Addressing the impact of sex trafficking on Black women

Sandra Mayo is founder of Sandra's Giving Heart in Raleigh.

In 2002, Sharon became a registered sex offender as a result of being sexually trafficked.

Her story is not unusual; in fact, thousands of young women - especially African American women - are targeted, groomed and dehumanized through the sex trade. Very few escapes unscathed. Black women are easy prey because they are ambitious, they want more in life, and are actively looking for personal and professional relationships to add respite to their grueling journey. The isolation of achievement forces this population to reach for strength, for each sunrise, in the most unusual of places.

As a college freshman she thought they were in love. His validation of her academic drive and strong will opened her soul to what would become a period of servitude, torture, fear and an emotionally bruised and traumatized future. His love granted access to her heart in exchange for an irrevocable pledge of duty.  

In this instance, the crime of trafficking took place on the prestigious campus of an elite HBCU. Historically Black Colleges and Universities are considered an educational safe-haven for emerging African American professionals. She studied to excel in life, while he was studying her. He soon learned of her vulnerabilities and put his plan into action. Before long, she was engaging in sexual behavior against her will; and wanted out. He refused to let her go.

According to the Polaris Project, 40% of victims and survivors of sex trafficking are Black women and girls. This underscores the need for culturally sensitive wrap-around support services and advocacy for survivors of trafficking within the African-American community. This troubling reality demands urgent attention and intervention.

Sharon and I met through a friend of a friend of a friend; our relationship was no longer separated by six-degrees. I became a pillar on her road to redemption. Watching her reclaim her life hasn’t been easy. The impact sex trafficking has on the mental health and overall well-being of its victims is clear, I see it through my life’s work as a behavioral healthcare expert.

She shared with me, “The police wanted him, and he wanted me. I chose me, along with the consequences that came along with me choosing me above all else.” She served a year in prison and had to register, for life, as a registered sex offender because she wouldn’t tell on her abuser. She still fears for her life.

Sharon is a client of Sandra’s Giving Heart; my client-centric non-profit organization. I possess a first-hand understanding of the dire impact sex trafficking has on the lives of Black women and girls, and our services are designed to address the social and soft skills required to help these women begin to achieve success at their highest level.

Sandra’s Giving Heart provides:

1. Empowerment and rehabilitation: Offering support in areas such as financial literacy, housing, mental health services, and job building skills to empower survivors to rebuild their lives and reintegrate into society.

2. Breaking the cycle: By clarifying the root causes of sex trafficking and providing resources to break the cycle of exploitation and vulnerability in urban areas.

3. Community engagement: Through advocacy and awareness-raising efforts, Sandra's Giving Heart fosters community support and involvement in combating sex trafficking and supporting survivors.

4. Economic stability: By equipping survivors with job skills and employment opportunities, the organization contributes to the economic stability of trafficked victims to help them become self-sufficient and contributing members of society.

5. Mental health support: By providing mental health services, we help survivors cope with the resulting trauma and develop their resilience so they can thrive.

My call-to-action challenges society to confront the harsh truth of this injustice. It prompts us to reexamine how we, as a collective, respond to the needs of survivors and how we can collectively work to prevent further victimization and fulfill an unspoken commitment to a vulnerable population. 

Thorough advocacy and powerful expression of empathy are essential in raising awareness, inspiring change, and prompting society to address this crisis with the urgency and commitment it demands. It's deeply important to address the long-term impact and trauma resulting from sex trafficking of our brown girls and women and to advocate for comprehensive support services.

Sandra's Giving Heart plays a front-and-center role in creating safer, more supportive communities for healing and recovery by acknowledging this systemic problem and working daily to provide advocacy and resources for victims and survivors. 

Sandra Mayo is founder and president of Sandra’s Giving Heart in Raleigh.  She is a behavioral health expert committed to helping individuals improve their mental well-being and navigate life’s challenges.

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