Reflecting on Black History Month

February is Black History Month. It is an important time to spotlight the accomplishments of Black leaders, community builders, and changemakers in every part of our society including the advancement of human rights. Countless Black leaders guide the anti-human trafficking movement, and BEST honors their trailblazing contributions.  

Bukola Oriola and Liletha Williams are two Black leaders for whom we are especially grateful, because both help guide BEST as members of our Survivor Advisory Council. Liletha Williams has invested her life advocating on behalf of vulnerable children and adults. She shares important insights from her experiences in some of BEST’s video training courses, including BEST Basics. Liletha is a leader and mentor to many in the Seattle anti-trafficking community. She advocates for policies and procedures to hold perpetrators accountable while providing a victim-centered response to those who have been harmed.

Bukola Oriola is another example of a changemaking leader. Bukola is an award-winning journalist, speaker, entrepreneur, mentor, and advocate. Books she has authored include Imprisoned: The Travails of a Trafficked Victim. She is the founding director of The Enitan Story, a Minnesota-based nonprofit that offers practical solutions to service providers, clinics, community members, and law enforcement on how to help victims of human trafficking and domestic violence.

Liletha and Bukola are just two of the countless Black leaders who have paved the path in countering human trafficking. As we celebrate their successes, we must also recognize that the crime of human trafficking leverages the racism and discriminatory structures of society. Traffickers target the most vulnerable and impoverished in our communities, and people who may not have strong support systems. This includes people from historically marginalized groups and minorities. Black and African Americans are disproportionately targeted by traffickers and often criminalized for it.  

According to the National Black Women’s Justice Institute, 40% of sex trafficking survivors in the U.S. are Black women, which is the highest percent of any race. In 2014, the FBI reported 52.3% of juveniles arrested for commercial sex acts were African American children. Many victims of labor trafficking in the U.S. are also Black or African American.

The situation is even more alarming due to the lack of sufficient support for trafficking survivors. Black people are often not supported by the laws which are supposed to protect everyone. Instead, they are disproportionately criminalized. Not recognizing this problem harms people who need support to leave their traffickers, find safe employment, and establish financial independence.

Black leaders have made invaluable contributions to the fight against human trafficking. Their advocacy for justice and support for survivors have changed many lives and communities for the better. It is also evident that the Black community is disproportionately targeted and criminalized. Supporting Black leaders in countering human trafficking is crucial to forging the best path forward for all survivors and preventing anyone else from exploitation and abuse.  

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