Sheila White (activist) explained
Sheila White (born 1988) is an African-American anti–sex trafficking activist, and a former human trafficking victim herself,[1] from The Bronx, New York City.[2]
Background
White grew up in a dysfunctional home and, during her teen years, was placed in foster care,[3] where she was raped. She then attempted suicide and was transferred to a psychiatric hospital.[4] At the age of 15, she was living in a group home, where she was abused by a pimp who forced her into prostitution.[5] While a prostitute, White was battered, raped, and branded with irons.[6] In 2003, she was battered next to the Port Authority Bus Terminal, without anyone even asking her if she needed help.
White eventually escaped from being trafficked and went on to work with Girls Educational and Mentoring Services in order to raise awareness on the issue in New York, and President Obama recognized her work by personally giving her an award at the Clinton Global Initiative.[7] She was interviewed in the documentary film Not My Life about her experiences while being trafficked, and said, "There is a point where you begin to feel numb. You really feel like you're not even a person."[8] In 2013, she spoke at the Disrupting Slavery Symposium, the first symposium of the Somaly Mam Foundation, saying that "we need a platform in which a survivor has the support and comfort needed to become a leader in the field."[9]
She has three children and attends Bronx Community College, pursuing a Bachelor's degree in social work.[10]
See also
Notes and References
- Stone Canoe. 8. Not My Life: Filmmaker Robert Bilheimer's Latest Meditation on Good and Evil. 2012. Nancy Keefe Rhodes. August 6, 2013. October 26, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141026115104/http://www.stonecanoejournal.org/MovingImages/Not%20My%20Life%20-%20Stone%20Canoe%20FINAL%202012%20-%20Rhodes.pdf. dead.
- News: The Daily Beast. Hope Drives Human Trafficking Survivor Lauded By Obama at CGI. September 27, 2012. September 8, 2013.
- News: NPR. Former Child Trafficking Victim Now Mentors Others. August 4, 2013. September 8, 2013.
- News: Voice of America. Human Trafficking Isn't Just Across Borders. Peter Fedynsky. February 6, 2011. September 8, 2013.
- News: NY1. Victim of Local Human Trafficking Shares Her Tale of Survival. February 2, 2011. September 8, 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131023061555/http://www.ny1.com/content/news/133276/ny1-exclusive--victim-of-local-human-trafficking-shares-her-tale-of-survival. October 23, 2013.
- News: NBC News. Obama calls to fight human trafficking. Kristen Welker. September 25, 2012. September 8, 2013.
- Human Trafficking: Modern Day Slavery. April 17, 2013. Connecticut Public Radio. John Dankosky. August 21, 2013. September 21, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130921053742/http://www.yourpublicmedia.org/content/wnpr/human-trafficking-modern-day-slavery. dead.
- News: The Brandeis Hoot. Victoria Aronson. Documentary by Oscar nominee Robert Bilheimer explores child trafficking. March 21, 2013. September 8, 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131023060950/http://newsle.com/article/0/66372130/. October 23, 2013.
- Web site: Disrupting Slavery Symposium. June 27, 2013. Somaly Mam Foundation. September 8, 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130831192625/http://somaly.org/news/disrupting-slavery-symposium. August 31, 2013.
- Web site: Sheila White: Girls Education & Mentoring Service (GEMS). Worldwide Documentaries. September 8, 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130703022011/http://notmylife.org/participants/sheila-white. July 3, 2013.
