Human trafficking involves forcing individuals into sex work against their will, distinct from voluntary prostitution. Survivors of childhood trauma, including sexual abuse and domestic violence, are particularly vulnerable to exploitation due to low self-esteem, isolation, and lack of protective family support. Breaking the cycle requires active parental involvement, community awareness, and survivors sharing their experiences to help others recognize warning signs and seek help. The key to prevention lies in understanding that exploitation often begins with grooming tactics that exploit victims' vulnerabilities, and that survivors can transform their pain into purpose to help others.
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From Being Trafficked to Helping Others: The CEO Behind Empowerment For HopeAdded:
People have to stop the misconception.
There is a difference between prostitution, >> okay, >> and trafficking.
>> All right.
>> Trafficking is when you are forced, >> okay, >> to work in the sex trait against your will.
>> And were you forced?
>> I sure was.
>> Okay.
>> Come on, Rob. Answer this phone, man.
Answer this phone, bro.
I need to talk to you for a minute.
Hello.
>> What up? I just need to talk to you for a minute.
>> What's up, man?
>> Today on base Talks, we have Wend and Brown. She has the same last name as me.
Just because we have the same last name don't really mean that we're related, but in this case, we are. Her father is my uncle. How you doing, Wendell?
>> How are you doing? I'm doing great.
>> Yes.
>> I thank you for having me here.
>> Yeah. I wanted to the day I ran into you at the car wash.
>> Yeah. I mean, I was I was actually thinking about you that day, you know.
Okay. No word, no lie.
>> I was thinking about you that day and just ran up to you in the car wash and I'm like, >> you know, that's the energy of life bringing us together.
>> I actually wanted you to be the first lady on.
>> Oh, okay.
>> But you were going away to do a speaking engagement.
>> That's right.
>> And you said get in touch with you and get back. That's what we did. And you're the second lady on. So, we're gonna we're gonna talk it up.
>> Okay.
>> Want to know where you from?
>> I'm from East Preston. I watched your story that uh what was it called? You had a story that talked about when you being homeless and stuff.
>> Empowerment for Hope Society.
>> Is that what it was called?
>> Yeah.
>> You were helping feed homeless people and stuff. Yes.
>> That's what it was called. So I watched that >> and I got to learn. Now you're my cousin, but I didn't know a lot of that stuff had went on with you or you went through it.
>> Mhm.
>> You know, I've seen you around and different parties and different stuff and you always seem to be on top of your [ __ ] Where did all this the neg negative stuff happen from? Like how was your upcoming? How was it at home? What was going on?
>> Well, to be honest, um because a lot of people don't know, you know, um I grew up in a home where uh my dad was an alcoholic and there was a lot of um domestic violence in the home. So that was part of you know for me um growing up in that you know in that type of environment it uh it would made me easy to be vulnerable to being um having child sexual abuse happened to me >> so sexual abuse this inside the house or outside >> yes inside the home >> inside the house. So someone in your family >> No, as as a matter of fact it was one of my dad's friends that I literally kind of took as my uncle, one of his drinking buddies.
>> Okay. And you know, my dad used to work for the Coast Guard. So the times that he was home, you know, he used to like, you know, have friends over um particularly, you know, one man. And uh you know, dad get drunk, he would pass out. And after a while, this this person who I considered to be my uncle, a safe person, um started to sexually touch me.
>> How old were you?
>> Um the first time was I was seven years old.
>> Seven. Yes.
>> You ever told ever tell uncle?
>> No, I didn't. I couldn't. Um why?
>> Well, to be honest, because um this uncle would tell me, you know, if you if you say anything um who's going to believe you and as a young child um you're so receptive to when adults tell you stuff that you're automatically going to believe that. And besides that, he, you know, he was to make the threat that he would do things to my brother.
So I didn't want things to happen to to my brother. So um I kept it inside and the guilt I felt guilty. I felt ashamed and that kept me silent for many years.
>> So now you're saying aunt but you're saying aunt just because it was was uncle's friend.
>> Yes. And I >> You weren't saying it because he was actually your uncle like one of my correct one of my other uncles.
>> No. No. Correct. Good. That dysfunction that is a dysfunction. You take that dysfunction. It it really was a dysfunction because it literally set the stage for all the things that started to happen to me from the child sexual abuse right into being, you know, raped at the age of 13 and then falling into sex trafficking. So, you know, I didn't know, you know, anything outside of that other than the fact like, you know, my mom was was a god-fearing woman and, you know, and everybody knows my mom.
>> You couldn't tell her either. I couldn't tell her because to be honest, mom ran a strict household and mom was the one that spare not the rot. So, >> you mean she'd give you a beat?
>> Oh, God. Yeah. You know, mom didn't play around. So, I was scared to tell mom because of the fear.
>> Can you Can you get a beating?
>> Um, I thought that I would >> and a lot of it was the shame that I held, >> you know. So, that alone I I couldn't tell. And most of the times when this stuff was going on, my mom was at work because I believe anytime that she was home, none of those things was going on when dad would have this particular uncle over at the house. So, >> you couldn't tell your parents something that like that at that age? I take it that you you didn't really have a close relationship with them, >> to be honest. um growing up and always being um because mom was, you know, always into the church and stuff, you know, our life was dictated really around that. Mom and Kirky was was the click. Mom and Kirk was the click, you know, and I always wanted to be dad.
>> That would be your brother.
>> Yes, that's my brother. And I and I always wanted to be daddy's girl, you know. So when a dad would, you know, even come out to Preston to visit your mom or even to visit Aunt Merl, it always was Kirky that got to go, you know. Okay. So I didn't have that closeness, you know, I felt within myself as a young girl um with my dad and my mom and especially once the abuse started, I I I became so withdrawn and I isolated myself, you know, so isolated myself physically and I isolated myself mentally and emotionally.
>> Based on what you knew, what you thought back then, >> what do you think would have happened if you had told him? you think you could have done something about it?
>> You know, um, after it all came out, the first thing dad said to me was, "Why didn't you tell me?"
>> And I said, "Because he told me not to tell you."
>> And um, dad said, you know, I would, you know, more or less he would have took care of that.
>> And and you know, and knowing my father and the type of man that he was then, you know, because like you said, some alcohol makes you sloppy. Dad was very argumentative. I know he probably would have took care care of that man, but fear is what stopped me from telling.
>> This that's in the house or close to the house. Some stuff happened outside the house. What happened to you outside the house?
>> Um outside the home um um by the time we moved to Jelly Bean Square um you know, mom and dad was still like that relationship was still rocky. I was kind of glad to get from downtown Dartmouth to try to have a new life in a different neighborhood. And um then one day, you know, mom used to go to work and she said to us, "Don't you leave out of the house." But because we were always stuck in the house and we never never really could run outside cuz you know, back then when the street lights >> there some some rules too, like you couldn't wear pants.
>> Yes, that's true. So, >> you know, and part of it was biblical and a lot of it um for myself was um because of the denomination. That's that's what I'm going to say. Um and I used to get bullied a lot because of that because the way you had the dress >> because we all I always had to wear dresses.
>> Yeah.
>> There was no pants. I didn't even wear my first slats until I was almost 17 years of age.
>> Okay. Um, so you know, one night I I me and my brother, we go outside and we're playing hideand go seek. And back then we used to run into people's houses and hide, you know, so we didn't have to be it. And I went into a particular person's home and um that person was my cousin to be honest with you. And I remember hiding down behind the chair.
He came and he and he found me behind the chair. And honestly, he just I remember him holding me down behind the chair and telling me to be be quiet. And I remember like, you know, thinking to myself, "Oh my god, I'm 13 years old.
What is this guy doing to me?" You know, cuz I just been through so much from the age of seven up until I was 10 being, you know, sexually abused by this uncle.
And I remember he ripped my underweares off and um you know then he tried to have sex with me and I remember you know laying there crying because when that happened it put me back to that little girl that would just went through this and it you know and people say when those things happen to you literally come out of your body and for me I literally did you know and I remember saying please don't do this to me please don't do this to me and I was thinking in my head oh god this is One time I wish that somebody would come in the house and catch us, you know, but no, you know, that day nobody decided to come in the house to look to see if anybody was hiding.
>> Nobody came to save you.
>> No.
>> So, was this person drunk? Was he sober?
So, >> that's the way they were.
>> That's just the way that they were.
>> They were just a predator.
>> Just a predator.
>> You talked about other situation on your tape where you end up charging somebody.
>> Well, that was part of the the >> same guy.
>> No, the human trafficking. So by the time we moved over here to East Preston, mom and dad had split up. Um I remember we had to after we left from, you know, the bean, she ended up going and staying with a woman at a woman's house that was a friend of hers from the church. So we stayed there for a while and you know when two women live together they butt kids. You know she had two kids and you know it was always some bickering back and forth and I remember the day that mama said, "Okay, we have to leave here." And now that I'm older and I look back and I think to myself, "Oh my god, like we were homeless. We were literally homeless." And we ended up coming out to East Preston and staying with mom's sister for two years because in that time her house was getting built up the street.
>> I could host that she's in now.
>> Yes. The host that we're in now. So um by that time I'm I'm I'm you know almost 15. Um, and I started down at Graham Kraton.
So, I failed grade seven. That's how me and you ended up being in grade being in grade seven because I >> I don't remember much about school. I hated I hated school.
>> Hated it. I was not good at school. It was one of the tortest places for me to go.
>> But your story?
>> Yeah. So, um, during that time, you know, um, I had a lot of cousins that went to that school, so I kind of felt a little a little better than just being the strange girl, you know, the new girl, I should say, at the school. And plus, my brother was there. And, you know, during the lunchtime, you know, a lot of us used to go down go down to Turners and sit up on the wall.
>> Yeah. The little store called store down there, >> right? And you know, by the time I hit 15, um, I remember, you know, some of the guys, they used to come and sit over in either in St. John's Hall or they would kind of pull up into the little parking lot, the little rounding boat they used to have there in front of Turners and, you know, they would be talking to the girls. I never me I was so nervous, you know, because I never had sex. Um, I didn't >> You never had sex willingly.
>> Willingly. Okay.
>> Willingly. And I never I didn't um really understand about girlfriend and boyfriends because my life was just going to school, going to church, and going home. Okay, >> that was the strictness that that I was underneath.
