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Kevin Bales 'Slavery In The Land Of The Free'

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Slavery Then and Now
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In this excerpt from Slavery in the Land of the Free by Kevin Bales and Ron Soodalter we are told the story of twelve year-old Maria. Maria was lured into slavery by Sandra Bearden, who promised her an education and a taste of the American Dream. She then endured terrible abuse at the hands of Bearden, who is now serving a life sentence for human trafficking and slavery. Bales and Soodalter use Maria’s horrific experience to provide evidence for their argument against modern slavery, helping readers to realize that the abuse and violence we associate past slavery with are still alive today. This is a piece that will help those who are in the dark on current issues become more enlightened on the topic. Their purpose for writing the text is to bring awareness to the fact that slavery is still present within our society and how not much is being done to prevent the practice.

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To better understand the practice and its lasting effects on our country, and even its current presence, it is a smart idea to study the subject. Some of the best reading that can be done on slavery would be from Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass, a slave narrative published in 1845. The narrative details Douglass’ experiences as a slave in the early 1800s, sparing readers none of the gritty truth. Another fantastic read would be an excerpt of Slavery in the Land of the Free by Kevin Bales and Ron Soodalter, which explains modern slavery and how it remains a part of American society. Not one of these works is more important than the other. Bales and Soodalter simply provide information on the current

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