"Slave Next Door" Exposes U.S. Gov't Sanctioned Slavery
Published May 14, 2009 @ 09:00AM PT
Here's a quick quiz for you: When did the U.S. government last use slave labor to build something? 1776? 1865? Actually, the answer is 2003. The following tale of slaves bought with American taxpayer dollars is an excerpt from The Slave Next Door: Human Trafficking and Slavery in America Today.
Boondoggles, pork barrels, and shoddy work are scandalous, but it was another, uglier issue that brought First Kuwaiti to the world's attention. Some of their contract workers had been trafficked to Iraq against their will, held by force, and paid little or nothing. First Kuwaiti - and by association, the U.S. Department of State - were using slave labor to build the embassy. Taxpayers were footing the bill. The idea of a U.S. subcontractor trafficking enslaved workers into the country where we are waging a war to introduce freedom and democracy, is unthinkable. And yet, in case after case, the construction company hired workers, normally through sub-contractors, from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Sierra Leone, Egypt, Turkey, and the Philippines under false pretenses. Falsely promised work in Dubai, they were landed in a combat zone. Once in Iraq contractors confiscated the workers' passports, forced them to live in squalid conditions, and to work long hours for little or no pay.
But it's not only the government brining slavery to America. The old slave ship of the 1800s has been replaced by the 747. Victims come from every region and are exploited in every state. They exist specifically to work, they are unable to leave, and are forced to live under the constant threat and reality of violence. By definition, they are slaves. Today, we call it human trafficking, but make no mistake: It is the slave trade.
This is the kind of knowledge you can't "unlearn"; the only question is, what do you do with the information once you have it? It's a question we must all address for ourselves. We tend to think of our America as the country where slavery has no place; the dire truth is, we are pretty far from freedom, and it will take a lot of work and dedication - by the government, and by us - to make it so.
You can buy a copy of The Slave Next Door here, and you can take action against slavery here.
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Comments (37)
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Author
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Kevin Bales is President of Free the Slaves, the US sister organization of Anti-Slavery International (the world’s oldest human rights organization), and Professor of Sociology at Roehampton University in London. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the International Cocoa Initiative. His book Disposable People: New Slavery in the Global Economy, published in 1999, was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize, and has now been published in ten other languages. Archbishop Desmond Tutu called it “a well researched, scholarly and deeply disturbing exposé of modern slavery”. A revised edition was published in 2005. In 2006, his work was named one of the top “100 World-Changing Discoveries” by the association of British universities. He gained his Ph.D. at the London School of Economics.
Ron Soodalter has pursued a variety of diverse careers. With a B.A. in American History and masters degrees in Education and American Folk Culture, he taught in various schools throughout New York State, and in New York City's Riker's Island Prison. He then worked as curator of a Colorado history museum, where he served on the Board of Directors of the 10-state Mountain-Plains Museums Conference. As a young teenager, Soodalter was fortunate to have studied Flamenco guitar with the world renowned Carlos Montoya, and has played professionally all his life. Also an accomplished scrimshaw artist, he has been featured in a prominent Manhattan art gallery. Soodalter currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Abraham Lincoln Institute. He has two daughters, Jesse and Melora, and lives with his wife Jane in Chappaqua, New York.
Wow... to think U.S. government money was used to buy slaves as late as 2003.... that's chilling. Thanks for letting us know about this awesome new book. We need more authors telling the truth about these abuses.
Posted by Amanda Kloer on 05/14/2009 @ 11:27AM PT
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Ok, let's pay attention. The allegation is *not* that the US government bought slaves, although it's worded to sound that way. The allegation is that the US government hired a foreign outfit that, I assume unknown to the US, used slaves.
It's worded to imply an accusation against the US government, but then their own facts don't bear that out. In fact, I can more persuasively argue that *you* support slavery every time you buy a China-made shirt in Wal-Mart, since much of China's economy is based on forced labor extracted from political prisoners. Nice shirt: you endorse slavery.
This article is purposefully worded in an alarmist and deceptive way, which isn't even necessary considering the gravity of the problem. This is not information: this is propaganda.
I'm seriously rethinking my membership on this site.
Conrad.
Posted by C C on 05/16/2009 @ 06:48AM PT
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Conrad - Before you consider giving up your membership in what I consider to be a fantastic organization, here are a couple facts: Halliburton is American-based, as is the subsidiary who trafficked workers. The State Dept. not only knew about it, but when some of the workers tried to escape, State Dept. officials in Baghdad helped lock them down. Congress held hearings, repeatedly advising government officials - not private contractors - to cease and desist. Sadly, the practice continued. Rather than go back and forth on this, if you like, I'd be happy to forward you the section of the book - including footnotes - that documents this. Not propaganda, straight fact.