>> And I remember uh you know, one day you know this guy would come there all the time, all the time. and he would try to talk to me but because I was so nervous and I was so shy and on top of that I used to struggle with my weight and back then I used to have eczema bad so I didn't consider myself pretty my self-confidence uh my self-esteem was very very very low and I used to be shy because I was the only girl that was running around wearing w wear wearing dresses >> okay >> and then finally you know um one of my cousins you We got to talking and she started bringing me pants to school, you know, so I would come to school.
>> You were wearing pants behind your parents back.
>> Yeah. You know, because I got tired of being bullied and made fun of, you know, sometimes walking down the hallway, the boys used to line up by the by the gym and I would walk past and they would try to pull my my my skirts down.
>> So, one of these guys that you were meeting at Turners was seen over there was one of these guys that raped you the first time.
>> Um, he would became my trafficker.
>> That's Oh, >> he became my trafficker.
>> So, you're coming in traffic. Did he become your boyfriend first?
>> Well, yes, because that's how it always works. One day, he just come to me. Hey, come here and talk to me. And you know, I I was so nervous, but I worked up the courage to walk over to his car. I remember I had to run across the street over to St. John's Hall because that's where he was parked at. And I uh I wouldn't get in the car, but I stood outside his window. And you know, and he, you know, he talked to me and he told me I was beautiful. And I was so shy. All I could do was grin because I didn't know how to answer that.
>> Can I ask you a question?
>> Yeah.
>> Did he ask you this stuff after he seen you with pants on?
>> Yes, he did.
>> Yeah. So, you got to see more of your body.
>> Yes. Because he even told me I looked good. And being 15, he was 24 years old.
And you know, he he made me feel good.
>> Mhm.
>> He really did.
>> But was that something you needed as well?
>> I did.
>> Because of some of the traumas you were already that you didn't even realize were traumas at that time. Probably >> Exactly. And I And I didn't. I just took it as, you know, I went through some stuff in my life and, you know, um, back then we we used to use that and between trying to make oursel get lighter.
Remember a lot of Oh, well, a lot of people used to use ambi cream. Never heard of it, >> right? We used to use ambi cream. So, I used to start putting that on my face to try to lighten up my skin because I noticed that the light-kinned girls, you know what I mean?
>> I can understand what you're saying because I was not attracted to darkkinned girls.
>> Oh, >> I just wasn't I wasn't attracted to some pretty dark-kinned girls and they're still pretty. I know them from the community. But it was something in my mind that made unattractive and it was whether it was commercials or the way people thought >> it was somehow got in me.
>> Oh, okay.
>> But um yeah, you go on.
>> I uh um I just uh I tried to use that cream and you know after a while it started giving me blotches on my face, you know. So people used to call me raccoon raccoon face because it would lighten my >> I think I do remember the blotches.
Yeah, I used to have a lot of >> my memory is not all that, but I do remember you with lighter spots sometimes.
>> I did because and I used to have the black around my eyes. I used to look like a raccoon kind of light skin with blotches and then the black circles around >> from that cream.
>> And that was from using that cream.
>> Oh, okay.
>> So, he uh he's the one that told me to stop doing that cuz I was beautiful. I was beautiful as being black.
>> That was true.
>> And that made me feel like oh my god, like you know. And then he would every day every day he would come down to that to that store.
>> And then after a while I got comfortable talking to him. After a while he would literally go downtown and bring me back McDonald's food. And you may think like what does McDonald food got to do with anything? But that was his way of grooming me in. And I because no none of the other guys was doing that for the other girls, you know. And I felt like oh my god like woohoo. like he would come to Graham Kraton school um and I would be sometimes in Mrs. was my home room teacher so I could look out the window and see him drive up and I always made an excuse to get to school because I knew that he he was bringing me some food or some you know McDonald food. So um after a while um I got a little more comfortable because I started to form an emotional attachment to him. you know, for being 15. I didn't know what love was, but I knew I had feelings for this person. And in my mind, as a 15 year old, for me, that was just a form of love.
>> Did you come to find out did he have any other girls working for him?
>> I didn't um know that stuff until years and years later.
>> But did he?
>> He did.
>> Because I know a lot about prostitution.
Yeah. You know, so those games that that are played >> are >> not always because they want you to be in the prostitution. It's just kind of something that they're into and they know around their friends and the community and different things are going on. And as they get to know you and they see that you have the goods to bring some money in, >> it's kind of comes in the package with uh some of the way guys think, you know, if if you love me, you you'll work for me >> or you we'll make money together, we'll get this together.
>> So, a lot of tricks are played. But you said you like the guy, right?
>> I did. I was 15 and I had an emotional attachment like I said to him. And for me that was my form of I guess of being in love.
>> Um and one thing once I got comfortable enough with him you know I was to tell him about my house life because he would ask me things you know you know your mom your dad. So I would tell him mom always worked all the time. My mother and father's not together. So he knew I was growing up without a male figure in my life. And you know there was you know questions about >> you know that's valuable information to give someone that's trying to get you to work. Right.
>> Right. But you know >> you know you got no dad in your life.
>> Exactly.
>> That brings them less problem for someone's going to mess with them messing with their daughter.
>> You know if your mom and dad's not home all the time. So you you give up information that allows them to be better at what they're pursuing with you.
>> And that's true because that is part of the grooming stage. That's how they groom girls. um you know by learning about you know their home life and you know I I don't remember ever telling him that you know I went through child sexual abuse or anything because that's something that I held inside. I didn't want I wouldn't want no one to know that because um a big part of me didn't want anyone not to like me.
>> So you ended up working or doing whatever you at that time was it Holler Street? Um there was times that um he did take me and put me down as it act actually wasn't me. It was right on Bington in front of the Misty Moon.
>> Okay.
>> And he did that about one or two times.
>> So tell me why did you do it for him?
You didn't have to. So why did you do it?
>> Okay. Why did I do it? Let's go back to how he groomed me because that's how it started.
>> Okay. and using my vulnerability of growing up um in a strict host home with just my mom.
Um the knowing the fact that I didn't have my dad in my life, he knew I I didn't um I had a low self-esteem that I didn't have any self-confidence in myself because I projected that in the way that I would talk because I was very ignorant and ignorant to the things of this world. you know, we may we may call it green as the grass because I was.
>> So, um I remember, you know, he was the you know, the real the the first guy that, you know, even when he asked me to have sex, I didn't even want to do that stuff, you know. And >> why didn't you want to do it?
>> Because I just wanted to have him like as my boyfriend. I wasn't really into that stuff being somebody who was >> So, he made you feel nice. She made you feel a bit protected, >> beautiful, >> you know, and you didn't want to do things with them. I mean, >> I I have so many stories of myself growing up being molested, you know, close to home.
>> How close to home? You didn't have the relationship with your father and mother that you could tell them the truth of what's going on with you.
>> And because of that, you got around people that were took advantage of you being vulnerable.
>> That's right. and and your past and your hurts and you needing stuff you couldn't get at home.
>> Exactly.
>> So whatever this person did and you know you show I'm sure you have your thoughts about it and whether he's guilty of it or whatever. But if our home life were different, you think that even ever would have happened if you had a more close relationship with your mother and father, your father wasn't drunk all the time or wasn't abusive to your mother, that you would be less obsessive to people in your games. If if your parents had paid more attention to you, had it took you on some of them card rides when you wanted to go to president instead of instead of your brother. if they had have paid more attention to you, do you think your life would turn out a little bit different for recognizing those situations when they're about to come?
>> I believe that maybe to a certain degree it would have, especially if I had have had my my dad around. Um, and you know, you got to think back then, you know, my mom was telling me, you know, stay away from them boys, you know, >> stay away. But was she telling you what them boys? Was she putting any more information with them boys? because she could only tell me what she knew, what what what she understood.
>> When she said them boys, was she saying the boys with the the drink and and the fancy words and saying they love you?
She giving you anything you do anything concrete?
>> No, she didn't.
Yeah. She would say, "Stay, you know, you need to, you know, stay away from them boys um cuz they're no good for you." and you make sure you know and you know she would always tell me and if you know don't you hang around girls more or less girls that were like fast you know we would call it fast right um and I always felt oh mom you know she just doesn't want me to have no friends you know and I knew that was her way of trying to protect me but >> she didn't know how she didn't have the language to help me if you understand what I'm saying >> but one of the things about this conversation and I wanted you to ask me questions too. Like how do we >> get so lost from the people that's supposed to be taking care of us? Like how did do you know anything about your your parents upbringing?
>> Um >> do you know if they were ever in in jail or >> Well, you know, yes, my dad went to jail many times.
>> Do you know what he went to jail for?
>> Um I think most of it was um robbery to be honest. Um, but you have to think back, you know, if I, you know, I'm I'm not going to sit here and say, "Oh, things happened to my mother because I can't I don't rightly know that."
>> But >> generational trauma is real. Oh yeah.
>> And when parents don't have the language to say to their daughters or to their sons to try to um protect them, they will say things like what my mother said to me, you need to stay away from them boys.
>> But without the information, >> without the information to go behind it, because if my mother had to say to me, oh, Wendell, stay away from them boys because they're pimps. I wouldn't have understood what she meant. One of my daughters, my oldest daughter, >> she was caught up in uh in prostitution.
>> Yeah.
>> But nobody manipulated her. She took her own credit card, brought her own plane ticket and went to Toronto to meet up with someone to put herself in prostitution. Now, because of that experience, she went through hell.
>> You know, she got beat down a little bit. She got charges and all this different stuff. End up in house arrest.
And she said she learned from it, >> you know, but where where was I, >> right?
>> Where was I? Where was your mom? We were dealing with our own traumas. We were dealing with our own abuses that we had dealt with, you know, and and never had the help that we needed.
>> Mhm.
>> And even though I have a close relationship with my sons, >> Yeah. Yeah.
>> And my daughter is older than my oldest son.
>> I took more to be protective of my sons because of the hurt and pains I went through. I want to protect my sons from.
And my daughters kind of slipped through.
>> My oldest daughter kind of slipped through. Even though I was there maybe a little bit financially and this >> I wasn't the father >> that she needed to >> not make that decision >> to put herself in that. She'd hear about my my reputation of the streets and stuff. Yeah. you know, and and and those guys that she got involved with, they took a real chance. They took a real chance on their life, >> right?
>> You know, but when I come to hear about the situation and how she took herself up there >> and how she put herself in this situation, well, I can get a hold of somebody or I can deal something to deal with these people, >> but how am I going to deal with my daughter?
