Exploitation

Please don't read the articles I'm linking to unless you are ready to read about horrific sexual abuse and exploitation. I happened across this article in Charlotte, on the way home to Atlanta from DC, when I was looking for something to read in a restaurant and picked up the free local weekly.

I normally wouldn't write about it in this blog, but I've just been thinking about the story ever since. There are a lot of things I don't like about the original article, especially the way that the new race hierarchy in the new South (black/white/Mexican) is just swept under the table when it should be dragged out into the open and subjected to a harsh floodlight. There's also way too much of a lurid, yellow journalism tone. But I'm also glad the story is out there. These women and children should not be invisible and disposable. I'm glad the pimps in this case got life sentences and their evil mother got a stiff sentence as well.

In fact "pimp" is way too nice of a word nowadays. It's gotten such positive mainstream connotations from shows like "Pimp My Ride". I don't believe in fighting losing linguistic battles, however. The word "pimp" is going to keep on turning into a synonym for "flashy" "smooth" or "promote". I just think there should be a new word to describe people like the Howards, both sons and mother. "Rapist slavemasters" sounds so much appropriate than "pimp".

Maybe I'm getting more sensitive. My husband can't even read stories or watch documentaries about child abuse, but I can usually detach myself enough to consider the cases logically and sociologically. But this story is really bothering me. I'm still thinking about how I can help women and children recover from this kind of abuse. Maybe finding and donating to an effective local survivor organization?

Again, I'm serious about not reading the links below unless you think you're ready.

Tracy's World: Inside the wicked web of a Charlotte pimp (BY TARA SERVATIUS Published 05.10.06)
It's A Family Ho-Down: Warrant charges mom and sons ran prostitution ring (BY TARA SERVATIUS Published 03.30.05)
Pimps Slapped! Men get life for prostituting young girls (BY TARA SERVATIUS Published 01.24.07)