Shopping for Children

Every day I see at least 5-10 posts of missing children. Every day, I also see at least 5-10 children completely unsupervised; be it at the bus stop, playing outside, walking to the store. I don’t think “we” as a society really get the gravity of the trafficking crisis in our country right now, so I’m gonna try to hit it from a different angle.

People are literally out on the streets SHOPPING for children! 

When you go to buy a new dress, do you just blindly grab the first thing you see that doesn’t have a seam from the crotch to the ankle? No, of course you don’t. If you’re anything like me, you browse by color until a shade jumps out at you, all the while cruising along with your fingers for fabric feels. When you think you’ve found a contender you pull it off the rack and carefully eye the design. I tend to draw to A-lines, bodycons, and wrap dresses. Jewel tones look best on me, and I’m not a fan of anything ruffley. I’m just as particular about my shoes.

Years ago, on a trip to NYC, I found this pair of shoes that gave me a deep craving similar to my longing for the Valencia Refresher that Starbucks discontinued because they are the Thief to my Joy. They were in this cute little boutique, unlike anything you’d see in Upstate NY, but they didn’t have my size. I jotted down the brand, the name of the shoe, the item number, it’s social security, and it’s maiden name. I searched for an entire week until the heavens parted and I found it. I wanted it that bad!

There is someone out there that wants your child just as bad as I wanted those strappy stilettos! 

Disturbing? Good, it should be. When people are sick to the point where they are into actually buying other humans beings, please believe that their Preferences are distinct! If someone has a fetish for beautiful brown skin, curly hair, and the essence of adolescent youth, they are not going to drop their stacks on a 20 something blondie blue eyes; and vice versa. Please also understand that the equally sick individuals in the business of selling humans, know well the concept of supply and demand. They are not going to let their customers down! If Mr. Grotesque wants a 12 year old redhead boy and they’re fresh out, there going to cruise the streets just as school lets out. Black girls are a Hot Commodity! Traffickers know to stay stocked. White men (and women) have lusted after black (and brown) people since they sought to abuse, oppress, and possess us; or as history has so politely re-branded, colonize us. Children, women, and men of all varieties are going missing, but black girls are disappearing at an alarming rate. Our country is facing a crisis, yet I still see children unattended.

Your neighborhood is a CATALOG! 

Grown ups have to have a heightened awareness these days. If it’s late and the parking lot is dark, have someone walk you to your car. If a woman approaches you in the grocery store and asks you to come to her church, politely decline, take a picture if you can, and report her immediately. Women are a key component to any ring. People are far less likely to suspect them, making them perfect siren click-bate.  Do not answer online ads, unless you are in a public place and accompanied, and please do not pursue sketchy modeling gigs. Embed into your college kids, the importance of the buddy system and campus safety. Adults, particularly women, have to stay well aware, but children are far more vulnerable. 

Stop letting your children walk to school, the store, play outside ALONE! They are easy prey! I know first hand how hard it is to juggle life and childcare, but this is an actual state of emergency. My oldest son is in college and he looks at me sideways when I don’t want him walking around alone at midnight. We don’t live in a populated and popping urban neighborhood where there’s dozens of people on the streets all hours of the day and night. Our neck of the woods is a ghost town come 10 o’clock. Opening scene of “Get Out”; Enough said! 

This is not fiction. This is not only happening in “other” neighborhoods. I guarantee you, whether online or in person, someone has assessed your child’s viability in the market! Even writing that sentence makes me sick to my stomach, but please don’t shy away from it. Please don’t dismiss this article because it’s upsetting. I am definitely one who steps back from traumatic books, movies, and documentaries, because my spirit can’t handle being saturated with the darkness of the world, but this is a matter that requires Action. Read those triggering parts again and again, until you’re dead set that there’s No way in Hell you’re letting your baby play up the street, out of sight, for 2 hours, before you check to see where she is. If I’m the mama up the street I am definitely keeping an eye like she’s my own, but you don’t know me and you don’t know that. 

We no longer live in the “When the street lights come on”, “Everyone in the village is looking out” era. Protect your children as best you can. Ask for help! If you have to be to work at 7, and your son’s bus doesn’t come until 7:30, I’ve been there. Ask a trusted neighbor to step in. If you’re on the receiving end of that request, if at all possible, shoulder the inconvenience of waking up at 7 even though you don’t have to be up until 8. We need all hands on deck! 

This operation may run deep. The black market exists in every corner of the world, with countess people in connection. I do believe, though, that the good far outweighs the bad. The bad is just fully organized and activated. We need everyone with a moral compass to understand that this isn’t something to just scroll past, or casually re-post. That’s not enough! We are all responsible for this next generation and it’s my hope that by understanding Children are seen as merchandise, you will be inspired to step up and play a role in Keeping price tags off our babies!