February 5, 2020

At age 16, Cyntoia Brown-Long was a victim of sex trafficking. She spent her youth in and out of the juvenile justice system, survived multiple rapes, and was sexually exploited by an ex-boyfriend. While he was trafficking Cyntoia, she killed a man who had paid to rape her. She was charged as an adult with first-degree murder and aggravated robbery even though she was a minor and victim of sex trafficking. She was sentenced to life in prison. Her case eventually garnered international and celebrity attention when #FreeCyntoia went viral on social media. People began advocating for her and highlighting the injustice of her situation. In January 2019, after serving fifteen years at the Tennessee Prison for Women, former governor Bill Haslam granted Cyntoia full clemency.

It is essential to listen to people like Cyntoia who have lived through the sex trade if we are to understand how to prevent the harm it causes. CAASE, along with several of our allies, decided to give Chicagoans that opportunity this January in recognition of Human Trafficking Awareness Month. We invited Cyntoia to discuss her new book, “Free Cyntoia: My Search for Redemption in the American Prison System” and reflect on the impact of trafficking in Black communities.

At the event, Cyntoia was joined on stage by Dr. Tara Betts, the Literary Editor of New City. They opened by discussing mass incarceration and its effects on young people. Cyntoia expressed feeling like she was “just a number” in the prison system and how it chips away at one’s self-worth. They also talked about the events that lead to her exploitation. Cyntoia said “It starts with the things that we see in society and the things that we see from men and what is permissive. It starts with what we see on social media. Young girls are seeing all of these things right now. We must start taking accountability and having these conversations.” She believes the messages our culture conveys to black women and girls increase their vulnerability to sexual exploitation. 

Tara asked Cyntoia about what factors made the biggest difference to her. She said, “I want to stress the importance of being there…” Even when she wasn’t receptive to the support of others, “there were people who continued to show up.” Their concern and care for her well being was critical. She underscored that young people need adults in their lives who care about them and do not write them off, saying “When I was younger, no one called it trafficking. They said that I was fast. They said that I was a promiscuous little girl. That is a problem, and it contributes to the trafficking of girls, falling into being vulnerable, and into being exploited.” She is hoping her criminal justice advocacy and newly founded non-profit GLITTER (Grassroots Learning Initiative for Teen Trafficking, Exploitation, and Rape) will help change things for girls today. 

As always, CAASE will continue listening to survivors. Their painfully gained expertise guides our work to end sexual violence. We hope it informs others, too, about how to prevent the harms of the sex trade and create a more equitable world. We thank Cyntoia for sharing her story with us. You can learn more by reading her book. 

The Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE), in partnership with STOP-IT, the University of Chicago, A Long Walk Home, DreamCatcher Foundation, WorldWE, Voices + Faces Project, the University of Illinois-Chicago, Guild Literary Complex, Selah Freedom and Contexture Media, presented this important event in recognition of January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month.