>> You did this to yourself. And even though she went through that and she's learned from it, >> Mhm.
>> how do we help our children? And I've become I ain't going to say great, a little bit better of a father to realize that, you know, I got to be there for my daughters more, >> right?
>> I got to I got to hear them more. I got to want to care more even when it's frustrating because I don't really know how a woman thinks sometime. I don't know, right? Why would you even want to get involved with that guy? I think he's [ __ ] ugly, >> right?
>> You know what I mean? But I don't know how how women >> deal with their attraction.
>> You know something to go back to what you said about your daughter. She put herself in that position. She took her own, you know, credit card and and and got herself there. You still have to go back to why she did that. And that was because she was groomed. There's like everything always starts with a relationship. But I want to I want to I understand that and I understand that the games that are played on on women. I did them for for for many years on women.
>> I mean I would say I was a prostitute myself cuz I would get involved with women just because they had nice cars.
They had a little bit of money. They had credit.
>> You know I I learned to get money a little more straight way.
>> I know that they want to be told they're beautiful. They want to be taken out sometime. They want to go dancing. They want to hang with me because I got a reputation. I learn to deal with their emotions.
>> Yes. you know, then I can get the things they have that I need. And but this this thing with with my daughter and I would see with you, I want to put more to blame on me. But how could I have helped her when I was so hurt myself? I was so messed up. I was so mentally disturbed.
So whatever I was dealing with or whatever was dealing with, >> I mean, he couldn't even see his daughter. Why? Why was he drinking so much?
>> What was really going on with him? We all have these issues and these problems, but none of us really ever have conversations like this to talk about it so our kids can learn, >> right?
>> And and really be honest with it. And I mean, I put out a a interview today and I said some things on there was very hard for me to say, but it had to be said.
>> Yes.
>> And I wanted to say it for me. I wanted to tell on myself, you know, and having you on here and share your story and the things that you're doing to want to help other people avoid that >> experiences you went through.
>> I mean, I want to put a lot of emphasis on the home. The home has to change.
>> If you're going to have a child, you have to learn to be a mother and father before that child's even born.
>> And that that is so true. I I blame myself to a big degree because um because of my own trauma that I didn't know how to deal with. You know, for me it was four suicide attempts >> yourself. You you attempted?
>> Yes. And >> can I say how?
>> Um the first was um I took pills. Um the second I tried to cut my wrist.
>> Did you go up or across?
>> Nope. across down here and across here.
But >> you know it was better to go up, right?
>> Well, well, okay. But I just wanted to die.
>> Mhm.
>> Because after all that stuff that happened to me with prostitution, I got in with the father of my children and that's when the real um physical abuse started. I >> You have five children.
>> I have five children.
>> You should be the father of the first child.
>> So yes, for the first three.
>> Okay. So that was the first time I had to experience like being, you know, lip swelt up, knocked out, swelling eyes, you know what I mean?
>> And this was because you you didn't want to work or you had a big >> No, with with this man with this man, it wasn't that I didn't want to work because that wasn't our lifestyle. Okay.
You know, I had to learn that, you know, and it took me a long time to understand that this man had his own traumas.
>> Okay?
>> And a lot of women who get with men who are abusive, they try to >> fix them, >> try to fix them.
>> They try to be that mother. I would cook, I would clean, I would even run him a bath, I would even bathe him myself. But that wasn't good enough because some He was like, "Do you like Dr. Jack want Mr. died. You know, I remember walking on eggshells, scared to death.
>> Did he ever tell you anything that went on with him, whether him growing up?
>> Um, not anything sexually.
>> Mhm.
>> But he didn't really know who his dad was, >> like me, >> you know.
>> I found out nine months ago, but yeah.
>> Oh, wow.
>> Yeah.
>> One time it was supposed to be this man.
Um, then it was supposed to be this man because all you know, just him and him and his sister, the two light-skinned ones in the family. So, you know, that's supposed to be their dad cuz the other ones are dark and they all know who their dad was. And he always felt like he was the black sheep. But I used to hear things about this man. He comes right from this community. And I used to hear things about this guy and how he used to beat up on women. And I used to say to myself, "Oh my god." like and I used to even see the after effects of what he did to the woman he used to be in a relationship with. But still even after they broke up and by this time I turned 19 um you know I used to because I used to hang with his sisters you know I kind of took a liking to him and that's because I was I didn't understand but I do now is because I was drawn to men that were like that even though I didn't see it at first because it's always the honeymoon phase until something till something snaps in their head and then you're at fault. You know, I remember the first time he slapped me across the face because I was um eating uh he brought me something he brought me something from Harvey's a hamburger and I had ketchup coming down on the side of my mouth and he was saying you know you know yeah he was like girl wipe your mouth off and I remember going like this and he was saying oh you're you know he said that's so na you know being nasty and close your mouth when you eat you're smacking around my head but see I said to him oh what's the difference. Who cares? Like, you know what I mean? This is the way I eat. And bang, I didn't even see his hand coming. And I remember holding my face that day, thinking, "Oh my god, like what just happened?" And I was with a friend and my brother and my brother is totally different than me. You know what I mean? Because, you know, he didn't jump up to protect me. I ran to the girl and I said, "Oh my god, he just slapped me across the face. You know, you got to get him out of your house because he scared me >> and it just flicked back.
>> Your brother did nothing.
>> No, he >> I know your brother is.
>> Yeah, >> that seems kind of normal, >> right?
>> That seems >> and you know and and and I and I don't hate him for it or anything like that. I realized that he's just he just wasn't like that.
>> No, he was he's not a fighter.
>> No, he's not. You know, and I mean he did say like, "Why would you hit my sister and stuff?" And you know, the guy, you know, said to him to mind his business and, you know, cuz you know, she's rude. She got a big mouth. And and I'm thinking to myself, >> would that meant something if he just would have grabbed a knife or a bottle and just did something to help you?
Would that would that have showed you some love for a man and your life and your family?
>> You know something that would have I I would have I mean, I love my brother, but >> like someone to actually stand up for >> Yeah. because I would have been so happy >> to see you, >> you know, because he was in a relationship with a woman who had just came through um domestic violence >> and he wasn't like that with her, >> you know, they had a perfect little relationship. I wanted that type of relationship, you know, and it took a long time before this man put his hands on me again. It started after I had children >> and then it seemed like, oh my god, I couldn't breathe. I >> Once a man puts his hands on you, it's something that's going to happen again.
I know about it. I've been very violent to to ex-girlfriends and stuff, you know, even my current wife, even even my best friend, you know. So, >> but to have the forgiveness of those people that are still in my life to give me the chance to start showing the man that I really am >> and want to bring out that little kid that was, you know, just kind of stepped on and forgot about, you know, say now I'm bring that out of me. I want to show the love that I really have to give, >> you know, and and having people like you come on that have the brave and the guts to share your story that the [ __ ] that goes on, not just in Preston, it goes on in a lot of houses. That's true.
>> Got to be black.
>> And that is so true.
>> I mean, don't it's happens with everybody, >> but not everybody's talking about it.
And when they're talking about it, they're talking about it maybe to get out of trouble if they're they're in jail or something. They going to courts.
They want to bring up that this happened to him so the judge can feel sorry for them.
>> But why can't we start telling people what happened to us so maybe if any of them are starting to get glimpses that they may be going that way that we can help we can help them.
>> You know to be to be honest first I want to say this to you. I want to say you know you were at an event that I just had you know on Friday and you know you you know you brought up about what happened to you as a young boy. Thank you. Because it's it's it takes a lot to talk about your own personal stuff. You know, what happens to you and you know, you you made mention about you being on the other side as a pimp.
>> To be honest, that triggered me.
>> But honestly, so you you call it a pimp.
>> Yeah.
>> But I'm going to say >> or a trafficker.
>> I call I'm not a pimp or a trafficker. I was a boyfriend.
>> See? Okay. The the the the prostitution thing is a business. I mean, and there's many women out there that that that are selling themselves for the money.
>> And because they don't have anyone to protect them, then their money gets stolen. They get beaten. So, they would call on a guy like me that had a reputation, you know, can I use your name? Can I say I work for you? So, people will leave me alone. So, the current guy that they were with can get away from and won't come up take their money and beat them and stuff. So the pimping, what you guys call pimping because a lot of time is boyfriend and girlfriend >> and that's just the relationship they have. She goes to work and makes money, he protects her, you know, that's just the relationship. Now there's something called gor gorilla pimping >> when the guy's actually making the girl go work and beating her and doing all that stuff. I had nothing to do with that.
>> Okay?
>> You know, if if anything that I was involved with, the girls love me >> and they would do whatever because they wanted to be with me, >> right? But most of the time, come to find out, like, come to find out who I really am. And I never made no money from prostitution. I took prostitution to be babysitting >> because these women needed more help than they could give me.
>> And I had a passion to want to help them, to want to help women, you know, even though they had a little money here and there, that money went back to some stuff they needed, shoes, clothes, the kids, and stuff they had went back to them. It couldn't I never bought a car.
I never bought a chain from any prostitution. I gave more than I ever got. And the first time I ever saw a woman laying in that laying in a bed with a man on top of her to to to make that money, it grossed me the [ __ ] out.
For to see her head to the side like she was dead. Not like and then put her that look on her face was just gross me. Not like that would be every woman's position or look on their face, but it was hers that day. When I seen how she was making that little bit of money, that's that was it for me. That was enough for me. It showed me that I wasn't that guy.
>> And even though I cared about these people and wanted to help them in a way that I could, >> this wasn't the way.
>> This isn't the way. So, yeah, I can go deal with that guy that's threatening you. So, I did that. I can go deal with that. You take this money and go get your life together. And that particular woman, that life is much better. I even heard her say I heard someone tell me that she said I saved her life but she saved my life because I seen women putting themselves in a position I didn't I don't need that money. I I I went to I tell you the truth I went to sound dope after that >> right >> and and then working in construction back and forth. I went to selling dope and I wasn't good at that either >> because I wasn't good at paying my bill.
I was good at spending the money.
>> Right.
>> So these things that make money and people just want to label people to be pimps. Mh.
>> But there I know of a lot of different relationships that's that's just what the girl does and she's going to do it whether that guy there, he's not there, >> right?
>> And a lot of guys are at home watching the kids while they're working. A lot of them are just the relationship. It's not all about violence. It's just what they do.
