Girls Are Not for Sale: Inspiration Through Music

It was 2:30 PM on a Friday afternoon and time for my phone interview with Martha B. I didn’t get a response the first time I called, but she immediately called me back. The voice on the other end was that of a young woman with a sweet spirit.

Although she was only three years my junior, she referred to me as Ms. Dixon until I told her that it was ok to call me Risa. Polite, intelligent, well-spoken, and extremely kind were the adjectives that came to mind as our interview progressed. I would have never thought that this lovely young woman was a victim of child sex trafficking at the tender age of 14. She told me about her journey from being in “the life” to overcoming her trials with the help and support provided by GEMS to recording a song to address the issue of child trafficking with the great Mary J. Blidge.

GEMS (Girls Educational and Mentoring Services) is a program dedicated to helping thousands of girls in the United States escape the life of child prostitution and become women who love themselves and are assets to their communities. “This is to Mother You” is a song originally written by Sinead O’Connor. She donated this song to GEMS in order to raise awareness of human trafficking of American girls. Martha B shares with GGG how she triumphed over the darker times in her life and her experience recording a song with one of her idols, Ms. Mary J. Blidge.

Risa: What led you into that lifestyle?

Martha: Like a lot of American teens, I was going through a lot of household issues. My mom was going through her own personal issues plus she [was] trying to raise me and fight her own personal demons at the same time. I ended up going to a youth shelter. The youth shelters [are] pretty much where pimps prey for vulnerable girls. It looks like [the girls] don’t have that family setting because [they] wouldn’t be in a youth shelter if [they had one]. [The pimps] tell you things, and they promise you things. They get with you and tell you “I love you, and I would never hurt you”. [They tell you] I’m a pimp and this is what I do and you have to bring more money into the household. Sometimes, they will just spring it on you depending on that individual pimp, but pretty much that’s how I got into it. I was in a youth shelter and a man approached me and saw that I was in a shelter. [I was] young and [had] no family members around. The whole ACS situation could have [happened] at any moment and he caught me before it did.

Risa: How old were you?

Martha: I was 14.

Risa: How long were you in the life?

Martha: I was in the life on and off for 5 years.

Risa: How did you survive and make it through during those years?

Martha: [First], it was on and off. [Second], I had a game plan at all times. It wasn’t like this [was] a career choice for me. I was living with GEMS, going to school, getting my GED, and GEMS was helping me with employment. I found a couple of jobs while living there, and I was working. [I] was eventually able to move on my own and get back in contact with my mother and with my family. [I worked on] building a relationship with them. It wasn’t like I always felt like I was [going to] let that game or that lifestyle bring me down. I always felt [that there had to] be something better and you have to just continue fighting until you get to that better.

Risa: How did you find GEMS?

Martha: I was arrested, and I told the officers [my real age and about my situation]. I got transferred to family court, and I was in a juvenile detention center. GEMS was recommended after a couple of weeks in there. That’s how I got to GEMS. I was mandated to them. Even after I finished serving [my time with GEMS], it became more than just a mandated program to me. It became more than just sitting around and waiting for my time to go by while I was on probation. I started really feeling it. I started getting into it. There wasn’t a lot of programs out there that was like GEMS and I never heard of or saw a program that does what GEMS does. You have counselors that understand what you been through, and they’re there to help. Those people that work at GEMS all know where each other came from, and it builds a comfort zone. They are not surprised by what you tell them or judgmental.

Risa: How has GEMS helped you to become the woman that you are today?

Martha: They definitely helped me to get [my] GED. Rachel, other staff members, my peers, the girls younger than me, [and] the girls I looked up to when I got to GEMS [made it] a family environment. [They] help me like, “You need some employment. We got you on this, [or] come through [because] we have job openings [to send you to and tell you about].” I mean, if I needed interview clothes, a coat, [or] anything, I could go to GEMS. To know I got that backbone and that support, that’s all I need. That’s how they helped me by just being there [for me].