Thanks for your passion.
Ron
Posted by Ron Soodalter on 05/16/2009 @ 08:04AM PT
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Additionally, we citizens of the United States are informed by government and law officials that ignorance does not excuse action. If you aren't sure what the speed limit is and drive over it, you get ticketed. If we accidentally miscalculate our taxes, we are subjected to fines and potential incarceration at our government's discretion.
Why, then, should we hold our governement less accountable than they hold us - even IF they didn't know?
Posted by Fred Frankenberg on 05/18/2009 @ 10:07AM PT
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I don't know why it is so inconceivable for some people to believe that our governement...the good old US of A...just may be corrupt...there seems to be a lot of fear around even this idea....but hey people, isn't better knowing that we can fight it before it becomes worse?
Posted by Mercy Lady on 05/18/2009 @ 02:30PM PT
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Mercy - Who was it who said something about democracy being the worst form of government, besides all the others? Our system has such amazing potential; we just have to keep it running right. I remember the days of "America: Love it or leave it." We used to answer, "America: Love it and fix it."
Posted by Ron Soodalter on 05/18/2009 @ 02:41PM PT
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I'm not sure who said that, but that's ridiculous. The ideas surrounding the formation of this country, i.e. the constitution, are the best I know of and have worked better than most. And that is exactly why we have to fight to maintain freedom and liberty for ALL and bring any corruption into light. I agree with you entirely. Thank you for exposing this!
Posted by Mercy Lady on 05/18/2009 @ 09:48PM PT
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Conrad, I don't think anything could be more alarming than the fact that slaves were bought using US money. The article doesn't need to be alarmist, and it's not. Sure, the US probably didn't know what was done with taxpayer's money, but it's no excuse. Looking the other way and saying "Oh I didn't know!" isn't a valid excuse for allowing any crime to continue, even by our own laws. Plus I think it's funny that you're downplaying human slavery. Well, maybe funny isn't the right word.
Posted by Reverend Maxwell Robertson on 06/26/2009 @ 12:46PM PT
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I could agree in 100%. He's the first part if this. cheers, ______________ froface get soma without a prescription in usa http://www.jacksonholewy.com/community/members/MuseSoma.aspx
Posted by froface froface on 10/29/2009 @ 04:51PM PT
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What are your sources on this? If it's been going on so long, why isn't it common knowledge?
Posted by Wesley McDermid on 05/14/2009 @ 12:45PM PT
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Wesley - The information for this account comes from the Washington Post, NY Times, Chicago Tribune, CorpWatch, Salon, etc., as well as from the congressional records. As the book indicates, Congress and the Pentagon held hearings and warned Halliburton and their subsidiary, KBR to "cease and desist"; they didn't. This went on for years. The Washington Post and NY Times reported on it as recently as late 2007!
Thanks for your input.
Best,
Ron Soodalter
Posted by Ron Soodalter on 05/14/2009 @ 02:28PM PT
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So incredible. At the rate that we use private contractors now a days to do things around the world, it would be no surprise if First Kuwait is only one of many companies that uses tax payer dollars and uses slave labor.
Posted by Mike Masten on 05/14/2009 @ 01:39PM PT
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Truthfully, all multinational companies that manufacture products use what is basically equal to slave labor. No one cares about it, though, because it's done in poor countries, with their government's assistance and we sure do like our cheap Wal-Mart crap. I agree that using private contractors is a horrible idea.
Posted by Reverend Maxwell Robertson on 06/26/2009 @ 12:51PM PT
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And to say that Slavery is abolished in 1865 in USA ? yeah right... Sex slave trade is also part of the same contractors in Iraq, Afghanistan and even in USA...
People needs to stop this
Posted by Lara Nunes on 05/14/2009 @ 03:03PM PT
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Lara - It's a sad but proven fact that there has never, since Columbus enslaved hundreds of Taino Indians, been a single day on this continent without slavery of one form or another. After the Civil War, it took the form of peonage, which was really nothing more than debt bondage slavery. There's a book there for someone who wants to document slavery under European colonization in America.
Posted by Ron Soodalter on 05/14/2009 @ 03:10PM PT
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About a year ago I went outside to see what a commotion was about. Across from my house a few activists were marching with banners. I talked to one girl who told me that an Indian woman had been held captive in the house, by a doctor and his wife, who had kept her locked in and taken away her passport. She was their house cleaner and baby sitter and had finally managed to escape. Someone brought her to an agency for help. How about slavery in Queens -- right across the street from me?
