By Shannon Myung

What comes to mind when thoughts of the 4 th of July emerge? For many Americans, the thought might give the medulla oblongata, the part of the brain that helps to control our heartbeat and breathing, some internal nostalgia from the excitement and joy the fireworks bring, both internally for the soul, and externally for the recipients’ viewing pleasure. Thoughts might gravitate towards a momentary giddy frenzy with the idea of being able to run around with a sparkler or two when the sun goes down, leaving room for the moon to light up the sky, along with the fireworks show. Fireworks can inevitably light the souls it touches with an experience that is unforgettable, both visually and internally. Some would self-diagnose a case of acute nervous anxiety at the mere thought of what goes on before the eyes have a chance to experience that bedazzling beauty and allure. There is, however, a peculiar aspect to all of this: How did the 4 th come to be? Four dates in particular, July 8, 1776, July 4, 1777, The War of 1812, and finally June 1826, marked the introduction of what we now celebrate as the 4 th of July.

July 8, 1776 marks the very genesis of readings of the Declaration at Philadelphia’s Independence Square. Exactly one year later, July 4, 1777, Philadelphia marked Independence Day by adjourning Congress and celebrating with bonfires, bells and fireworks. That momentous day eventually evolved, as many modern-day traditions have, into picnics, contests, games, military displays and yes, fireworks.

Now that we know how the 4 th of July came to be, the focus will turn to something much more sadistic, callous, and horrifying: the fight against human trafficking. Human trafficking is one of those topics that exists, because, well, trafficking exists. Our modern 21 st century society can seem normal to the average human eye and the thought of trafficking can seem so sickening to the average person that it is just not something to fathom. However, human trafficking is a real, modern-day challenge. 51% of victims are women, 28% children and 21% men.

Human trafficking is the process of trapping people using violence, deception or coercion and exploiting them for financial or personal gain. Often, people find themselves caught in this web of deception, because they are desperately trying to escape a poverty-stricken life and that often entails doing whatever is necessary to support family. In some circumstances, victims are promised jobs that they later find out are entirely different from what was envisioned. Circumstances like these force victims to be dependent on traffickers. They enforce the importance of providing victims of human trafficking with economic opportunities and community support to curtail dependency on traffickers, and eventually help them celebrate their independence, much like the United States celebrates its independence every 4 th of July.

There was a time when the 4 th of July did not exist the way it does now. It came to be just like other modern-day holidays, as a way to remember a day when something truly positive and inspirational came to be. Peering from the same lens, there is hope and faith that the world will continue to evolve for the better. There is hope that with time, effort and dedication in addition to passion-driven individuals, much like the ones who support One Bread Foundation, human trafficking will either be eradicated altogether, or will not be what it is today. One way you can support One Bread Foundation is by sharing this blog with friends and family members.

Resources and Further Reading

https://www.britannica.com/science/medulla-oblongata

https://www.pbs.org/a-capitol-fourth/history/history-independence-day

https://www.antislavery.org/slavery-today/human-trafficking

https://www.nytimes.com/article/coronavirus-timeline.html 2021

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10879-016-9338-3