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American activist
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.
[7]
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
References
^ Nancy Keefe Rhodes (2012).
"Not My Life: Filmmaker Robert Bilheimer's Latest Meditation on Good and Evil" (PDF) .
Stone Canoe : 8. Archived from
the original (PDF) on October 26, 2014. Retrieved August 6, 2013 .
^
"Hope Drives Human Trafficking Survivor Lauded By Obama at CGI" .
The Daily Beast . September 27, 2012. Retrieved September 8, 2013 .
^
"Former Child Trafficking Victim Now Mentors Others" .
NPR . August 4, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2013 .
^ Peter Fedynsky (February 6, 2011).
"Human Trafficking Isn't Just Across Borders" .
Voice of America . Retrieved September 8, 2013 .
^
"Victim of Local Human Trafficking Shares Her Tale of Survival" .
NY1 . February 2, 2011. Archived from
the original on October 23, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2013 .
^ Kristen Welker (September 25, 2012).
"Obama calls to fight human trafficking" .
NBC News . Retrieved September 8, 2013 .
^
a
b John Dankosky (April 17, 2013).
Human Trafficking: Modern Day Slavery .
Connecticut Public Radio . Archived from
the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved August 21, 2013 .
^ Victoria Aronson (March 21, 2013).
"Documentary by Oscar nominee Robert Bilheimer explores child trafficking" . The Brandeis Hoot . Archived from
the original on October 23, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2013 .
^
"Disrupting Slavery Symposium" .
Somaly Mam Foundation . June 27, 2013. Archived from
the original on August 31, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2013 .
^
"Sheila White: Girls Education & Mentoring Service (GEMS)" . Worldwide Documentaries. Archived from
the original on July 3, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2013 .
Areas
Brothels Law Media Organizations People
Red-light districts
Barbary Coast, San Francisco
The Block, Baltimore
Broadway (San Francisco)
Bucktown, Davenport
Burnt District, Omaha
Cheshire Bridge Road
Chinatown, Honolulu
Columbus Avenue (San Francisco)
Combat Zone, Boston
Creek Street (Ketchikan, Alaska)
Fremont Street
Hell's Half Acre (Fort Worth)
Hunts Point, Bronx
Kensington, Philadelphia
Las Vegas Strip
The Levee, Chicago
Liberty Avenue (Pittsburgh)
Minnesota Strip
Murrell's Row
Nevada State Route 582
North Street (Boston)
Northern Liberties, Philadelphia
San Antonio Sporting District
Sepulveda Boulevard
Slabtown (Atlanta)
SoHo, Manhattan
Sporting District, Omaha
Stingaree, San Diego
Storyville, New Orleans
Sunset Boulevard
Tenderloin, Manhattan
Tenderloin, San Francisco
Times Square
Venus Alley, Butte
Western Avenue (Los Angeles)
Violence Other