Posted by Sarama Minoli on 05/16/2009 @ 08:17PM PT
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A case in Long Island, NY, last year involved 2 Indonesian women, enslaved and tortured as domestics by a wealthy couple for 5 years. Made the front page of the NYC papers. And in Wisconsin a couple kept a woman in bondage as a house slave for 19 years!! In both cases, the couples who'd held them were sentenced to serious jail time. Domestic slavery is thought to be the second most prevalent form in the U.S., after sexual exploitation. This is one of the reasons we called the book The Slave Next Door.
And speaking of slavery in Queens, how about 57 deaf Mexicans, enslaved for years as street pedlars, and crammed into two Queens apartments? This was one of New York's - and the country's - most notorious cases.
Posted by Ron Soodalter on 05/16/2009 @ 09:01PM PT
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Thanks very much Kevin and Rod for bringing this to our attention, and Im glad to see you writing on this blog. I would also bet that with all the migrant workers currently in slavery or semi-slavery in some states (Florida, Im talking about you!), that some state projects have probably been built with some slave labor as well in recent years. Amanda posted something here recently, that surely Obama has the will to muster the resources, and it wouldnt take that much, to really work to abolish slavery in the US during the next four years. Even if 100 percent is an idealistic goal, 80 percent isnt.
Posted by Slim Chance on 05/14/2009 @ 06:48PM PT
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I live in Florida and have posted articles on this site referencing modern day slavery in Florida.
Posted by leatrice brantley on 05/14/2009 @ 11:02PM PT
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Leatrice - Then you'll enjoy reading the extensive coverage we give today's slavery in Florida. Thus far, seven trafficking cases have been successfully prosecuted, thanks in large part to the efforts of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, one of the best groups of anti-slavery activists in the country. I spent some time with them in South Florida, and they're nothing short of remarkable.
Posted by Ron Soodalter on 05/15/2009 @ 06:50AM PT
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Ron
I read in the Bradenton Herald about a local slave trade cabal of sex workers and dancers that has been broken up. It was within the last 2 weeks I am sure. It is NOT just field hands in Immokalee that are victimized by villainous gangs and thugs.
Posted by Steve Morrow on 05/15/2009 @ 10:51AM PT
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Quite right, Steve. In fact, there have been several sex and drug ring busts in Bradenton over the past few years. Seems to be a hot spot.
In The Slave Next Door, we present the broad spectrum of trafficking in the U.S.: factories, sweatshops, construction crews, restaurants, laundries, private homes, brothels, etc. There's also a chapter called, "New Business Models," which focuses on trafficking in situations you'd least expect: a Chinese acrobatic troupe in Las Vegas, an African boys' choir in Texas...wherever traffickers can exploit people's vulnerability, there's a good chance you'll find a hidden slave.
Many thanks,
Ron
Posted by Ron Soodalter on 05/15/2009 @ 12:38PM PT
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For more on Siddharth Kara's book Sex Trafficking KPFA Radio: http://bit.ly/K1UVg
'Interview w/Siddarth Kara, Auther of Sex Traffficking' includes video http://bit.ly/tqnQf
Posted by Carol Fenton on 05/15/2009 @ 02:20PM PT
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conrad's comment about citizens endorsing slavery by buying chinese products is actually true. our government should enact laws to prevent us from indirectly participating in this activity, but we have to be mindful of how we spend our money. buying less makes the job a little easier, but reading about these countries and companies, and then checking the labels on products from time to time, can give you a clear conscience and maybe make a small difference.
Posted by Catherine Turley on 05/16/2009 @ 12:22PM PT
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Yes, he's absolutely correct. And it's in fact a much broader problem. We address these, and a number of the other products that come to us in part or wholly as a result of slave labor, in the chapter called, "Eating, Wearing, Walking, Talking Slavery." From an essential element in our laptops and cell phones, to child-slave-made rugs from India, Nepal and Pakistan, cotton shirts, Chinese lamps, and the fruit and vegetables we eat, to name just a handful, the products of slavery have woven themselves into the fabric of our daily lives. We offer some suggestions as to what we should - and should not - do to curb the consumption.
