wow winter 2016

ecause for a long time, I was so focused
on fighting to save them because I felt
like I failed, but they are so amazing, very
supportive, and extremely strong and they
say it’s because of me. They don’t want me
to ever stop fighting for other children, and
other people because they have told me
that I’m really good at what I do and it
makes them proud to call me their mom!
CAP: I’m sure you’ve seen some very
traumatic cases and have seen people
at their most vulnerable! How do you
balance your faith with the awful things
you see on a continual basis?
SS: I’ve always said that I would
never have chosen “this” for
myself, because it’s so difficult,
the passion, drive and burn that
I feel and can’t seem to shake, so
I know that I was called because
the details, stories, victims,
survivors and trauma is so real
and sometimes so heavy, no one
would ask for this if they knew
the cost. The evil that exist in our
world can be difficult to recognize
until it’s up close and being
experienced by some of our most
vulnerable and it breaks my heart.
But I can’t let it consume me or
my efforts, otherwise I won’t and
can’t be effective at helping others
in whatever role or capacity that
I’m supposed to be in.
So first and foremost, I pray for myself
that none of this ever becomes about me,
but always what I was called and chosen to
do on behalf of others, which keeps down
the confusion in spirit and allows me to
operate purposefully, professionally and
not personally. I also have some of my best
conversations with God asking for clarity,
peace, direction and to be connected to
those that can assist me at around 3:30 a.m.
There would be no me, no Sunny Slaughter,
advocate, activist, expert, nothing without
my faith because I’ve learned a valuable
lesson that when everyone else leaves
there’s only Him.
CAP: Of course there is not ALL gloom
and doom associated with what you do.
Give us an example of a happy ending or
a positive outcome that also encourages
you to continue this type of work.
SS: Throughout the years, I’ve done so
many speaking events, television segments
on crime, my TEDx talk and videos that
have been played across the country and
even world until I never know if what I say
matters until, I’m in the grocery and the
cashier says, hey your Sunny Slaughter and
you came and spoke to my class, or in the
restaurant when the waitress remembers
when she was released from federal prison
several years ago and I was the speaker,
and she tells me that she never forgot what
I said, or the man in the post office who
happens to recognize me with no make-up
and looking a mess and takes me by surprise
when he ask is everything okay, because
“
The evil that exists in our world can
be difficult to recognize until it’s
up close and being experienced by
some of our most vulnerable and it
breaks my heart.
”
when he sees me on the news he knows
something is going on. Or when I was at
the Congressional Black Caucus for the
first time last year, along with almost 9,000
people in Washington DC, and a young
woman, screams with excitement because
she recognizes me from a video I did for
the Allstate Champion for Good Award
my friend was receiving in Birmingham,
AL. Now that really caught me off guard.
It’s all of those moments that remind me
YES! Keep going because you are making
a difference.
CAP: What would you say to the
“average” person who doesn’t think that
the type of work you do affects them, their
families, or communities?
SS: What I tell people during my
trainings, speaking engagements or at
every opportunity that becomes available,
is that no individual, family or community
is immune to the ever growing acceptable
threat of evil, crime and injustice that exist.
There is no address for which crime and
injustice cannot show up and either visit
momentarily or exist long term. I’m not
saying that people should operate and live
in fear, just the opposite, everyone must
all be prepared, prayerful and conscious
of their surroundings at all times because
it’s our reality. The unfortunate and regular
occurrence of mass shootings, violence and
injustice that has been experienced by so
many, often invokes empathy, disdain or
even judgment from some, until they or
someone they know becomes the next story
on 6:00, 10:00 or Breaking News. Then
it’s real, it’s painful and they find
themselves no longer “average”
but now either the direct or
indirect victims of the 24 hour
spin cycle and everyone’s public
opinion.
CAP: What advice would you
give someone who desired to go
into advocacy work?
SS: I would say that you should
think long and hard about what
is it that you want to get involved
with and do your research about
the issue, not just locally, but
nationally and internationally.
Then do your research on whose
doing what, and I mean really
invest the time into learning, knowing
and understanding the difference in what
people and organizations say they are
doing, and what they are actually doing.
Ask questions and a lot of them before you
invest your time, energy and finances into
anyone or anything just because you are
passionate about the cause. Make sure they
are helping the people that need it most
and not just helping themselves. Don’t get
caught up in the emotion or rhetoric and if
you really want to make a difference don’t
just write a check. I have a new a slogan
that I am introducing in 2016 about this
very thing “Invest wisely in the matters
of change” and I will be releasing a book
specifically about the cause of human
trafficking and how people need to take
their time and become fully informed.
CAP: What is your go-to scripture –
one that gets you through your most
challenging moments?
42 | WOW! MAGAZINE | WINTER 2016
www.thewowmagazine.com