Modern-Day Slavery Museum

Historic City News readers are encouraged to visit the campus of Stetson University in Deland this Thursday, October 6th, for a perspective on modern-day slavery among farmworkers.

The traveling “Florida Modern-Day Slavery Museum”, which is housed in the back of a 30-foot truck, will be parked in the Carlton Union Building circle, 131 E. Minnesota Ave., from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. for students, faculty, staff and community members to visit and explore.

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers created the mobile museum exhibit to raise awareness of the history and evolution of slavery in Florida.

Many farmworkers, mainly immigrants, say that they find themselves in a position of modern-day slavery — mired in poverty due to unfair wages and human rights abuses.

“Students should attend in order to gain awareness of the acts of slavery that occur in the U.S. that nobody tends to acknowledge,” said Steven Carrillo, AmeriCorps VISTA Issue-Based Site Coordinator for the Center for Community Engagement. “It’s a perfect opportunity for students to open their eyes and look beneath the surface.”

Visitors to the museum will have the opportunity to learn about possible solutions to the status of Florida’s farmworkers who find themselves unable to speak up politically for their rights.

The exhibit has traveled around the United States and last year was featured in the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Photo credits: © 2011 Historic City News archive photograph