>> See, people have to stop the misconception.
>> There is a difference between prostitution, >> okay, >> and trafficking.
>> All right?
Trafficking is when you are forced, >> okay, >> to work in the sex trade against your will.
>> And were you forced?
>> I sure was.
>> Okay.
>> And where somebody is forcing you to go have sex um for money and taking the money from you because now you've earned that, but it's mine. Prostitution is when it's your own accord. That's what you need to do to look after your household, to buy groceries, because even after all that stuff happened to me, and I fell into a 12-year drug addiction, and I became >> crack cocaine. After a while, it became heroin. Um, and I use the heroin to try to bring down the crack high after being out for days and days and days. Um, and then I became homeless.
>> So, how'd you get on the drugs?
Explain how you got through the sexual stuff. How did you get through the drugs? Who was doing drugs around you?
Was that just something you picked up?
>> You know something? I used to hang around certain people and I would watch them smoke crack and I'm like, what is that? You know, >> so the environment that you were around and the road you were on, >> there wasn't very many people doing anything healthy.
>> No. No.
>> So, you know, because you know, I used to have my >> on a pretty desperate road. True. I used to have after um you know I went through the sex trafficking thing then eight years later that same man that trafficked me literally came to the house that I that I lived in. And um he went to the wrong house. I understand that now. Um because he was looking for somebody to buy dope from to be honest.
And um he was he was high. And I remember opening the door and seeing him stand there after all these many years.
You know, I couldn't believe it. And it was just like, oh my god, like this is not this guy. And I remember him forcing himself into my house and him raping me that day >> in the daytime.
>> Actually, it was it it was in the evening.
>> How old were you?
>> Um I was in my 20s if I believe.
>> And you never called the cops even after >> to be honest with you when that happened to me. Um I just had my first three children and I lived right over here in East Preston.
>> Mhm.
>> Right. So why didn't you reach out you still didn't tell anybody >> about what happened to me with the with the sex trafficking?
>> But you didn't tell your father when you were young. Nope.
>> Now someone comes to your home where you're living violates you. You still don't tell anybody. What is going on?
You're older now.
>> Okay. So when even after I you know the police got me after the sex trafficking um I didn't say anything when they asked me you know they asked me those type of questions um my mother asked me those type of questions and even though at that point I knew she would never be judgmental because she just wanted to help me because she had to call the police to come and get me >> and because she heard where I was they ahead me going from one host to another host to kind of stay ahead of the police and all that move me over to Halifax maybe sometimes running up to Monton and um I still couldn't I lied I just couldn't tell her I was so ashamed I felt >> you were ashamed of somebody somebody violating you >> I was ashamed because >> um >> I'm not saying that because it's wrong close with people that were you know that were were raped >> and they wouldn't do the right thing either because they didn't want to be a rat.
>> And it wasn't because I didn't want to be a rat because I didn't even know what that >> that wouldn't have made you a rat.
>> No, but I wouldn't even have known what that word was. But for me, I just I couldn't say anything. I went through sodomy. I went through gang rape every other day. After a while, it turned into beastiality.
>> So, at some point, you you didn't love yourself.
You didn't care about yourself.
>> You know something?
I didn't love myself because nobody else loved me. That's how I was feeling. And and not because I didn't um I didn't want to love myself. It's because I didn't know what what real love >> should look like. I come to realize in this world for me, >> if I'm waiting for someone to love me >> more than I love myself, it ain't never going to happen.
>> Not even my wife. my wife don't love you more as you love your children, >> right?
>> And that's fine.
>> Yeah.
>> You know, finding someone to love you more than you love yourself is not going to happen. But finding the strength to love yourself based on where you come from or what your past was, >> that that that takes a lot of strength.
>> And you know something, if you ask me now, Wind, do you love yourself? Damn right I do.
>> Today >> I do. I do love myself. And I do what is best for Windellin.
>> I'm I'm going to tell camera right here.
Mhm.
>> All these cameras.
Something women, I did this to myself. I told a girl one time, we had a conversation. She's a smart girl. We having a good conversation. I told her, I want to tell you something that most men won't tell you ever. When a man tells you he's going to kill you if you call the police.
>> Yeah.
>> That's the first sign of his weakness.
>> Yes.
>> That's the first sign of his weakness.
>> Call the [ __ ] police on him. If you're in a situation where you're being abused or you're being raped and you can't beat this man, >> yeah, >> you you you got to call some help. If you ain't got a mother, if your father or brother or someone call, you got to call the police. Me and this lady had this conversation. Months went by. You know, I end up going to jail and I got out to come see her. She was not a prostitute, not even close, but she had been seeing somebody else and she didn't want me in the house and she knew I had a bit of a, you know, a bit of a crazy mindset.
>> What did she do when I left? She called the police. Who told her to call the police when you want somebody out of your life? Me.
>> She used my own words against me.
>> Police pulled me over. I was drinking.
Long story short, I went to jail for drinking and driving.
>> Mhm. I ain't bothered that girl since, >> right?
>> You know what I mean? Go on, leave your life.
>> But a lot of girls are confused with when someone say, "I'm going to kill you." Now, there are men and women that mean it. They will kill you.
>> Yeah.
>> But they usually don't tell you.
>> It just happens.
>> That's true.
>> You know, so don't be trapped in a situation cuz you're scared someone's going to kill you. I'd [ __ ] rather be dead than to be going through the [ __ ] that I went through as a kid. Mhm.
>> You know, I talk about our ancestors, different people on different concept conversations. Man, I wouldn't for I would have been one of the [ __ ] that were dead >> in the beginning. I ain't bailing this cotton. I ain't doing this. I'm not standing there and watch you rape my sister or rape my wife.
>> You need to kill me.
>> Yeah.
>> Fear would not stop me from from doing the right thing. And women need to gain some strength because not every situation with men they're being made to do it. There's some good people. There's people that put theirelves through uh uh to medical school and different things through prostitution. Some women have met their husbands through prostitution.
So a lot of good things happen. It's just a sex trait.
>> But if you're in a situation that they're being abused, if someone's threatening your life >> and you don't have the ability to protect yourself, you need to have the smarts to think around it. Now, I would say that that girl went a little bit too far with me because I just wanted to come see her what was going on. Her own fear thought I was going to do something, >> right?
>> But I and that was her way of protecting herself.
>> But I told her if you're scared of somebody, you know, and you and you think they're going to hurt you, call the police. I told her that.
>> Mhm.
>> Do I wish I hadn't told her?
>> No. Because it's the right thing.
>> You can't be in terrible situations being abused.
>> And and that and that is so true. like you know you know you just said to me like okay so you know you got raped and you mean to tell me you wouldn't say anything when that was happening to me I remember my daughter walked out of that room and I was trying so hard >> she your daughter walked in while you were being raped >> exactly she walked in she >> um both seven and when uh when I heard the door open I remember um I was trying to not to make a bunch of noise and I remember struggling and you know kicking my feet against against stuff you know so that was making noise in house I'm kicking my feet against furniture and stuff and she woke up and she came out and I remember he was laying on top of me and I was just laying there crying and crying and he turned around and he looked and he said wow she's a pretty little girl and everything >> went up inside of my body >> grab a knife and just put it through his head >> if if if I could have I don't even know if I if if I would have had the strength to do that, you know.
>> What's a woman feeling like that they feel so unable to do anything? What's what's that feel like that you can't do nothing to protect yourself or your loved one in that moment that you just you just fail and you you just let it happen? Like what did that feel like?
>> Uh you know, I won't say you just let it happen. I didn't have the strength to fight him off.
>> That's what I mean. So how what did that mean? How does it feel not to have the strength to fight back?
>> I felt defeated. I felt like a failure.
I felt like, okay, I just want to die. I wanted to leave this leave this world. After that, I took those pills.
>> Mhm.
>> I looked at that little girl and I said, "Get in your room and don't you come out again." And I said to the guy because he had another man sitting outside in the car waiting because like I said, they were going looking for drugs. And I said, "Please just take me with you.
>> Just take me." you know, because I didn't know how he was going to react. I knew he wasn't normal. Um, that's because he was high.
>> So, was that that was those words take me with you to protect your >> I said, "Let's just leave out of here.
Just leave. Let's let's just leave out of this house."
>> But she was seven.
>> Yes.
>> And you were just going to leave her there.
>> And I left her there with her brothers and I had to leave out of the house. I was scared he was going to do something to her. I c I I I wasn't if I couldn't protect myself, I had to figure out a way to protect my kids. And so >> that was your process of thinking.
>> That was my process of thinking. You got to think back to from the time I was seven until I was 10. And then, you know, from 15 to 17, I was trafficked. I I couldn't protect myself. So, how was I going to protect my kids? That's how my parents ended up with my children because I felt within myself, how am I, if I couldn't even help myself or protect myself, how would I ever be able to protect my own little girl?
>> How much does this go on that a woman leaves and stays with her abuser? Does this happen a lot?
>> It does. Sometimes it takes at least seven, 10 times before she gets to a place where she says, "You know what? I had enough." or he brings her to the point where he almost kills her. You know, being with the the father of my three oldest children, he almost killed me. He literally almost killed me and I and I said to myself, "God, I got to get away from him." I mean, he stabbed me, took my baby away from me. I'm running to police station saying, >> "How did you get away from him?"
>> I had to leave my baby behind >> with >> Because he Yes. Because I couldn't beat him literally. He said, "I'm taking her out and I'm going for a walk. I'll be back." And while he left, I tried to set him up with the police. And this was when we lived in Toronto. So, I tried to set him up with the police. And just so happened he was on his way back and he sent me outside with the police.
>> And I remember he text my cell phone in, you know, and he called me [ __ ] And he and he said, "You're so stupid. You're never going to see that little girl again."
and he said, "I see you with the police." Because at that time they were going through his van because this guy tied me up and um >> the things that you're saying and and the police got involved is all this can be proven. Is it true?
>> Oh god, yes. I pressed charges against him.
>> And what happened in court?
>> He went to jail >> for that.
>> He went to jail because I could prove that I showed the police where he kept um the knife. I showed the police where he kept the axe that he was he threatened and put it against the back of my neck. That's why the police was going through his his van and they found those things. I had to charge him. I had to get my baby back.
>> Mhm.
>> You know.
>> So, how much pressure was that from the police to do that?
>> It wasn't I went to them.
>> Okay.
