Dismantling Perfect Survivor Propaganda in the Anti-Trafficking Movement

By Jaimia Mccoy

While we know that human trafficking exists and is prevalent in our society, there is often the misconception of who is most subject to kind of crime against humanity. Disability critical race theory is a coined phrase that envelopes the vulnerabilities that correlate to the tactics that are used within human trafficking. Disability Critical Race Theory (DisCrit) is an intersectional framework that examines the interplay between race and disability. To have a more thorough understanding of what this means, one must take time to evaluate the historical context that contemporarily exists on a national level. In the United States alone, “approximately 15% of the population has a disability. Black/African-American communities have the highest disability prevalence (14%), followed by Non-Hispanic white (11%), Hispanic/Latino (8%), and Asian (5%) populations.” (1) The most discomforting fact that comes from reading these statistics is knowing that this automatically subjects a diversly abled person who identifies as a person of color to human trafficking, interpersonal violence, and criminalization.

It’s more important now more than ever to acknowledge the insidious ways that human trafficking shows up more pervasively in our country. It is entrenched throughout the creation and history of our society. Because of this subjectification, the main beneficiaries of these crimes continue to profit from human trafficking tactics through means of settler colonialism, apartheid, exploitation, sexual abuse, ethnic cleansing, gender-based violence and so much more. Human trafficking defined is a crime that involves forcing, compelling, coercing a person to provide labor or services, or to engage in commercial sex acts. This form of abuse can be so subtle that one has no idea what is happening to them, their loved ones or their belongings. On the opposite side of the paradigm, this abuse can be so brazen that one (or many) are physically restrained from knowing or accessing their human right and their human dignity. Rather than conjuring a history lesson that is a topic in it’s own sphere, in relation, it seems more imminent to discuss the harm done as a result of colonialism. In order to understand how this matters in relation to disability critical race theory, the masses will be prompted to evaluate this myriad of victimizations through an intersectionality lens of understanding. Kimberle Crenshaw, the abolitionist and scholar, coined this term in to 1980s to intentionally focus on the ways identities interplay and how those identities that person embodies further marginalizes them. It shows how inevitably these identities  predispose a person to violence on at least one or all -ism sphere(s). It emphasizes how diagnoses are weaponized and criminalized.

To acknowledge that chattel slavery was (and is) a real belief system that formed this country is to understand that it has now been modernized. The most marginalized groups of people are still under these same tactics of oppression. Furthermore, the same systems that claimed runaway enslaved people suffered from a mental disease are now misdiagnosing Americans who identify within the African diaspora with a diverse ability. The same systems that created slave patrol systems are now criminalizing dis-ease and dis-ability. A specific case that can be referenced is that of Cyntoia Brown. Born with a fetal alcohol disorder and subject to sexual abuse at a very young age when she was subsequently diagnosed with conduct disorder, she ran away from home on numerous occasions before meeting her trafficker. (2) One day, she was picked up for sex by a 43 year old man who attempted to rape her. An act of self-defense in fear for her life, resulted in a murder, and she was convicted of murder and robbery at the age of 16. She was sent to adult prison where she spent 15 years before she was finally listened to. While she was given clemency and is now able to repair what was stolen from her, she will remain on parole for another 8 years. She can’t violate her parole or she will be sent back to prison to complete her sentence. This story caught media attention in the midst of her disclosing what happened to her, to people who prioritized listening to her instead of attempting to silence her.

In conclusion, disability critical race theory is a framework that can be used to combat human trafficking by appropriately examining trafficking law. It can be used to evaluate how systems are economically benefitting from the hyper-criminalization of diversely abled people of color. This intersection sheds light on the existing complexities of human trafficking and underscores the need for a holistic approach to supporting our most marginalized communities.

References:

1.     Catrone, R.G., Baires, N.A., Martin Loya, M.R. et al. An Intersectional Examination of Disability and Race Models in Behavior-Analytic Practice. Behav. Soc. Iss. 32, 152–181 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42822-022-00116-z

2.     Rein, R. (2022). Suffering at the Margins: Applying Disability Critical Race Studies to Trafficking in the United States. Columbia Journal of Gender and Law, 42(2), 183–256. https://doi.org/10.52214/cjgl.v42i2.9065

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jaimia Mccoy

Jiamia McCoy, (she/her/ella), has her BSW and identifies as Black/African American. She is Indiana Legal Services’ anti trafficking social worker, also recognized as a survivor’s advocate, and the first ever in her position based out of Indianapolis. She’s been working with Indiana Legal Services since August 2020 and in the non-profit sector serving survivors of crime for approximately 7 years while she acquired her education in human/social services. She collaboratively works with a team comprised of work rights and survivor rights legal staff – supporting survivors of labor exploitation and human trafficking. Not only is she extremely passionate about anti-racism being prioritized in the anti-trafficking movement and non-profit sector as a whole, she has built curriculums along with conducted robust trainings surrounding the origins and domains of racism in the human trafficking movement. She’s an esteemed survivor educator and consultant on the topics of anti-blackness, decolonization, and anti-oppression. She’s made it a priority in her work to shift the language and perspective to prioritize racial justice and equity within every part of society. Additionally, she’s led as a chair member on multiple state coalitions surrounding anti-trafficking and anti-racism. Outside of ILS, she is a participant in the abolition movement and activist for human & civil rights. She’s also a yoga practitioner, lover of wellness and planting, a mother, and spends most of her time in a book or with family & friends in community. 

