Human trafficking is modern slavery that takes different forms worldwide, from forced labor or commercial sex trade to organ harvesting, and it affects about 30 million people today, among them about 10 million children according to estimates. While human trafficking occurs in every country, it may look different depending on each region.
The concept of slavery has not disappeared, as modern day slavery takes place in various forms such as prison labor.
The legality of past laws surrounding slavery are debated in comparison to modern standards. While lawyers representing the past may cite measures taken, the treatment and ethical considerations of enslaved people are still the main topic of criticism.
The author discusses the unresolved theological questions about slavery and race that still existed in the 18th and early 19th century such as whether there were a black Adam and Eve or an Indian Adam and Eve, which justified the subjugation of different people.
In a discussion about the notion of taking responsibility for historical wrongs, it is pointed out that it's a one-directional idea that is only present in Western societies. Furthermore, other societies such as China and those that have been involved in slavery historically do not exhibit a similar notion of taking responsibility.
During the 18th century, discriminatory legislature was implemented in order to control and limit the increasing power of communities of free people of color in slave societies such as those found in San Domingue, Haiti. This included liberty taxes, limitations on professions and activities, naming conventions, and even restrictions on dress and home furnishings.