>> I went to them and I really thought like they weren't going to help me like that, you know, because >> How did they help you? Did they take you serious?
Um, you know something to be honest.
>> As quick as they would have moved if you were a white lady.
>> I don't I don't think well maybe you know something that could be one but you know how many times I called the police on this man and then when the time came to go to court I didn't go and he got to walk away and so you obviously there's going to probably be records of that you know but he took my baby from me.
Everything everything you're saying just brings this right back to me and the things that my daughters have gone through not being there.
>> It it it's when a man's not there for his child and if he doesn't know what's going on with their children, our children go through some [ __ ] And because of our pain and our confusion, some of us don't even care. See, we don't care because we don't check in. We don't we don't know.
And that sometimes there's little hints that something's going on, but you got so much going on with yourself. I mean, with me, I had charges. I had women. I had different stuff and stuff I want to go through and my own dramas from grow traumas from growing up.
>> I mean, why why aren't we there for our children that need us? And one of the reasons I want to do baby stocks >> is um for my kids and somebody else's child because I can't go into somebody else's house only like this that you click on this and don't forget to subscribe.
>> You click on this and you watch it and I can give advice and and talk to you like this way.
>> But I can be more active in going to my children's house. You knock on the door.
What's going on? What's going with your relationship? How's he treating you? You know, what's going on? How the bill's doing? You know, like, are you got any food in the house? I I got to get more involved.
>> You know, and I'm not just doing this today out of guilt.
>> I'm doing it because it's part of responsibility as a father.
>> That's right.
>> As a father and a mother to protect their children for the elements of this world because this world is not just good. It is [ __ ] up. Yeah. And there's some things in this things that go in this world we think shouldn't go on, but they go on every day. And the only way that you can stop anything from happen is speak out, be there, help.
>> And for me, for me, number one, that starts in my own home.
>> That's right.
>> You know, I don't want to hear about my daughters being raped or any man abusing them because that that's really bad for that dude. You know, one time I could just go off and do stuff and I didn't care if I went to jail or whatever.
>> Yeah.
>> Now I'm a little smarter. I still get [ __ ] done. don't touch my children.
>> And that is and that is so true. But then and and everybody knows if you know if anything ever happened to your daughter, you going to go you're going to go cuckoo anyways. We know this, you know, based on your reputation knowing that that >> things have happened to my daughter.
>> Yeah. And I'm but I wasn't there enough >> to understand that I that I [ __ ] it up for them and that that even going off and doing something that that at those times >> and there were things planned >> but other things happened instead there is I can't go back and change it >> and you can't >> I can't go back and change it but I can damn make sure it don't happen again.
And that's true >> because I'm not on duty that I'm not here for my children >> because doesn't matter how old they get, they will still be my child.
>> That's exactly >> They'll still be my child. They're still going to want advice. I And I should be in a position to try to help them.
>> Mhm.
>> You know, I shouldn't be going to my children for money.
>> I mean, I don't like them coming me money because they don't pay it back, but >> I know, >> but you know, like children should be able to come from to their parents for help. Yes.
>> Not the other way around.
>> Exactly. And a lot of my growing ups and different stuff, you talk about prostitution and stuff. I hate the word pimp. A lot of the parents are going to their sons and getting money. And you know what your son does? You turn a blind eye to it.
>> Exactly.
>> Whether it's selling drugs or something else or what if they do, you know, but you still take this money.
>> So, aren't you not telling your children it's okay? Literally when I see that happening or I hear of that happening, that parent for me is no better than the ch than the child that is oh trafficking somebody else.
>> But it also shows that the family dynamics of what's going on and things that are missing in the host like like like a stable income >> and and them because a parent ain't going to take money from a parent from a child. They don't need it. So they need it too. and there's something going on that hasn't come together quite the way it should. You know, the parents are there to raise the child, >> but when that messes up and the parents the child's raising itself, then you got all these situations where girls are being raped. Guys are thinking, "Well, it's cool to pimp a girl or whatever and she's just a [ __ ] She ain't nothing like that. This is my square woman." All this stupidness.
>> At the same time, you're hurting somebody else's child.
>> Exactly. you know, and and if that was your mother, your sister, your daughter, how do you feel about it? You know, do you want him to do it to your child? So, things happen to my child and and and I've been out there with other people's children. I'm like, >> goody for me, but not goody for them.
>> This [ __ ] hurts >> and something needs to be done. People need to speak out. I want you to talk about what you're going after. You're definitely going after people that are being forced into it. chosen not being forced into it. The young guy that spoke the other night, man, his story was me.
Is this stuff true?
>> All that happened to him.
>> Yes.
>> Oh man. And like his story is is is one that you can get in your emotions.
>> Yeah.
>> But what are you going to do about it?
Cuz he cuz he still got he still has his addiction problem. He still got to go to a treatment thing. Yeah.
>> And that treatment thing cost over $100,000.
>> That's right.
>> Pay for that for >> the province of Nova Scotia. But they're not going to pay for that for everybody.
>> But you know something, it worked for him because number one, he's indigenous and he had a lot of people in his corner that wanted him to do better. Besides, he he did the work to get to that place to say, "Okay, I want help. I'm not backing down." and he went to the right people to help him to be able to get that funding because there is funding to be able to help people. If you don't know certain things that the government has out there to help you um like building homes or like you know getting you into a treatment facility for instance then you're always going to be running to detox centers that are always full. You know that young man for so long had to because of his mental state and the trauma that he has been through he literally so many times he had to be he'll go to the document general or to the QE hospital and have to see a psychiatrist because of his psychosis or um because he has a mental breakdown >> and based on those things we don't have enough um I feel myself personally to say that we don't have enough. Yes, we have doctors and psychiatrists and psychologists, but are they really traumatally informed? He's an indigenous male.
>> We talked about uh at your thing you put on the other day, >> they talked about um what was the word he used? Education.
>> Yes.
>> But education for me, I have trouble with reading, right? That's not education for me. Mhm.
>> Education for me is knowing how this world works and knowing how to avoid certain things cuz this world is what it is. We have daytime, we have night time, and night time's a little harder to see, but you got to learn how to get around in the night.
>> Mhm.
>> It's shit's going to be there.
>> But how do we avoid some of these these things? We we talked about and I think we were talking about charges and and people being charged that gets involved in prop pro prostitution and stuff. And I real have real passion for young guys that grew up around other older men that had the cars, that had the women, that had the jewelry and stuff and they thought this stuff was attractive and they the conversation they heard from these men and how they talked about women. Do you not see that as abuse as that and manipulation of their brain?
>> Um, you know what I call that generational trauma? because we know that a lot of our, you know, in in in our marginalized communities and and all over that um young guys that grow up knowing, oh, my dad was a pimp, granddaddy was a pimp, um my uncles, you know what I mean? My older brother was a pimp. It's when you have, >> you know, that that guys that are involved, don't call themselves pimps, right?
>> Okay. Well, we'll call them traffickers.
We'll call them >> call them pimps. I got to tell you a little story about that >> because I I used to go to a lot of different schools >> uh with So Baz Benjamin uh talking to the young girls, young guys >> about my experiences with uh prostitution and stuff and giving guys and girls tips, the little girls tips, the words word to stay away from stuff if they say this to you or say that to you. I was giving them the tips, right?
And I was supposed to do the speaking engagement and couple days before it happened, the lady called me and said, I was the keynote speaker, right?
>> The lady called me and said, "We don't need you to come speak." He said, "We got enough speakers." I said, I said, "Okay." But she said, "We'll still pay you." I said, "No, that's fine. If I'm not coming, you don't need to pay me."
>> I didn't know what happened and why why she didn't want me to come. Then a gentleman that I know, a friend of mine, a few more days later, he said, "Yeah, I heard you not speaking." I said, "No."
He said, "Yeah." He said, "You know why?" I said, "No." He said she didn't need me to come. Cuz someone told that lady that I was sending girls to Toronto, crooing girls are sending them to Toronto.
>> He told me that it hurt >> cuz I was giving up of my time and my story to try to help these people.
>> And just as fast as I people were saying that I'm doing decent stuff to help. And even in the paper they said an ex-pimp speaks. My [ __ ] name is Robert Brown.
Not an ex-pimp. I'm a guy that had experience and I wanted to get back and help. Don't call me a pimp. I'm a person.
>> So when when you label people like that, you try to make them garbage. They're not garbage. Wow. This they're in a situation. However they got there, chose or manipulated from from knowing their uncles or brothers or whatever. However they got there, they got there, but they're still people. The whole trauma thing is going on with everybody, especially in small communities and stuff, you know, because it's all you see, >> you know, and and us black people, we've gone through, you know, our ancestors gone through everything. And we want to know who the real pimp was, it was a [ __ ] slave master, you know, when when when our wife or our daughter or someone's getting raped, >> you know, and or they're making another black guy rape a woman so they can have a kid, they were the pimps. This stuff didn't start just in this community. Oh, no. It was it was handed down through a lot of trauma, through a lot of abuse.
Abuse, a lot of confusion.
>> So, when we start pointing fingers, you know, where how do we go back and fix it?
>> So, you know something? I'm I'm I'm going to pull back and I'm going to correct myself. Society calls them pimps. textbooks calls them pimps, but in retrospect they're Yes, they are people, but they are underneath a um not even a guys underneath underneath the human trafficking could be labor trafficking, sex trafficking, financial trafficking.
Human trafficking is just is just a word of the scope. When somebody is forced into sex trafficking for the benefit of somebody else, whether it's a male or whether it's a woman, they are definitely what you call a trafficker because you have you have >> a trafficker. That's fine.
>> Okay. I Okay.
>> Forcing someone to do something.
>> Yes. Right. And then you, like I said before, you have women who have, you know, probably was was trafficked. They got away from their trafficker. And it's sometimes hard to live to try to live a normal life after being trafficked for however long. And because the same thing happened to me. I had a drug addiction.
I was homeless. So I chose to post ads.
I chose to sell myself. Not and I didn't have no I at that time I wouldn't I never there was no traffic nobody trafficking me. I chose to do that. Do you ever did I ask a question for you?
You you hung out with other other ladies and stuff that were in the prostitution?
>> Yes, I did.
>> Did you ever tell them how to put a condom on properly or how to what the right money to charge for the uh for the service or whatever?
>> Nope.
>> You never ever told them? No.
>> You're hanging out with a girl and and and she tells you you don't you guys don't have conversations.
