MY PERSONAL MESSAGE TO CHILDREN TO STEER CLEAR OF PREDATORS, PIMPS AND HUMAN TRAFFICKERS

DEVELOP “REAL” SELF ESTEEM.

STRONG, CONFIDENT BODY LANGUAGE IS IMPORTANT. AS A KID, I OFTEN SLOUCHED AND HID AS IF TO APOLOGIZE FOR TAKING UP SPACE. 10- I SOMETIMES STUTTERED, NEVER SPOKE UP FOR MYSELF, AND DREADED HAVING TO TALK IN FRONT OF THE CLASS. I AVOIDED EYE CONTACT BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID PEOPLE WOULD DISCOVER THE SECRETS I KEPT ABOUT THE AWFUL THINGS THAT WERE HAPPENING TO ME. THIS ABSOLUTELY MADE ME A TARGET FOR BULLYING AND MORE ABUSE. KIDS, YOU MUST WALK WITH YOUR SHOULDERS BACK, DON’T SLOUCH OR HIDE. MAKE EYE CONTACT. STOP APOLOGIZING IN VOICE AND BODY (BECAUSE PIMPS LOOK FOR THESE WEAKNESSES) BUT ALSO KNOW THAT NOTHING CAN REPLACE SOLID SELF ESTEEM. STRONG POSTURE, EYE CONTACT, AND A VOICE THAT COMES FROM A DEEPLY HELD BELIEF THAT YOU ARE WORTHY OF RESPECT AND NOT TO BE MESSED WITH. AS PARENTS WE NEED TO TEACH AND REAFFIRM THIS OFTEN.

HOW DO WE ACHIEVE REAL SELF-ESTEEM?
SPEND SOME REAL TIME FIGURING OUT WHO YOU ARE. WHAT IS YOUR PERSONAL IDENTITY? WHAT ARE YOUR GIFTS AND TALENTS? WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS? INVEST YOUR TIME IN WHAT I CALL GROWING YOURSELF. READ. JOIN EVERY SCHOOL CLUB. LET YOURSELF DREAM. MY IMAGINATION, MY DREAMS OF WHAT COULD BE WERE MY ESCAPE AND MOTIVATION. THIS IS HOW I SURVIVED MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL. I ALSO EXCELLED IN SCHOOL. I LOVED BOOKS BECAUSE THEY GAVE ME KNOWLEDGE, INSPIRATION, AND POWER. I LOVED MY TEACHERS AND GUIDANCE COUNSELORS. I HUNG ON THEIR EVERY WORD. THEATER, MUSIC, THE ARTS, AND PUBLIC SPEAKING GAVE MY PAIN A SAFE PLACE TO BE EXPRESSED. THIS ALSO GAVE ME A SENSE OF IDENTITY, BELONGING, ACCEPTANCE AND THE VOICE I NEVER GOT TO HAVE. SO, KIDS, BE A PART OF SOMETHING GOOD. GANGS ARE TEMPTING AND MAY APPEAR TO REPLACE THE FAMILY YOU NEVER HAD. OR THE LOVE, AFFECTION, OR MATERIAL THINGS YOU WISH YOU HAD, BUT GANGS, I PROMISE YOU, ARE A ONE WAY TICKET TO PAIN, MISERY, ABUSE AND VERY OFTEN, SEX TRAFFICKING.

IF PERFORMING ARTS ISN’T YOUR THING, GET INVOLVED IN SPORTS, THE SCIENCES, COOKING, LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE, PUBLIC SPEAKING, POETRY OR START YOUR OWN CLUB ABOUT A CAUSE YOU CARE ABOUT. LEAD OTHERS TO BE BETTER. IF YOU EXCELL AT MATH, TAKE AN ACCOUNTING ELECTIVE OR OTHER FINANCIAL SKILLS TRAINING. ATTEND A TRADE OR VOCATIONAL SCHOOL. BECOME PART OF SUCH ORGANIZATIONS AS DIGITAL VIBEZ, WHICH EMPOWERS YOUTH THROUGH TECHNOLOGY AND THE ARTS!

IF YOU’RE BEING ABUSED OR NEGLECTED AT HOME LIKE I WAS, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO TELL A TRUSTED ADULT, GUIDANCE COUNSELOR, TEACHER, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR, OR EVEN A FRIEND’S PARENT. AN EXAMPLE OF THIS IN MY OWN CHILDHOOD WAS WHEN I WAS BEING MOLESTED BY MY BABYSITTER AND MY MOTHER LET IT CONTINUE. MY SURVIVAL STRATEGY? I STARTED BEGGING MY BEST FRIEND’S MOM TO LET ME STAY OVERNIGHT AT HER HOUSE. SHE WAS SMART ENOUGH AND CARED ENOUGH TO ASK QUESTIONS AND GOT TO THE TRUTH. AT THE END OF THIS VIDEO, I’LL LIST RESOURCES FOR WHAT YOU CAN DO IF YOU’RE NOT SAFE AT HOME. I’LL ALSO LIST RESOURCES FOR CONCERNED PARENTS. “IT TAKES A VILLAGE.” WE’VE GOT TO LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER’S KIDS.

TRAFFICKERS