Slaves To Chocolate
Slaves to Chocolate
When the subject of slavery comes up, most people think of slavery as a horrible
part of history and a thing that is in the past. We, as Americans, do not think of slavery as a
current problem. In fact slavery is thriving There are currently enslaved people all over the
world. Today, most of the victims are young because they are easier to take advantage of.
These children are forced into slaveries such as; making carpets or clothes, prostitution, and
working on cotton or cocoa plantations. This is a concept that this country relates with the past,
but it is in fact an issue that needs to be addressed. In our lectures we watched a video clip of
some young African men who had recently been liberated from slavery on a cocoa plantation.
This segment had a profound impact on me. These young men were showing the camera the
scars covering their hands and backs from the grueling labor and the frequent beatings, often
within inches of their lives. They describe their horrible working and living conditions, and tell
how little they were fed. One of the men mentioned that he had never eaten chocolate. When
the reporter asked one of the men what they would say to someone out there who is eating
chocolate, he said, "you are eating my flesh." I have thought about that every time I have seen
chocolate since. These people are enslaved in countries like the Ivory Coast, a country in which
slavery is illegal, but is still very prevalent. It is really hard to believe that there are people out
there who would have such disrespect for human life. These slaves to chocolate, are just young
boys when they begin a life of servitude. Taken from their homes, and...
Please login to view the full essay...