>> Well, you know something? I I'll I'll kind of take that back because I um you know I was around a girl and I noticed uh you know for for 20 minutes you're charging 60 bucks. Like why are you doing that? You know >> you correct you corrected on on on >> you know I asked her why why are you charging?
>> But did you correct her on what she should be charging?
>> No but what I did I said to her for me to do 20 minutes I'm charging them $150.
Why are you charging so low? Because I'm not making money like you wind it.
>> Mhm. You know, >> so that even that little bit information, >> you know, that's the same thing that so-called pimps do.
>> They they tell the girls the proper ways to put condoms on and and then you also and they they tell the proper prices.
So, do you know that most women that get into prostitution >> are introduced by prostitution by other women?
>> Um, >> do you know that? That's a fact. Well, I I won't >> most most friends can convince their their girlfriend to go that way to go that way.
>> Yes. Sometimes that sometimes that is true.
>> And it's most girls that are in it that induce produces introduces another girl to a guy that say this girl wants to work for you. Whatever. It's mostly the girls that are setting this up >> nowadays. Yes, it is. because you other than a woman being in a relationship with a guy, that's why like for me with the work that I do now and um me trying to help victims because that's what I call them, victims who are being trafficked, it's really hard um for me to look at them and say, "Hey, do you realize that you're being trafficked?"
Because they don't see themselves as victims. They will tell me, and I have them tell me many times, "No, that's my boyfriend. This is we're trying to build this together. So, I'm out here working to make sure that we have money so that we can have this. We can own our own condor. We can own our own home."
>> You do know that some of those things, those relationships are out there and they are working that way. Not everything ends up terrible.
>> No. May maybe not, but >> not all those situations. There were some smart women out there.
>> I know women with their own houses, their own business, and that's what they do. And they pimp other women.
>> And I do and I do know of women that are out there pimping other women because I'm not going to >> man. It's not a man thing.
>> One time it used to be, but now women are engaged in this.
>> What are you What are What are you looking to stop? You're not look or what you looking to help. Do you want to educate women not to get there or educate women how to get away from it?
>> So to be honest, that works both ways.
What I'm trying to do through my organization, like I spoke the other, Empowerment for Hope Society, >> um is to be working with other organizations that are doing the same thing that I'm doing. Um because I'm tired of us working in silos. That means I'm over here, they're over there, and they're over there. I'm tired of that.
Why do we have to wait until I get a phone call to say, "Hey, um, I need your support. When I think my daughter's being groomed, my daughter, you know, was with this guy and now they're gone and they're took off and they're gone to Toronto. Why do I have to wait till that place? I'm tired of that. So by I can't do this work by myself. This is just not organizations um responsibility, even us as community members. Um, it's our responsibility to serve and to protect with dignity with, you know, with to be able to help.
>> So, as your organization, it's your responsibility to serve and protect.
>> Yes.
>> The police.
>> No, no, no, no, no, no. When I say serve and to protect, that's me me saying serve with dignity, serve with equity, serve with with the knowledge of my own lived experience to put into place prevention measures. so that I don't have to get those phone calls anymore, >> you know, and if like for instance, let's hypothetically say I was working with you.
>> You've been on that side. I have I'm a survivor. So, how can we put our lived experience and the knowledge that we know how this happens together to save somebody else's child? That's serving and protecting.
>> There's something else that happened when I was um um going to schools and speaking. Uh, this lady wanted me to come help because they were trying to get some new charge to come through. I think they might have come through now. They wanted the the guy to be charged for trying to pick up the girl. I think that charge that that may have came through like a John. You know what I mean?
>> Right.
>> And then the girl the girl that's out there trying to sell herself, she gets nothing. But the guy that's trying to pick her up, he he gets in trouble. I had a problem with that. I mean, like if she wasn't out there, he wouldn't be trying to pick her up. So the so the thing of it is is my whole thing is prostitution is not about black men. I should say my whole thing. I want to make a point. Prostability is not about black men because the truth of the matter is there's more white men that put their women out there than black men because men are hooked on drugs and their girls go make the money. It's the same thing. There's more white guys doing that than black guys. you'll find more black guys having a bit of relationship with with the girls and and the more abusive things happening with these white relationships. So, I'm very tired of um North Preston, East Preston getting this bad rep when you do the homework, the research, more of the stuff is going on in the white communities than the black.
So, one of the things that's that I definitely got your back on >> people that, you know, adopt kids or rape kids. Yeah. anyone that rapes any [ __ ] body, you know, and and and even guys that taking girls and forcing them into prostitution, kidnapped and all that, >> you know, their family members should put a [ __ ] bullet in their head. You know what I mean? Like that there's no when you do that, when you violate somebody, you rape someone, cuz I've been molested as a kid, so I have no [ __ ] love or or you want to grab a woman and rape her, you need to be dead.
>> You need to be dead cuz there's something wrong with you >> right >> now. If you want to take a woman and force her and make her do something she don't want to do, then you need to be dead as well. There's something wrong with you. Society don't [ __ ] need you. But there are men out there that learn how to play the game and learn how to have relationship with women and then then it is what it is. It's a business.
>> It's a business. Not everybody may not like how the business, but it's a business. It happens. There's guy girls that go out there and their guys know what they do. They have relationship.
That's what it is. But if you're making somebody do something or raping somebody, kill the [ __ ] I mean, like, what else can you do with them?
>> Well, you know something?
>> Put them in jail. What is the program in jail for them?
>> Okay, so look at it this way. Yeah. You know, you say you say kill them, you know, and that is because of emotion.
That is because of the No, no, just let me finish. That's because of the disgust that is associated with raping a woman, forcing her into prostitution. Now look at it from the victim or the survivor's point point of view. How when when for instance when when I press charges against my trafficker for raping me, it caused me to go back into it triggered something in my mind that I literally was able to sit down and recount eight years prior to when he trafficked me from the age of 15 to 17. So when he got a guilty verdict, that was the first step.
>> It wasn't for wasn't for for prostitution.
>> It was for prostitution and it was for rape. Yes, it was. Back in those days, it was called living off the avails of of human trafficking. Okay.
>> You know, cuz this happened to me over 30 some years ago.
>> For that, did they?
>> Yes, he did. And the point that I'm trying to make is when I heard that guilty verdict, when I knew he was going in jail, I wasn't all that happy because he was going to jail. For me, that was my first step >> stone for healing, for healing. I'm 57 years old. I'm going to I I I still have a therapist that I talk to every two weeks because I'm always going to be on a healing journey. You know, I'm trying to heal that little girl that couldn't protect herself. I am now like every oh you had a big mouth when you say what you want, but I can, you know, now I can protect myself, you know. Oh, I wish somebody would come up in my face now. I couldn't protect my I'm much strongerly strong mentally, >> emotionally I may be a little all over the page sometimes, but at the end of the day I I mean I'm physically I might have the strength to, you know, but mentally I get it. I'm here now.
>> I I' I've been to psychiatrists and talked to different stuff and talk to people that come in jail situations and stuff, >> but can't nobody be with me 24/7.
And I've learned to time travel in my thoughts >> and bring them thoughts back and and and when I'm thinking about them, I know how they trigger me. I know how I feel >> and I can I learn to say, "Rob, you're feeling mad. You're feeling bad. You want to do something or this this hurts.
You're feeling embarrassed." Then I then I bring that thing and I can deal with it within myself. This this is all this is, man. It's over. That ain't going on no more. Let it go. You're doing good.
Keep going. But when I say they should be dead, if they don't change, what are they going to continue to do to our people, to to other children? So if if you can't find a way to help, if you don't make the true commitment to change, I'm going to tell you, you're better off dead cuz you don't help the society.
>> And not one more child should be molested. not don't want one [ __ ] more child to be molested so someone can go to jail and get help. It needs to stop.
>> And you know that that that's true. Now you see what me and you're doing. We're doing this podcast. We're talking about Yes. about what I've been through.
You're talking about what you've been through, you know, as as a child. And and my whole goal, you know, with with my organization is to put prevention measures in place so another child is not whisked off and forced to be into sex trafficking. Having more men stand up behind women like myself who's a survivor. Like that's that's a call to action. That's what I've always been looking for because I'm only one person and I'm a woman and I could have three, four, five, six different survivors surv, you know, and we're all trying to do the same thing, but we need more than that. This is not an organization problem.
Do you have a a kind of thing where family can come together and have meetings where if >> maybe something's going on with the the girl or boy and the mother or father don't know, can you put a meeting together to try to bring this conversation to light?
>> I do that.
>> You're doing that?
>> I I I do that. I do that because and that has saved lives.
>> We can't change the past, >> but we can use the past to make the future better.
>> Exactly. We we can, you know, being someone I mean, I'm just thinking about, you know, when someone convinces you to do something and then you grow up and you think back about it, you know, I have a lot of shame about that stuff.
>> Mhm.
>> Because I'm still dealing with this stuff all these years later.
>> Exactly.
>> And I'm sure they're dealing with something, too. But you know what?
That's not my problem. You need to [ __ ] deal with it so you don't keep pushing this [ __ ] out on on children and and people that you go around.
>> And you know what?
>> We need to be better people. Mhm.
>> I need to be better. Yeah. I need to be better first for myself and better for my children.
>> Mhm.
>> So, if I'm going to share this stuff and I'm saying this how I feel about this stuff now and I got some big strong boys, they're going to know how daddy feels about it, >> right?
>> So, they ain't going to let no one be abused in front of them.
>> Yeah.
>> And if you guys are doing any stupid [ __ ] like this, hey, you better not even let me hear about it because I'll kick your ass myself. I'm talking to my sons.
I'm honest with my [ __ ] I'm come up with it so you can know better.
I'm exposing myself >> to help you >> and we need more men like you, you know, to >> But with that, I I want to cut you off.
I'm I'm not This is my organization.
>> Yeah.
>> To come in my safe space.
>> Yeah.
>> And to talk and to share my experiences and hope they can help somebody else.
Yes.
>> Because I have my my thing with religion and different religions and whatever.
And you get around people. I find people to be hypocrites and phony and untrustworthy. I'm like, I'm tired of this. I'm tired of all the foolishness.
I want to do something myself that I can be in control of and have people around me that I can trust and and we can put a message out there and our own safety. I don't have to answer to anybody else.
