Free the Slaves (FTS) held its inaugural Freedom Awards ceremony in Los Angeles on Monday, September 15, 2008.
Founded in 2001, FTS is a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization dedicated to actively eradicating slavery worldwide. The collection of freedom fighters work diligently to strip slaves from serfdom, and help them stay free through sharing knowledge, hope, inspiration; relevant practices; and establishing connections so that freed slaves can learn to live independently and adequately in their new-found freedoms.
FTS realizes that a mission of this magnitude requires the help of everyone—from big business and government, to the next door neighbor and everyday hero. To this end, FTS takes every stride to increase awareness about modern-day slavery world-wide. The group shares effective real-world strategies and stories to encourage others to get involved and take part in grass-roots anti-slavery movements.
The Freedom Awards was created to recognize and celebrate today’s anti-slavery heroes. Awards recipients are selected on the basis of producing successful, sustainable anti-slavery works and strategies that embody the vision of freedom. The Awards is a catalyst for sparking innovative ideals, pooling resources, provoking thoughtful reflection on theoretical techniques, and exemplifying effective anti-slavery strategies that can be adopted by change makers to end slavery for good.
Each award salutes an individual who significantly impacted slavery both within the United States and abroad, and on the response of Americans and others' to slavery around the world. Their spirit continues on through the individuals and generations they brought to freedom and today’s abolitionists who are inspired by their legacy.
Hundreds of liberators and innovators from more than 30 countries applied for the distinguished recognition. However, only four change makers were awarded.
Recipients of the awards they were:
James Kofi Annan of Ghana – Frederick Douglass Purpose Award. James is a former slave helping others find purpose. James was enslaved most of his childhood in the fishing village of Ghana. At the age of six, he almost died in the nets. His story is one of rebirth and hope as he escaped slavery and graduated from college. He was motivated by the belief that other children must not be cheated of their childhood as he was. Everyday, hundreds of children are helped by his organization, Challenging Heights. One of the more disturbing facts about these enslaved “fishing net children,” as they are commonly referred, is that they are forced to work close to 20 hours per day, and if they should become ill or unfit to work, they are tossed overboard without a second thought. Archbishop Desmond Tutu presented this esteemed award to Mr. Kofi Annan.
Anywar Ricky Richards of Uganda - Harriet Tubman Reintegration Award. Anywar was stripped from his family at a very early age to fight in the army; he was forced to watch as his parents were locked in their home and burned alive. It was a gripping moment when he approached the lectern: As he reflected on this tragic moment and the loss of his parents, he choked up, and for several minutes, only silence filled the room. Once he collected himself, he segued into talking about his organization, Friends of Orphans. Located in the most dangerous area of Northern Uganda, Ricky helps child soldiers try to rebuild their lives and entire communities through healing the wounds of war. The abducted children are forced to commit atrocities in their communities, so they have no home to return to if they escape. Ricky helps communities understand what happened to the abductees and helps the children to understand that it is possible to live again.
Amilhan Abueya of the Philippines – William Wilberforce Leadership Award. Amilhan is co-founder of ECPAT International, an organization that fights the trafficking of children into sex slavery in more than 70 countries. Amilhan has advocated for the rights of children for more than 20 years, serving as a bridge between trafficked children and those who have the power to end their nightmare.
CPT and Reporter Brasil of Brazil – Harriet Tubman Community Awards. Recognition was given both to Brasil and The Pastoral Land Commission (CPT) organization. Reporter Brasil investigates and publicizes the supply chains that slavery touches; CPT works with survivors of slavery in rural areas and triggers government raids to free slaves. Together they are a formidable anti-slavery team.
These are remarkable achievements, and nothing but the utmost respect and applause goes to these individuals for their tirelessness, selflessness, and devotion to ending such heinous plights.
China and Africa are two of the preeminent advocates for slavery: .http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1063198/Chinas-new-slave-empire--disturbing-eyewitness-account-Peter-Hitchens.html
According to FTS, there are 27 million slaves around the world—many of whom are children—living in physical bondage…As I mulled over the figure, I couldn’t help but to reflect to 143 years ago when more than three million African American ascendants were physically set free; yet, as is witnessed in the high rates of black on black crime, disproportionate ratio of black male incarcerations, rampant drug dependencies, and downtrodden and dangerous communities, African American descendants remain mentally enslaved. These negative and unsavory traits were not the characteristics of those initially brought to America in chains and shackles. So what happened?
During a span of 300 plus years, something terrible occurred to reciprocate this change in the African American’s mentality: the African American Holocaust. No one cares to discuss the controversial topic in fear of revealing the devious plot and reasons behind the immoralities perpetuated upon African Americans. However, in order to resolve the many prevailing issues that have plagued our beloved community for so long, the topic must be discussed. Unless we—all people—thoroughly dissect the root cause for today’s dastardly conditions and learn to accept the cold hard truth, no resolve or true progress will ever be attained. Like it or not, the effects of mental slavery still lingers heavily in this 21st Century, but both black and white America, albeit for different reasons, stubbornly refuse to embrace the integrity of this reality.
The greatest task the devil ever accomplished was convince the world that he does not exist; one may not be able to see him with the naked eye, but his existence is manifested in heinous crimes and acts. As with mental slavery, it is the most sickening and crippling evil among the African American community. We are convinced that we are free and mental enslavement does not exist; but if mental enslavement does not exist, why do African Americans refer to one another—and even their children—as “n**ger”? Why do African American black males comprise more than 30% of the prison population, yet African Americans only account for 13% of the U.S. population? Why do many African Americans limit themselves to low-paying, back-breaking jobs and place education on the back burner? Why do African Americans refuse to conduct business with black businesses, and allow our communities to continually demise? It’s not hard to see that mental enslavement is still alive and well.
People all around the world are taking strides to eradicate slavery and help re-build the lives of those who were formerly enslaved. In America, we attained physical freedom in 1865. High time has come for African Americans to refrain from making excuses for their current situations, see truth for what it really is, and leap into action—take back our mental freedom.
H. Lewis Smith is the founder and president of UVCC, the United Voices for a Common Cause, Inc., and author of Bury that Sucka: A Scandalous Love Affair with the N-Word. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dP2U0jmZjec
