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beverleefernandez 's review for:
Free Cyntoia: My Search for Redemption in the American Prison System
by Cyntoia Brown-Long
There is something to be gained from the good and bad of our life stories. Peaks and valleys define our journey and Cyntoia Brown-Long's story is no different. For me, reading her memoir was like witnessing a transformation of a lost girl into a woman on a mission to reform to judicial system's treatment of minor girls beginning with her experience. I admire Brown-Long's writing because she never comes across as self righteous or smug. She recalled her ordeal as being sexually trafficked with clarity and unabashed honesty.
There are some takeaways that I think are important for understanding her story and the concept of human trafficking in general. For one, most of the time when one hears about sex trafficking there's a smuggling or kidnapping aspect presented. That is not always the case as Brown-Long's story shows that she thought she was in love and this was a way to prove her worth to her "boyfriend". This is a moment where if one is honest they may ask how do I define my value? Is it by accomplishments, approval of other people, career, perceived wealth or lack thereof? For children, are they valued more if they fit a certain description such as being the child of someone society deems worthy of respect? What about in a school setting where a child does not conform to standards? At what point does it become obvious that punishment isn't solving the problem and a new approach is needed? It's easy to point fingers and play the blame game as a reader, but it's not productive so...
I won't call this a criticism but I thought it was questionable how Jaime (her husband) was presented as the catalyst to her acceptance of God. I'm always a little leery of placing that kind of responsibility on a person. It just seems a little too much a fairy tale ending, maybe the word I'm looking for is saccharine.I also realize that people come into our lives to serve a purpose so maybe I'm being a little harsh. I'm thrilled that Cyntoia Brown-Long is free, happy, and is making moves to reform the judicial system. Her story is not for the faint of heart and I do think it's an example of something that man meant for evil that God meant for good. Trusting in His timing is key and that is a lesson that never gets old.
Passages I think are important:
"God, I said, back in my cell, curled up in my yellow jumpsuit, if you let me out of here, I'll tell the whole world about you" (xvii)
"More than anything, I wanted to belong. I wanted to sit down a group of friends and feel like I was accepted for who I was, that I didn't have to try to fit in. But it didn't happen. I felt awkward and alone" (5).
"Maybe their opinions don't count. But what about mine? I wasn't ready to accept that I didn't have to prove my value. After all, I was the one who had screwed up every opportunity that was ever handed to me. I'm the one who walked away from Mommy, who let men tell me how much I was worth. I'm the one who killed somebody, who got myself condemned to life. There had to be more, and I had to show myself. I dreamed of getting into Lipscomb, acing my classes, and proving to everyone how smart I was. Once I got that diploma, everyone would see I was worth more than my life sentence let on. I wouldn't let myself be thrown away. I would make something of myself, whether anyone believed I could or not" (167).
"Until this point, I've been captive to so many unfulfilling roles-outcast Cyntoia, delinquent Cyntoia, convict Cyntoia, heathen Cyntoia. Now I am exactly who and what the Lord called me to be: free Cyntoia" (297).
There are some takeaways that I think are important for understanding her story and the concept of human trafficking in general. For one, most of the time when one hears about sex trafficking there's a smuggling or kidnapping aspect presented. That is not always the case as Brown-Long's story shows that she thought she was in love and this was a way to prove her worth to her "boyfriend". This is a moment where if one is honest they may ask how do I define my value? Is it by accomplishments, approval of other people, career, perceived wealth or lack thereof? For children, are they valued more if they fit a certain description such as being the child of someone society deems worthy of respect? What about in a school setting where a child does not conform to standards? At what point does it become obvious that punishment isn't solving the problem and a new approach is needed? It's easy to point fingers and play the blame game as a reader, but it's not productive so...
I won't call this a criticism but I thought it was questionable how Jaime (her husband) was presented as the catalyst to her acceptance of God. I'm always a little leery of placing that kind of responsibility on a person. It just seems a little too much a fairy tale ending, maybe the word I'm looking for is saccharine.I also realize that people come into our lives to serve a purpose so maybe I'm being a little harsh. I'm thrilled that Cyntoia Brown-Long is free, happy, and is making moves to reform the judicial system. Her story is not for the faint of heart and I do think it's an example of something that man meant for evil that God meant for good. Trusting in His timing is key and that is a lesson that never gets old.
Passages I think are important:
"God, I said, back in my cell, curled up in my yellow jumpsuit, if you let me out of here, I'll tell the whole world about you" (xvii)
"More than anything, I wanted to belong. I wanted to sit down a group of friends and feel like I was accepted for who I was, that I didn't have to try to fit in. But it didn't happen. I felt awkward and alone" (5).
"Maybe their opinions don't count. But what about mine? I wasn't ready to accept that I didn't have to prove my value. After all, I was the one who had screwed up every opportunity that was ever handed to me. I'm the one who walked away from Mommy, who let men tell me how much I was worth. I'm the one who killed somebody, who got myself condemned to life. There had to be more, and I had to show myself. I dreamed of getting into Lipscomb, acing my classes, and proving to everyone how smart I was. Once I got that diploma, everyone would see I was worth more than my life sentence let on. I wouldn't let myself be thrown away. I would make something of myself, whether anyone believed I could or not" (167).
"Until this point, I've been captive to so many unfulfilling roles-outcast Cyntoia, delinquent Cyntoia, convict Cyntoia, heathen Cyntoia. Now I am exactly who and what the Lord called me to be: free Cyntoia" (297).