>> And that's good. I I commend you for I would love >> for doing for doing base talks, you know. I I I I watch what you what you put out there because you're keeping it real, you know, and th you know, this episode with with with you and I, this touches on a lot of stuff, not just from the sex traffing, but the stuff that you and I went through as young kids, you know, because it takes a lot to be vulnerable >> and even saying even saying that you me and you went through something and we're sitting here, we're family, we talking about this >> and I've shared my story on on here before. Yeah. And I've told different and they know.
>> There's only one.
Me and one of my brothers have talked about a little bit.
>> No one else come and put their arms around me. No one else come and said, "Brother, we didn't know that you were going through that. We're sorry. We had our own pain." Nobody.
You know how that makes me [ __ ] feel when I can get on here and share stuff and you still don't come to see my pain.
You still don't try to to to love me, right? I'm the youngest of all you [ __ ] And I got to get up here and try to do something now.
>> So that's why I don't take family too serious.
>> Yeah.
>> What is our relationship?
>> Can I trust you?
>> Oh, God. Yeah.
>> I'm not talking to you.
>> Oh. Oh, okay.
>> Talking talking about family. Can I trust you? Will you do what you say you're going to do?
>> Will you have my back if I need to have my back?
>> Not just only in doing something bad, but if I need help and I have brothers that that are there for me. I love them.
>> I have sisters that can be there for me and love them.
>> But I don't love them all the same.
>> What is our relationship?
>> Yeah.
>> What is our relationship? I'm the youngest. I expected and I look back now. Why didn't somebody come help me?
Why didn't you ask me how I was doing in school?
I mean, yeah, they had their own traumas. I'm sure, you know, how do you feel not having no dad?
>> Why don't you come help me?
>> Yeah. So, I have a lot of hate, but I balance it out now and say, you know what, Robin, you can't go that way. You can't change the path, >> but keep going forward and don't keep doing the thing and don't let the past come back in your life. And try to do the best you can that it don't end up in your children's life. You know what I mean? So, when then you get only tell your story. Some people may say you're full of [ __ ] and all that happened and this and that and they don't like you saying certain things, but man, we go through things. We've been through things >> and uh I'm sure there are things you could say about people that you haven't said.
>> Yep. And that's true. But >> you you say we we as people that have been hurt, we still we still try to protect other people >> and you know and and it's to be honest, I ain't even trying to protect no one.
But because you talk >> But we don't have to we don't got to say people's names.
>> Yeah. But >> the message is more important.
>> Exactly. And because we we've been through some trauma, like I'll speak for myself, you know, there's times when because I've shared it and I've shared it and I've shared it that um some things, you know what I mean? Like I my because of memory and the trauma, it it blanks out. You know, certain things when I'm when I'm in therapy, for instance, that that have come up and I would say, "Oh my god, I remember this."
And it and it puts me into almost uh like oh my god like like a like something like a trance like I not a trance but like I I I I'm inside myself and I'm literally back in that place where it happened at because I shut it out because it was too traumatic for the little girl. But Wendelyn remembers that. I'm talking in the third sense but you know but the little person inside of me blanked that out. you.
>> But I remember, >> you know, the the lady, the wonderland that you, you know, spoke crack and do drugs and do that. You know, you're a bit of a hustler.
>> Yeah, I used to be.
>> Do do you feel that people still feel that you're hustling? You're you're hustling this whole thing to to get on in front of cameras to get some money coming through. Do you feel some people still feel you're a hustler and you shouldn't be taken seriously?
>> You know what, Robert? Maybe there is.
But I'm going to tell I'm going to say this.
No weapon formed against me is ever going to prosper. Greater is he that is in me than he that is >> Don't go there. We were doing good.
>> No, I'm I'm going to go there.
>> You go there with the religion.
>> No scripture. That's a scripture.
>> Okay. It's a scripture.
>> That's a scripture.
>> You done brought this up. I was going to be a good boy.
>> I want you to tell me who who is this he that's >> God. I'm talking about God. We're not here to >> you. You you got to watch some of my stuff and how you don't have to, but how I've come to understand who the devil is and who God is and how I balance it out within myself and how I see the God and devil in people >> is in their actions >> in their mindset and how they carry things out >> and and you know looking and anybody uh going through any problem. I I know there's church uh groups and stuff and people are going through stuff and they go there and they get food and they get hugs and they get they get people that actually care. But at the end of the day, do they care? Because you got to leave there with yourself. You got to deal with yourself. Ain't no Jesus.
Ain't nobody showing up and say, "I'm going to take all your problems away."
We got to find the solution for itself.
The people that we actually can trust.
The information that actually takes us further instead of further ahead instead of back, you know. So, you know, when when I hear people act all religious like their help is going to come from outside source, some magical source, it bothers me cuz nobody come to save me. I had to make the changes and fail and make the changes and fail and end up in places over and over and over. Nobody showed up and did nothing for me. I had to make the choice and then people say, "Oh yeah, he's trustworthy. We'll give him work. We do this." People started like coming to me after I showed >> my ability to be that someone they want to be around.
>> Nobody came to me when I was doing all that crap.
>> Yep. And you know what? Yep. And people didn't come to me when I was doing all that crap. They may have came with their false masses on and with their narcissist.
>> That's how I see religious people.
>> Yeah. And and you know what? Masses.
>> And guess what? And there are some that are like that. And you know, and I know for myself, you know, I can't trust man.
>> Okay. That's why I put my faith in God.
I know that if it wasn't for the grace and the mercy of God, I wouldn't even be sitting in front of you today.
>> Yeah. But how does I I want could you say this? Yeah. and you want to help people, tell me how this grace and mercy of God works. If you don't make a change and go in a direction yourself, I don't want to sit here right now. Who's going to pay the bills? Who's going to feed me if I don't get up and do something?
>> Exactly. Yeah. Okay. No. No. Let me tell you something.
>> Come to do nothing for you.
>> It's it's a false sense of trust in God.
Everything will work out.
>> No. Trust. Finding someone to trust in that can actually help you and say, "Yeah, things will work out." When I see people like you doing things, I see God.
>> When I see people killing people, I see Satan because I see the works >> of of of the devil.
>> You know what I mean? So, looking for something to come, you know, there's a you mentioned something about the dogs when you walk in the house.
>> You know, black people got this thing about one day, not not black people, religion had this thing that one day that uh the rapture is going to happen >> and it is >> and they going to be You said it is >> and and the rapture is going to take place. I'm glad you said that. But the the not cuz I believe it cuz I don't.
But the the Lord the the uh they're going to be up in the sky >> after the rapture comes. They're going to be up there with Jesus floating around in the sky. And we got black people. These people that say this, they're scared of snakes. They're scared of spiders. They're scared of dogs. You mentioning the dogs when you come to host.
>> Oh, I think they won't get on planes.
Now all of a sudden one day you gonna be floating up there in the sky. You know what are you going to do if this were to happen? You'd be up there yelling your ass off that you're going to fall. It's foolishness. And when you understand about this character Jesus, because it's one of my favorite characters >> because I understand that I am the only Jesus that I have to understand and meet. When this character Jesus comes back, according to the religious story, he ain't coming back to die again.
>> Coming back to kill.
>> He's bringing his army. He's come to kill people. He's coming to wipe things out. So that's where I get this mindset from. Not that that this character Jesus anything, but people got to wake up and people got to start taking care of themsel and stop being scared and thinking something's going to happen.
There's different laws and stuff that protect us. You have the right to protect yourself.
>> Mhm.
>> You have the right to someone's raping you, take a knife, and put it through their [ __ ] head. You'll be all right if you can prove what's going on. So the only Jesus that going to come back that I understand is the mindset of growth that we have to do for ourself. But you're never going to hear me waiting on anybody come to save me.
>> See you. And hey, and I respect how you feel because that's you, >> you know, but I know for me >> what has helped me, >> okay?
>> I know who I believe in because I knows who I am. But people helped you, right?
>> Yes. People have named God. Yes.
>> Could be Tom, Tim, John.
>> There was people that were put in place to >> Well, why can't you see those people as the help?
>> I do see them as the help. I look at the I look at my therapist. She's helping me.
>> Can't Why can't that be the for the Why can't that be the God in your life that's helping you? Why do we >> Why do we displace people that care about us and give this god some, >> you know, credit for it? Why? You know why? I I I have to give I'm able to love you. I'm able to care about you. Yeah.
>> I'm able to protect you.
>> And then when then when I do all that, you say, "Thank God." You know, that pisses me the [ __ ] off. I risk myself to help somebody and they think some God that makes no sense to me.
>> I'm the God that helped you.
>> Wow. Okay. So, let me put it to you this way. Okay.
>> And I respect everything that that you're saying because that that is your own views. That's your own that's your own belief.
>> I've been down that route.
>> But I Yes. And because of that, you have your, you know, you you've been you probably been barred with a lot of falsivities and now that has made you feel the way that you feel and you feel that that you're you're a god. But >> I feel >> or you believe you're a god.
>> I know >> you're okay. So you know >> something believe in something.
>> Okay. So now you know that you're a god.
>> I don't worship man because they have they have never they have never >> you to worship me.
>> Yeah. No. And I'm not saying that. Just just hear me out. Um, but I have to trust and I'm always going to trust in God whether I see God or not. I know what I feel. I know when I have a business, okay, I have a nonprofit, >> okay?
>> I have to make other streams of income in order to keep my business going.
>> Okay?
>> You know, whether people say, "Oh, you know, she's out here doing this because she's listen, the government just shut us down. just shut things down for funding. So, I it didn't affect me because I make money from other streams of income.
>> You said you're out here doing stuff.
>> Exactly. But, you know, but even when I might have gas to put in my car, God always makes a way.
>> So, how where does it where does the money come out?
>> Okay. No, no, no, no. I'm I'll use I'll use it for example. Okay. Um there was there was a point la um I'll even tell you last year I was really down and out and I was and I was so depressed and I'm thinking oh my god like how am I going to keep this this business going? I kept going. I kept going and I and I trusted God was going to make a way for me. And you know something >> somebody stepped up and and literally reached out to me and said, "Hey, I have some gas cards. I don't drive.
I'm going to give you these gas cards.
Could you use them?
>> God God made a way for me.
>> Okay. Okay. You never ever told anyone that you were having any kind of financial problems?
>> Yeah, there were some people that I told that I was having financial problems.
>> Did they Did they reach out and help me?
>> Yes, they reached out.
>> Have you looked into energy of life?
