Background

I live in the United States. I moved here in the summer of 1998. I was born and raised in another country.

I survived childhood abuse, including a sexual assault by my neighbor. These experiences shaped my life in serious ways.

I also have a severe learning disability. It isn’t visible, but it affects how I process information, learn, and interact with people.

I am a Black woman. My race, gender, disability, and history of trauma all influence how I move through the world.

This blog is where I tell my story in my own words and as such here are a few terms that I will be using throughout:

Racism is prejudice, discrimination, or unfair treatment directed at someone because of their race or ethnicity. It can show up in attitudes, behaviors, policies, or systems that disadvantage people based on race.

Sexism is prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination based on a person’s sex or gender. It often involves treating someone as less capable, less deserving, or inferior because they are a woman (or because of their gender identity).

Ableism is unfair treatment, exclusion, or negative assumptions about someone because of a physical, intellectual, or mental disability. It can include denying access, opportunities, accommodations, respect, or equal participation.

Human trafficking is the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or control of a person through force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation can include sexual exploitation, forced labor, slavery, or other forms of abuse.

Sex trafficking is a form of human trafficking in which a person is forced, coerced, or manipulated into engaging in commercial sex acts. If the person involved is under 18, it is considered sex trafficking regardless of whether force or coercion is proven.

Labor trafficking is a form of human trafficking where a person is forced, deceived, or coerced into working against their will.

Slavery is a system in which a person is treated as property and forced to work without pay or the right to leave. A person in slavery is controlled by another person through force, threats, or coercion and is denied basic human rights and freedom. Modern slavery can include forced labor, debt bondage, and human trafficking.