Posted by Ron Soodalter on 05/16/2009 @ 02:21PM PT
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Continuing on this idea, is there any watchgroup which certifies labor practices as abuse free? Many products which use large amounts of electricity attempt to get a high efficiency rating; Buildings are constructed to be sustainible to get a good LEED rating. Is there anything similar with labor practices? It seems like an obvious thing to do...
Posted by Louis Huard on 05/16/2009 @ 08:21PM PT
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Some, not nearly enough. One of the best is the Rugmark Foundation, an independant group that is working to end child slave labor on the Asian looms, and to provide services for the rescued children. Please go to www.rugmark.org to learn more about this remarkable group. You'll never buy a carpet again without looking for that red and blue Rugmark label. Thanks, Louis.
Ron
Posted by Ron Soodalter on 05/16/2009 @ 09:11PM PT
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I just want to say how impressed and delighted I am with the comments from the members. When Kevin and I wrote this book, we were concerned there wouldn't be enough interest in the subject to make an impression; the book doesn't officialy release until early next month (except for Amazon, which carries it already), and the passionate responses we've been getting from people like you have made us feel justified. Very exciting!
Ron
Posted by Ron Soodalter on 05/16/2009 @ 02:39PM PT
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Exploitation of working people doesn't just happen to foreign nationals in the country on visas, or illegally...it happens to citizens too. Every person whose employer forces them to work exhaustingly long hours, without adequate compensation, or with promises of compensation which are never kept, can identify with slaves. My mother worked for the federal government for years, for a salary one-fifth of that earned by males in the same job; fortunately she was intelligent and decided to return to university and get a M.Sc. and then worked at a higher level, and was paid reasonably. for the last fourteen years of her working career...but she was never reimbursed for the first sixteen years of poverty wages.
I have a suggestion; it's off the cuff, but surely possible--? Government should have ombudspersons who can take these cases (all cases) to the legislators and say, "Haliburton, stop it now" or "State of XY, stop it now" or "Sanitation Department, stop it now" for example. All compensation should be automatic back to the first day on the (bad) job, with no need for courts because of the huge costs involved, and no fine for the employer if this is done immediately, and without argument. Imagine if a person making $16,000 a year was given back pay of $8,000 a year back to five years earlier to make her equal to the male salary of $24,000 per annum--that $40,000 payment to her, and guarantee of full equality henceforth, would certainly alleviate many problems, including avoiding backups in court cases.
If an employer advertises a job, then wages should be advertised in the advertisement, with the following statement. "(Name of company) does not and will not practise discrimination of any sort, whether based on gender, race, sexual orientation, or age. Qualified job seekers will be notified that their applications have been entered in a draw, which will take place at a public meeting on (day, date, time) at (Name of company) premises, and the winner will be notified in writing."
Just imagine; all those legal cases would become unnecessary, and so would huge fines to businesses and other employers. The money freed up by such fair dealing (yes, I know who used the same terminology--FDR) would be put to good use in education, health and environment spending, which would activate the sluggish economy.
Lobbyists would become much less necessary, because the system would be a meritocracy: the truest ideal of a democracy one could imagine.
I left out one group: those who have a disability. Their job applications ought to be considered fully competitive in every sense except where safety of employees and security of the employers' premises or products might be imperilled.
This would enable people with disabilities to apply for many hundreds of thousands of jobs which they are presently excluded from, thus rendering them more active members of society.
I bet you none of this would 'fly' though; we have too many dead ducks who were brought up through a system that says 'charge whatever you can get, and devil take the hindmost.' That includes bankers, hedge fund managers, professional athletes' managers, offshore and onshore real estate dealers, pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies, and so many others.
The place to start is in kindergarten, if the child hasn't already learned moral behaviour at home. It should continue every single day of the rest of his/her life. Change the World; or lose it.
Posted by Judy Gibson on 05/17/2009 @ 05:34PM PT
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Halliburton, I believe, is now Dubai based.
Whatabout North Korea? They have entire city sized gulags full of slave workers. They are expected to work till death, long brutal hours paid nothing fed very little. The women are raped and if they get pregnant, the child is aborted, using very sadistic proceedures. The woman's womb is pumped full if saline till she bursts, out comes the baby that is promptly stomped.
Kim Jong Ill (Lil Kim) has what he calls "Joy Brigades", that consist of girls as young as 13 years old. Their duty is to sexually satisfy Kim, or any other member of his senior staff.
Entire families, generations, are imprisoned for the slightest offence, even an of handed remark could get you and your grandparents sent to the gulag in this "Socialist paradise".
Posted by Hugh Jazz on 05/20/2009 @ 10:33AM PT
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A little more abstract but yet in the end we as Americans are at fault for people being forced out of their homes and made to work by gunpoint.