Have you ever been thinking about somebody and they just called you out of the blue?
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah. See, energy is a real thing. and and and you feeling like you need something that's out there. Someone's going to pick up on it. Someone's going to feel it.
>> You know, we're all connected in a way that we don't quite understand.
>> The the teachings of religion to me are kindergarten.
They don't know nothing. That's why they're all sick. They're all sick and they can't heal themselves. The character Jesus said, "You can do everything I can do and greater." And he called himself a god. And he called us his brother.
Is my brother any more different than me? If he's a god, I'm a god. People read the scriptures. You listen to these ministers, but you're not getting healthy. You're not getting truth.
You're not getting an understanding of the word.
>> I sorry. I've been able to come off all medications.
>> Me, too.
>> And don't have I didn't even have a doctor anymore.
>> But that don't mean I can go back to drinking liquor. Doesn't mean I can go back to eating all these chips and candies and cheese and not exercising.
>> I've learned some things about life. I learned about sugar. I learned about all this stuff that's killing us.
>> You know, people are going to these buildings and getting their hands laid on to get healed and going home and eating all this grease and fried chicken and stuff. It makes no sense. So, get knowledge, but you understand.
>> And guess what? And and I understand that because people should have knowledge about what's good to eat. you know, your looking out for your cholesterol, looking out, you know, how much sugar intake you take so that you don't get diabetes and all those type of things. I understand that. That's, you know, that that should be like common sense. A lot of people don't don't look at that type of stuff, but at the end of the day, that should be common sense. If you're trying to be healthy, people that are obese, you know what I mean? What do you need to to um start doing besides exercising? Sometimes exercising don't work for people. So, what other kind of things should you take in your diet? Pay attention to your diet. What can you take out o out of what you're eating now to be able to help you with your weight to maintain? Like for instance, I you know, some like last year I was 212bs and it was killing my back. I went from a size 10 up to a size 16. And I was so down on myself. I was just sick of it.
And I said, "Okay, I'm the type of person my weight can go up and down." I stopped playing around with sugar. I had to. And then I started seeing my fingers going back to normal. They're not all swelled up, you know. Okay, I need to take more water intake. I buy cases of water. Now, >> the stuff the stuff you're talking about, you know, if there was a group that has real information and facts on that >> and heard had the studies of people like Dr. Si and different stuff.
>> And when you're talking to young people, >> tell them about the diet because eating a whole bunch of junk actually helps you make terrible decisions. It don't help.
>> You can't be healthy. You'll make healthy decisions with junk in your system, you know? So, there's a lot of stuff you want to help. We want to help people. I want to help people. So when I get on here, I'm going to talk with all different kinds of stuff >> because I don't know who hears me or what they need to hear, >> you know, and anyone that's in a situation and there's lots of religious religious organizations that do a lot of good work to help people with money to help people with food, with shelter, with clothes, that's great.
But I can do that without calling myself any organization. Matter of fact, I do it all the time.
You know the one thing I don't like when people say God bless you.
>> You get your feet you get yourself back on your feet and you come bless me.
>> You know you know why people you know why people say that >> cuz they don't know what they're talking about.
>> No it's it's it's not that because I could even say >> it's just a saying.
>> Yeah. Maybe maybe it is for some people.
If I were to say to you, >> God bless you, Robert, for coming out and doing these base talks because >> number one, you're keeping it real and God is giving you strength.
>> You know, he's given you the, you know, the the knowhow, knowledge.
>> I'm going to tell you, I can't let you keep putting all that stuff in my care.
God ain't giving me all that stuff. I I rather you say, "Thank you, Robert." And that's it. What is this God thing?
Unless you're calling me God, leave a God out of it because I'm the one that took the time to put this together and have people come work with me.
>> I did this. I can love people. I can hate people. I have the power to do that.
>> I have the power to make children, to raise children, to build houses. I can do a lot. I am a creator.
>> So are you. So just be thankful to me.
When you mentioned God, I'm like, she didn't see me. Where did I go?
Thank you, Robert, for putting together base talks.
>> Thank you. Thank you. And you know, and the things that you're doing, I hope that you continue to get help. And you had a good turnout the other night. I don't see you doing anything wrong when you want to save these young girls from from being uh manipulated and kidnapped and raped and things you went through.
You went through those things and a lot of people say that uh God allowed you to go go through that so you can help somebody else. I'm going to tell you something. No, I don't I don't believe that God that God let me go through through those things.
>> Unfortunately, >> life circumstances >> happened and I went through those things. I would never put God in that that God allowed me because that I would never believe that >> those things those things h those things happened to me because of life circumstances >> and you know and now I'm in a place where >> you know even though I do um like um I have therapy I'm I'm a lot more healed than what I was when I started this three years ago because I would just say hey you know I and I burst out crying I wouldn't even be able to sit here and and do this because I'd be too emotional and my vulnerability wouldn't be able to to even be able to talk to you and knowing that you're a guy, you know, I wouldn't have been able to do that. It would have been too much of a trigger.
>> But now I don't shed tears, >> you know, and not because I'm I'm I'm hurt or or anything like that. There's some things that in my story that causes me to stop for a me a minute. And >> you mean you don't cry when you're telling your story? No, but you still cry when you by yourself and stuff.
>> Well, you know what? No, not when I'm when I'm when I'm by myself like that.
See, because I I am healing. I have come so far in my healing journey, you know, >> that I don't sit down and and think about the past and I break down crying.
I don't I think about, okay, >> how can I how can I help this young girl? You know, because while we're talking, one in seven girls are being trafficked while we're talking. And so we've been here for quite a little minute. So, and then I'm thinking, how can I how can I work with people in the community that really want to see our young people grow up, our young girls grow up and not have their life taken from them. You know, those are the things that go through my head. And yes, there's days that I get frustrated, but I think, "Oh my god, when you're not doing enough, how can I what more can I do?" And I get frustrated. that may bring me to tears, but not because of what I went through. Because that for me now is a learning experience because now I use my own lived experiences to try to help and I'm tired of waiting until somebody calls me. I dread my phone ringing sometimes.
>> So what do you do?
>> Call other people.
>> No, you you know I do. Oh yes, I do. I I stay on it.
>> I'm a little bit different than you. I do cry a lot. Crying for me is I rather cry and get the pain out that way than to put in alcohol or fighting or doing something like that. So I can cry and get it out and I can identify with that pain that that's coming through. That's what you're going with. Have a little cry. You're okay, buddy.
>> So I can I can do that, but I don't desire to find people to fix and and see what all the problems going on because I'm just one person. I have 11 grandchildren, seven children, >> a best friend, a wife. I have a lot going on. I have a business >> and when I'm taking care and best I can all those things >> I'm doing my part.
>> I'm doing my part. When I help my sons, when I help my daughters, when I help my grandchildren, I really am doing my part. I really am breaking the cycle.
>> And I rather break the cycle in my own home >> before I do anything in anybody else's home. and and and and and hey, I I feel the same way when I'm helping my daughter, you know, who has two small children, you know, I have my only grandson is autistic and non-verbal.
That sometimes brings me to tears because I wonder like when is he going to talk like is he I yes, I believe he's going to talk, you know, because it's a speech delay. I get that. I study up on this stuff so that I can be like uh more educated, you know, and I help her because I imagine and I watch stuff about parents with autistic children like, you know, what they go through, the thoughts that go through their mind, the worries that they have when their kids are in school that especially kids that can't speak, you know, and it makes me float back to when things happened to me as a young child, you know, and I think, oh God, I pray that nothing never happens to that little boy, that nobody ever touches him, cuz he'll never be able to tell us.
>> Pray Prayer is useless without works.
You know that, right? Faith is useless without works. And and and you're putting uh some of the things that you want to see happen to work.
>> You know, >> we don't we won't agree on everything.
And anybody that comes on here, you know, I'm not going to agree with them everything and they're not going to agree with me, but I'm I'm going to let them say that what they say to the most point. Yeah, it's going to be edited, but I'm going to let them say say what they I'm going to let them say what they want to say. And at this moment right now, you know, there's many people out there that want to help you. How do they get a hold of you? You know, you know, so this is your this how can they help you?
>> So, um, how people can get a hold of me is through our website, which is, um, www.mpowerment forhope.ca CA or you can reach out to me through email empowerment [email protected].
Um you know there is a part on our website where you can write to me and I most definitely will get back to you.
>> Thank you for coming on Windland. And if there's anything else you you want to say >> no no I appreciate you having me here. I do. Thank you.
>> Oh the the lady over there Shauna just pointing to the bait challenge >> man. You know, everybody, everybody can offer you the base challenge. I want to offer you the base challenge.
>> Oh my god, man. You guy playing games. Oh my lord.
Don't make me >> I'll offer to you. I mean, chances are >> how now, how am I going to lift that? I have to hold that in a certain way cuz I definitely ain't doing that with one hand. I have to that.
>> Yeah. Know, it's a lot.
>> Well, I watch you. No, >> it's a lot of weight. And I have I have it there because things in life are hard. Yeah.
>> And when you and for me just to be able to do that without the steroids and stuff means a lot to me.
>> And if I can have any man or woman sit there and can curl those without steroids in them.
>> No, but I know I can't.
>> Yeah. No, it's uh it was good to have you come all wonderland. Uh >> you know, I know we're saying family and stuff, but we never really talk much.
>> No.
>> And we know each other our whole life, >> right?
>> And I'm sorry I didn't know all the things you were going through. Maybe I could have helped cuz I was definitely out there in the world and I had influence. So maybe I could have helped.
>> But maybe the same way I missed it on not helping my own daughter. I missed it on helping you and for that I'm sorry.
>> Oh, cuz man, you know something? No, you're going to bring me to tears.
>> No, don't do that. You're going to bring me to tears. I appreciate you though >> and I appreciate the work that you're doing through Bass Talks.
>> I really do because you know when I hear feedback about Wow. like you know the people that he brings on here like this guy is like keeping it real because it's real stuff. It's real everyday stuff that's happening that has happened you know so I appreciate that and I thank you.
>> You're welcome. Thanks for coming on.
>> That's another you got to tell yourself you know you got to tell yourself I quit. You got to tell yourself you got to be your own boss. You got to be your own boss. You got to be your own boss.
>> I feel you, man. Listen, thanks for the talk, bro. I appreciate it. See you soon, K.
>> Thanks for calling me, man.
>> Oh, thank you. All right, man.
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