserved and economically disadvantaged African communities in the New York metropolitan area.

Our primary purpose is to end the abuse of survivors of trafficking, especially women and girl children from Africa living in the United States.

For information regarding our organization, visit our website: www.africanslavery.org, or contact us at,

Africans In America, Inc.
343 West 145th Street
New York, New York 10031

If you are a victim of trafficking, or know someone who may be a victim, please call us at: (212) 694-8080 * fax: (212) 694-8686 * E-mail: AfricansInAmericaInc@msn.com