Vitamin N

fickers without any media backlash? Why do we often focus on less impactful issues?

The real question is, who is funding these campaigns to deride people who attempt to expose human traffickers?

It is tragically easy to find stories of human trafficking victims online. Here’s a story you’ve probably never heard of. A woman who was a victim of sex trafficking wrote an opinion piece about her harrowing experience in the Orlando Sentinel under the pseudonym Maria.

Mariavdealt with the terrifying Hurricane Dorian which left her and her children homeless. Amidst the turmoil, she decided to send her children to live with their father’s family, while she sought refuge in a shelter. Soon after, she was approached by a man promising work and a new life. Tragically, this man turned out to be her trafficker. He lured her with false promises of a job, a home, and the chance to reunite with her children. She realized something was wrong upon arrival at a dilapidated house, far from the sunny Florida cottage she was promised. Thirteen people were crammed into this tiny space, working day and night for a meager wage that barely met their basic needs, let alone providing an escape. She was trafficked in plain sight, working as a maid at a highend Florida resort and on the cleaning crew of a major theme park, all under the guise of a staffing agency run by her captors. Her ordeal only ended when law enforcement raided her workplace.

Children, due to their innocence and naivety, are particularly vulnerable too. Traffickers may lure them with gifts, friendship, or attention, gradually grooming them to trust and depend on their abuser. In other cases, children may be sold or coerced into trafficking by family members or acquaintances.

Sex trafficking is a multi-billion dollar industry, fueled by demand and facilitated by a lack of stringent enforcement and societal indifference. It thrives in the shadows, preying on the vulnerabilities of those least able to defend themselves. It’s a market where innocence is bought and sold, and where childhoods are stolen.

This is not merely a problem; it’s a crisis of our humanity. It’s a stain on our collective conscience, a stark reminder of the depths of human depravity. We must shatter the silence that surrounds sex trafficking. We must educate ourselves and our communities about the signs of trafficking and the ways in which we can help combat it. We must support survivors and advocate for stronger laws and stricter enforcement.

The fight against sex trafficking is a fight for the soul of our society. It’s a battle against the commodification of human beings, the exploitation of innocence, and the very idea that any person can be reduced to an object for sale.

In the face of this grave injustice, we must rise as a united front. The fight against sex trafficking is a fight for the very essence of human dignity and freedom. It is a fight that calls for our courage, our compassion, and our unwavering commitment. We must stand firm, stand strong, and stand together, vowing to illuminate the shadows where this trade thrives, to shatter the silence that allows it to persist. For every woman, for every child, for every life scarred by this horrific crime, we must pledge to turn our outrage into action, our despair into hope. The time to end the silent pandemic of sex trafficking is not tomorrow, not someday, but now.

Armstrong Williams (@ARightSide) is manager / sole owner of Howard Stirk Holdings I & II Broadcast Television Stations and the 2016 Multicultural Media Broadcast Owner of the year. www.armstrongwilliams.co | www.howardstirkholdings.com

For many of us who teach or are still in school, the close of summer is just a month away. It is amazing at how quickly time flies these days. I remember being a child in elementary school when summers used to last for what seemed like an eternity. When I was younger, it took so long for the sun to set, and I would run around and chase lightening bugs until I was utterly exhausted. These days I seem to blink, and the summer is over. Therefore, I must continue to make a concerted effort to spend time outdoors getting my Vitamin N for nature.

Just like sunshine and Vitamin D are necessary for us to grow and remain healthy, so is spending time outside. These days the temperatures can be dangerously hot, and the midday air quality leaves much to be desired. Because of these realities, I have taken to waking up a bit earlier to enjoy some of the cooler morning air, listen to the activity of the morning birds, and really see the nature around me before the stresses of the day take my mind off of the beauty that surrounds me.

I am so thankful for the free parks throughout the city. Obviously, Central Park and Prospect Park get a lot of acclaim and fame, but there are countless small parks in all five boroughs. You can discover all of the parks near you on the NYC Parks and Recreation website www.nycgovparks.org.

This website also has great resources about events, facilities (pools, beaches, playgrounds, tennis courts, dog runs, golf courses, and more), volunteer, and even job opportunities.

New York City has so many free resources for us to enjoy, especially in the summer. We must continue to get out into nature and hug some trees, smell some flowers, chase some butterflies, and let our feet touch grass. The NY Botanical Garden in the Bronx and The Brooklyn Botanic Garden both have amazing grounds filled with diverse flora and fauna. They also have community pricing opportunities for you to enjoy their facilities as well. You can find information about these great institutions at www.nybg.org and www.bbg.org.

So, whatever your comfort level or your budget, get out into nature and grab some Vitamin N. As someone who is on the go, nature has been a great way for me to slow down, even if only for a few minutes. Studies are clear that it is nature that can stabilize blood pressure and reduce stress. I am going to visit the NY Parks website and look into some of the free hikes they offer in various parks in my borough. Nature keeps us young. Nature nourishes us. Nature will help us feel free…even while we’re working on freedom.

Christina Greer, Ph.D., is an Associate professor at Fordham University, the author of “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream”, and the co-host of the podcast FAQ-NYC and host of The Blackest Questions podcast at TheGrio.