A Black/African America woman smiling broadly, wearing a back top with a African print with a black jacket. Her braids are pulled back.

A Black/African America woman smiling broadly, wearing a back top with a African print with a black jacket. Her braids are pulled back.

Microaggression of a male DMST survivor

The name of my piece is called: Microaggression of a male DMST survivor

Artist: Eric Harris, B.S.W., HTFC (Human Trafficking Field Consultant) 

“The piece is an optical illusion to represent that we can’t always see what a person is going through until we get closer to understanding someone pain, resiliency, and we are not defined by our past. The top layer represents my trafficker, my mother, and teachers and the words probation said to me growing up after my exploitation. The middle layer illustrates my accomplishments since leaving the life. The bottom represents my goals for the future.” Eric Harris, B.S.W., HTFC (Human Trafficking Field Consultant) 

“The piece is an optical illusion to represent that we can’t always see what a person is going through until we get closer to understanding someone pain, resiliency, and we are not defined by our past. The top layer represents my trafficker, my mother, and teachers and the words probation said to me growing up after my exploitation. The middle layer illustrates my accomplishments since leaving the life. The bottom represents my goals for the future.” by Eric Harris, B.S.W., HTFC (Human Trafficking Field Consultant) 

Description of the art:

Hey friends this is a description of the painting. The piece is called micro aggression of a DMST male survivor. The reason why I made the piece the way I made it is underneath [the paint] there is writing. On the first top half is everything that my traffickers, my mother, teachers, probation and everything that I was involved with after my trafficking situation—it is all the words they tell me—what I couldn’t do, or a path that I was headed on. Some of the words are triggering so I will not give a verbatim of the words that are written.

The middle part is all the accomplishments I have made after exiting the life. Becoming a social worker, father, grandfather, consultant, all the accomplishments I have always wanted to have and that I do have in life. The bottom part is the future. Displaying my hopes for the future. Hopefully becoming a great grandparent, a licensed clinical social worker and all the other things I wish for in my future.

The reason why it’s made with writing underneath is because from a far it looks like a piece of modern art. But also it represents how we see people from a far and the closer you get to the painting you can see the verbiage that I’ve laid down. Also representing the fact that we need to look at people closer before we judge.

Not only that but it shows from afar that we really don’t know what’s going on with a person but when we get up close, we can definitely see someone’s issues. We don’t always know where a person is coming from and that’s why I made the piece like that. Thank you.

Eric Harris, B.S.W., HTFC (Human Trafficking Field Consultant)
Eric Harris, B.S.W., HTFC (Human Trafficking Field Consultant)

Biography: Eric Harris is a consultant and field expert with many years of service in human trafficking education and advocacy. Eric earned a bachelor’s in social work and is an alum from Anderson University Indiana and is a member of National Association of Social Workers (N.A.S.W.) Mr. Harris served as a Human Trafficking field consultant for the state of Indiana and was the co-chair and founder of Lived Experiences Experts Working (L.E.E.W.G) for the IPATH taskforce when it was active. Mr. Harris is a graduate of the Human Trafficking Leadership Academy through National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Center (N.H.T.T.A.C.) and the Heal Trafficking MGH institute train the trainer academy 2020. Eric has a great passion for advocating for survivor’s rights and working to remove the stigma surrounding survivors of violence and human trafficking. Read more about Eric’s accomplishments here.

Interested in consulting with Eric? Eric specializes in working with males, educating on human trafficking, policy inclusion, program inclusion with having survivors as staff, implicit bias training, and mental health. Email Eric at eaharris1904@gmail.com to make an appointment. Rates are contingent on stakeholder needs. 

Survivor Artist: From the Mud

Survivor Artist: From the Mud

The process of painting From the Mud
From the Mud
Painting. Textured background that is very rough to the touch, but you can see the grooves. The bottom left of the painting starts dark black and slowly transitions to dark purple and ombre effects into light colors at the top right corner. There is one lotus flower in the center, one to the left, and two to the left in the colors of pink and white. There are abstract blue and green lily pads to complete the aesthetic.

Painting Description: Textured background that is very rough to the touch, but you can see the grooves. The bottom left of the painting starts dark black and slowly transitions to dark purple and hombre effects into light colors at the top right corner. There is one lotus flower in the center, one to the left, and two to the left in the colors of pink and white. There are abstract blue and green lily pads to complete the aesthetic.