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Oil_watch/ProfitGunpoint_UnocalBurma.html
I also dictate this article on my idea. Just because everyone should know what is done in our name.
Videos 18, 19, 20 of 24
A little after 4 min in video 18 of 24 9:40
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1SIQd-vPlg
19 of 24 9:42
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rX-o30m2h18
20 of 24 9:32
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHhVZbB2NWI
Posted by Charles Hancock Be Helpful Not Hurtful on 05/20/2009 @ 11:50PM PT
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I lived in Saudi in the mid 80's.
There were a lot of questionable activities, but also there were some positives.
For example we would stop at a gas station and talk to the full service attendants. In this particular case a Filipino was excited about going home for his ten year vacation. Over the months we had talked to him and found out that he spoke fluently six languages and allegedly had a PHD in physics.
With those qualifications we asked him why he was in Saudi, he laughed, said that there were no jobs in his country and that he had been sending his money home where his family was saving and investing it. At home his family was very well off.
Posted by jowey styxx on 05/22/2009 @ 01:48PM PT
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Thank you so much for posting information on this incredible and important book. I have also written a post about it here: http://weightofsilence.wordpress.com/2009/05/21/the-slave-next-door-u-s-government-sanctioned-slavery/
Anything we can do to continue to bring to light this horrible practice and work to put a stop to it, the better.
Posted by Shelley Seale on 05/23/2009 @ 10:47AM PT
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Wow. I'm really touched. Many thanks for your comments, and for sharing your site with us.Ron
Posted by Ron Soodalter on 05/23/2009 @ 11:02AM PT
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He mentions the Chinese Acrobats in Las Vegas. Based on what I know, they were not slaves. The three men charged were exonerated when the US attorneys office dropped the charges because they learned that the accusers were a couple of members of the troupe who thought that accusing slavery would allow them to stay in America on T-Visas. You see, the short-term visas that allowed them to come over from China to tour the country and perform were about to expire and they were all to fly back within days of the accusations being lodged. As a result of the horrible defamation and the legal fees incurred, this troupe will no longer be coming to America to perform in school districts through out the country. Sadly, young Chinese acrobats who would have wanted their opportunity to see America for a year no longer have that opportunity. I think it is irresponsible to believe news stories without independent investigation into the facts. The media jumped on this story, only adding to the defamation the three innocent defendants had to and still have to endure. With real horror stories about slavery out there, it is dismaying to see so many using this example as slavery in order to sell copy.
Posted by Anthony Wright on 01/02/2010 @ 12:22AM PT
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He mentions the Chinese Acrobats in Las Vegas. Based on what I know, they were not slaves. The three men charged were exonerated when the US attorneys office dropped the charges because they learned that the accusers were a couple of members of the troupe who thought that accusing slavery would allow them to stay in America on T-Visas. You see, the short-term visas that allowed them to come over from China to tour the country and perform were about to expire and they were all to fly back within days of the accusations being lodged. As a result of the horrible defamation and the legal fees incurred, this troupe will no longer be coming to America to perform in school districts through out the country. Sadly, young Chinese acrobats who would have wanted their opportunity to see America for a year no longer have that opportunity. I think it is irresponsible to believe news stories without independent investigation into the facts. The media jumped on this story, only adding to the defamation the three innocent defendants had to and still have to endure. With real horror stories about slavery out there, it is dismaying to see so many using this example as slavery in order to sell copy.
Posted by Anthony Wright on 01/02/2010 @ 12:23AM PT
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In his comments of 1/2/10, Mr. Wright alleges a less-than-thorough approach to our research for The Slave Next Door; we could not disagree more. It is important to note that Mr. Wright was a defense attorney in the case, rendering him a less-than-impartial source. He admittedly has not read the book, nor does he possess the expertise to make a judgment on its overall validity or veracity. Mr. Wright is incorrect in his assumption that insufficient research was done on this case, or for that matter, on the book in general, or that we would distort our information "to sell copy." Everything in our book was researched and annotated, and in this particular case, we used information from a number of sources beyond the media, including the Department of Justice, FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Bork, whose position was definitive. If, in fact, the charges were ultimately dismissed, we will make the appropriate changes in the upcoming paperback edition. However, we would ask Mr. Wright to provide the appropriate documentation to corroborate his assertion. We would also suggest that he actually read the book before making further comments regarding its viability.
Posted by Ron Soodalter on 01/03/2010 @ 07:20AM PT
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