Freedom

What is freedom? Who is free? If someone is not free, what kind of things stop them from, being so? These questions, and many more, have been troubling me since we took a field trip to the National Underground Railroad Museum and Freedom Center. I was deeply troubled as we left when our docent reminded us that slavery still exists today. It's not something I really thought much about. As a history teacher, it's easy to think of slavery simply in terms of antebellum slavery here in America that ended with the 13th Amendment. I visited the Freedom Center website the evening after we returned from our trip. I read about modern slavery. I watched the video on the website from www.freetheslaves.net. I was appalled to discover that there are more slaves today than at any other time in world history. An estimated 27 million people live in some form of bondage with 17,500 being trafficked into the US each year. About 3/4 of them are women, and 1/2 are children. Most are involved in sex slavery, but some ar eused as farm workers, factory workers, maids, hotels, and even as child soldiers. Ironically, it was while watching the controversial TV show "24" that I saw a moving portrayal of child soldier slaves. Children kidnapped and forced to kill. Forced to abandon their innocence and take up arms against people who they don't even know, let alone have a working knowledge of the wrongs those people may or may not have committed against them.

I cannot imagine the strength of someone's desire to be free because I do not know what it's like to NOT be free. An exhibit we did not get to see on our field trip was a box. Henry Brown wanted to be free so badly that he mailed himself from Maryland to Philadelphia in a crate. How big was it? Look at this! You can read about Henry "Box" Brown" in Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine.

I have been trying to think of a way to make a difference in the lives of those held against their will. The Freedom Center Website has some organizations with good ideas, but I want to act locally and inspire others to do likewise. Do any of you have any ideas how to help?