Session on Slavery in the Twenty-First Century
I will reveal my bias by saying that I expected this presentation to be informational rather than inspirational or promotional. I should have read the poster a little closer, near the bottom, where the invitation was to "come hear Beatrice and Stephen speak out against modern day slavery." But of course these two people would be speaking out against slavery. Who would speak out for slavery?
Beatrice Fernando's presentation was troubling in its subject matter and moving in its presentation. There is nothing new, of course, about opportunists taking advantage of poor people who are desperate for a way out of their poverty. But it was shocking to hear about an actual case of slavery. True stories are more effective than fiction in making a case for taking action against injustice, and I'm sure that Ms. Fernando's story was designed to encourage us to take action against slavery.
Steven Steinlight's presentation was troubling in its presentation and moving in its subject matter. As I suggest above, who would expect Steinlight not to speak out against slavery? The distractions of general attacks on the United Nations and personal attacks on its Secretary-General Kofi Annan took the focus off what I considered to be the "real" topic--where slavery is happening in the world, who is perpetrating it, and what measures are being taken--and should be taken--to stop it. That the United Nations may be ineffective or irresponsible is a worthwhile topic for another lecture.
To connect the presentations to our class, I'd like you to think about how, in the stories we have read, people with money and power have taken advantage of those without money or power. How do advertisers take advantage of poor women of color like Arlene? What do they promise her? Are their promises as empty as the ones Beatrice Fernando responded to? How did the store owner take advantage of Dave in "The Man Who Was Almost a Man"? Does our entire society promise success and wealth to the people who come to our shores from elsewhere, like Mr. Chang in "In The American Society"? Does our society conveniently forget to mention that race and culture have an effect on success?
On another note, I'd be interested in your comments on exactly how the presentations failed to live up to your expectations--not what you liked and didn't like, but on what was and was not effective and why.