When she was called up, lets say I was not very happy. I told her that those who called her name had no right to humiliate her by calling her in front of the entire class, teachers, principles and so on. I told her to just sit there and don’t listen or walk out. I would walk out with her. Those around me could hear what I was telling her. A couple were saying it isn’t a big deal, hmmmm… If they tried to do that to me, I can guarantee you that they would have all heard about it, right then and there.  I would have been one of those leading pickets and forming demonstrations. My friend told me that she would just do it since it would be worse for her if she didn’t.

I didn’t see this as a fun thing at all. What I seen was the tears and the fears of those who knew they would be called up during the assembly. I remember the tears from the boy who had to change his cloths so he can put on his gym shorts and made to climb a rope that went from the ceiling to the floor. Another rope was tethered to his shorts, so the higher he went, the lower his shorts would become. I don’t have to say what happened there and yet the student body was allowed to continue this disgraceful act.

When I was talking to my friend, she said what she had to deal with has haunted her. I told her that even though I didn’t get called to the gym floor to be initiated, I have always remembered that assembly also. Whenever I think about it, I get steamed. I have never seen such a display of anti-humanism first hand. Well, on the news, it is all over the place.

I think it’s a little insensitive to have something like that, because of the history and because a lot of wounds have not yet healed.” I get that some of these activities aren’t meant to be racist or mean-spirited, either way, there are some like me who react to it and I find it insensitive.

I was talking to my niece about this and was having her go over my blog to make sure it sounded right. And she pointed out something that I never really think about because it is just part of my life. In my family, I would say that we are a melting pot. I have family members that are Hispanic, Indian, black, white and mixed. I have had seemingly close friends come up to me and they want to share a funny joke about one race or another. They automatically assume that because I am white, that they have a right to tell me jokes about other races. Let me say that they did NOT get the reaction they were looking for. And, let me say, they are no longer friends. I want to thank Christina was reading this and pointing out that I should share that we are a blended family. And I know I am a Christian and I want to say that this is one of those topics that makes me want to reach out and touch someone. So, I would hope that people don’t mess with my family. The color of someones skin has nothing to do with who they are as a person. Just Saying!!! I may get mad at those in my family, but I would hope nobody else would hurt a family member just because they married someone that is black or any other race.

I have wondered if schools still do the slave days and the initiation days and I was surprised that some schools still do this. Just google it or go to youtube. I was shocked to see how many still does this. For those who thinks this is a fun activity, remember that there are those who don’t. Being a slave is nothing to laugh at. I am all for discussing slavery, but not in a demeaning manner like this and like how schools are still doing.

I would like to touch on modern-day slaves.  Not many may be aware that it is happening all over the world. Human trafficking is the trade of humans, most commonly for the purpose of forced labor, sexual slavery, or commercial sexual exploitation for the trafficker or others.  There is a movie that recently came out that I absolutely love and I bought it on Amazon. It is called Priceless. One of the singers from King and Country is in the movie and the main character.  Human trafficking is a crime against the person because of the violation of the victim’s rights. Human trafficking is the trade in people, and does not necessarily involve the movement of the person from one place to another.

Here is an article from KSL which is a Utah based news station since I live in Utah.

I will provide some links that are based on what slaves really went through and how it is NOT a laughing matter. There is nothing funny about being a slave.