LaTanya Horace DuBois Sounds Alarm on Sex Trafficking Ahead of World Cup
LaTanya Horace DuBois, executive director and founder of The Silent Task Force, joined host The Big O on The Pop-Up! last week for a discussion on the pressing issues facing Seattle’s Black women. Broadcast from the Black Media Matter studios, her appearance was both a report on the organization's multifaceted work and a stark warning about the upcoming World Cup festivities.
The World Cup: A Rising Threat
The centerpiece of the interview was a warning regarding the World Cup.
"Seattle is already the second most prolific sex trafficking in the country,” she said, expressing deep concern that local, county, and state officials are "behind the curve" in preparing for the influx of millions of visitors, which historically correlates with a surge in human trafficking.
DuBois highlighted that young Black girls are among the most vulnerable and highly trafficked groups in Washington state. She sounded the alarm on grooming tactics occurring in schools and online, warning that traffickers are "bulking up" their human supply in anticipation of the global event.
Systematic Failures and Local Action
DuBois was consistently critical of institutional responses to Black health and safety. She pointed to significant disparities in gynecological health and the high rates of Black women and children experiencing homelessness, often hidden through "couch surfing" that disqualifies them from certain city services.
"The medical system does not care about Black bodies. They love to research us,” she said.
To combat these issues, the Silent Task Force has joined a Black woman-led collective called STEE (Stronger Together Ending Exploitation). The collaborative includes several local organizations focused on behavioral health, substance use, and support for prostitution survivors.
A "Cradle to Grave" Mission
DuBois detailed the expansive scope of The Silent Task Force, a Black woman-led organization that provides services described as "cradle to grave.” The organization operates several key programs, including:
Youth and Elder Support: Youth programming in schools and detention centers, alongside gardening and nutritional initiatives for elders.
Economic Development: A pre-apprenticeship program that recently celebrated five young men entering the workforce with secured jobs.
Food Security: Direct food distribution to apartment complexes and local churches to reach Black residents who may not access traditional food banks due to social stigmas or lack of mobility.
Housing Advocacy: Managing referrals for a tiny house village in Skyway, which DuBois claims is the most successful in the state for transitioning people into permanent housing.
Upcoming Community Engagement
DuBois urged the community to take a proactive role in their own protection. The Silent Task Force is hosting a Community Town Hall on June 5th at the Garfield Community Center from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., aimed to educate the public on identifying signs of trafficking and understanding the impact of the World Cup.
"If we wait for anybody else to do it, it ain’t going to happen," DuBois said, emphasizing the need for "people-powered solutions" and increased funding for organizations that directly serve the Black community.
Learn more about The Silent Task Force at thesilenttaskforce.org
Catch The Pop-Up! weekday nights at 9 p.m. on the Converge Media YouTube channel.
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