Lotus flowers, much like survivors of complex trauma, have learned to thrive in the most adverse of circumstances. These gorgeous specimens have reclaimed the concept of beauty and what it means to grow something lovely from filth, one that has become a beacon of light for my own healing journey. 15 years ago, I found myself caught in my own murky water and found my own way out 2 years later. Much like a lotus flower, I learned to thrive in the unkind world that helped to create the circumstances leading to my exploitation. One of the hardest lessons I ever had to learn during my 13 year recovery journey was to know when it is time to stop reliving the pain and to let myself heal and enjoy life. The voices of all my abusers past have faded as the years passed, and I slowly learned that I am worthy of love, acceptance, and happiness. They were so loud for so many years that even after I broke free from them, I still could not rid myself of their influence. You’re ugly. You are worthless. You will never find anyone else because no one wants to put up with you. You’ll never find a husband. God hates you. Everyone hates you. No one will help you. You don’t deserve to live. I think I was just afraid that if I let my pain go, I wouldn’t know where I came from or the kind of person I would become. I guess I was afraid that I would lose touch with my reality and forget that it even happened. But then it happened after several YEARS re-programming, re-defining, and re-learning what it means to thrive. I let my beautiful petals grow brighter and lovelier through each season of growth so that I could still have a life full of everything I thought I had lost. I decided I was worthy. Like a lotus, I fought through the murk and the mud to get to the light. And then I became my own light.

Charlie’s art is available for purchase at this link.

From the Mud

Charlie Quinn Tebow, LMSW, survivor, artist

Image of Charlie Tebow, the artist featured on this page.

Image description: Caucasian non-binary individual with a big smile in front of a brick building wearing my favorite tie-dye shirt. Wild styled short pixie cut blonde hair

Creator Bio: An alumnus of Washburn University with a clinical Masters of Social Work degree, Charlie dedicates their life to serving others like them, CPTSD (chronic post traumatic stress disorder) survivors. Their day job as a social worker and Missing Youth Specialist on the Kansas Special Response Team for Missing and Exploited Youth provides them with opportunities to empower and engage runaway and exploited youth in foster care to overcome complex and compounded trauma, and find the path to who they want to be. Charlie is a dedicated advocate with specializations for persons who have experienced human sex trafficking, commercial sexual exploitation, childhood trauma, interpersonal violence, and other complex or compounded traumas. Charlie is part of the LGBTQ community as a nonbinary person (they/them), and a staunch leader and participant in social justice activism. They are an ally for all trans and/or persons of color, as well as dedicated activist for Black Lives Matter and Trans Lives Matter movements. Charlie is a member of the National Human Trafficking Survivor Network and Survivor Leaders Institute, and has delivered keynote and training sessions to professionals from around the country. Charlie is also an accomplished artist and expert in the healing arts for survivors of complex trauma. Featuring bright colors and textures, their art has been featured in 35 states and sold to patrons from around the globe.

Using Art to Bring Awareness to Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence

Using Art to Bring Awareness to Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence

Three roses in front of a bigger flower that is difficult to see because of the black back ground.
The black background remains, but the flowers are in full bloom. The previously hard to see bigger flower is now a brilliant blue. The word, HOPE” is written above the blue flower.

*Please Note: IDJ does not align with any one religion, faith, or belief system. Instead, we offer a platform where people with disabilities can express their diverse experiences. Content contains Gina’s story about what happened to her when she was trafficked. Please take care when you read about what happened to Gina.

About the Artist: Gina Hope

I’m a survivor of human trafficking. During that time my spinal cord was injured (leading to constant severe pain & 17 surgeries involving my cervical & thoracic spinal cord causing a whole host of obstacles) and domestic violence (leading to rods & screws in my lower back). But despite how difficult each day & sometimes each minute is God has & continues helping me see good that can come of my circumstances & He’s never allowed me to give up. Around 7yrs ago, a friend met me every week for a year encouraging me to follow my dreams – he convinced me that I was not only capable but that I could accomplish amazing feats others could not because of the insights my experiences have given me. So, I set out to begin the sea of paperwork to start a 501c3 which is Living Legacy Of Hope. I’ve wanted to be an artist my entire life; but I’ve never been able to get on canvas anything close to what I envision.

However, I sought out to learn to paint as I had the idea of painting a Hope Card Collection. God helps me overcome obstacles such as difficulty holding onto the paintbrush because much of my hand is numb. This is the first painting I’ve been able to complete that actually looks like what I envisioned.

This particular painting came out of a very dark time as I had just been viciously attacked (enter rods & screws). The front of this Hope card is the Silhouette of Hope with the Silhouette of the opening Rose while the back is in full color with the Rose & HOPE brightly shining. 

I’ve given this as a Sympathy or Inspiration card to remind the hurting there is always Hope = one of the most important things I say when speaking is that we can overcome no matter what we endure on this earth – although there might be dark times we are never without HOPE. 

https://livinglegacyhope.wixsite.com/hope

Gina Hope: A woman with long blond hair, smiling big.