Risa: What does singing mean to you?

Martha: Music is my life. Music as a whole to me is a release, but it is also like life to me. It’s like life in riddles, rhymes, and in sound. If I’m feeling sad, I might want to play a bass or hit a tenor note or something. If I’m feeling happy, I might want to hit a soprano note. [Music is] just like another way of communicating. [It’s] another way of letting my feelings go and letting you know how I feel. I have been singing since I was 3. I sang with choirs in schools and for family reunions. I mostly enjoy it for myself. I enjoy writing poems and writing songs. It’s really my life.

Risa: Do you have a ton of journals with your writings?

Martha: Actually, I have a trunk full of journals. I still have songs [and] poems from when I was 12.

Risa: Why is “This is to Mother You” so significant?

Martha: Knowing that Sinead O’ Connor had originally written the song and donated it to GEMS [made me do] research [about her] because I’m kind of young. I was born in ’87. When I did my research, I was like ok she has like a mother role in the music industry right now as far as what she has been through and the songs she has put out there. Mary is another mentor in the music industry. [She has] been through a lot and put it all out there. [It] was a real blessing to get on a song with two icons like that. That’s something that just doesn’t happen to everybody, but it happened to me.

Risa: How was it in the studio with Mary?

Martha: Mary went straight into work [mode]. Her professionalism was off the chain, and she asked if I wanted to come in there, and I was able to watch everything right then and there. Afterwards, we were talking and had our little conversation. I love that lady. I am such a big fan. She is so beautiful inside and out. She is funny [and] cool. We recorded the song in September [while] she was in the middle of [filming] the Tyler Perry movie, “I Can Do Bad All by Myself” and doing the song for the soundtrack for [the movie] “Precious,” but she squeezed “This Is to Mother You” right in between all of that. [She was] coming back [and] forth between LA and NY. The fact that she would squeeze us in [with] such a busy schedule [meant a lot]. She is just a remarkable woman. Not many people would take time out for a charitable event, [especially] knowing that the proceeds are going strictly toward this program, but she still gave her time.

Risa: What are some of your future aspirations?

Martha: Right now, I have been going to a friend or two of mine [to] studios and recording. I have been doing some hooks for them and also been writing to my own instrumentals or their instrumentals. I’m trying to put some of my own music out there right now. I’m not going to say that I’m in the studio every day [because] right now my main focus is getting a job to take care of the right-now life. [When] I get that job, then I can definitely focus on being in the studio more and recording. Right now, I am really just writing and having people email me instrumentals [to write on]. I have a lot to say, and I hope the world is ready to hear it.

Risa: How are you with men and in relationships after everything you have been through?

Martha: [There are] a lot of ups and downs and fighting demons with self. No one is perfect and everyone fights their own demons within themselves. You get over one, [and] you got a new one coming your way. Right now, I’m just focused on getting myself employed, getting right with my family, and getting right within myself. Before I can get right for anyone else, I have to be right within myself.

Risa: What message do you want to send to other young women through this song or just through your life?

Martha: I want to send to young women, men, and people in general that you can never give up in life. You have to always keep your head above water. Don’t ever try to drown or let yourself drown. The only thing we are promised is death and in between [that], we have to make the best of it. Just keep on fighting. Every day is another chance. That’s how I wake up every morning. Every day is another chance. As long as I wake up, I have another chance at achieving my goals and dreams. [Another message is that with] time and education, [you learn to] value yourself, love yourself, and respect yourself.

Human trafficking is a serious issue that is often overlooked. In the United States, between 100,000 to 300,000 young girls are trafficked into the sex trade every year. Over 2,200 children are victims of domestic trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation in New York City alone. Martha B was one of the fortunate ones to escape this life, but there is hope for every young girl who is/was a victim of this life. GEMS thrives on bringing awareness about this issue to the masses and help young women reclaim their lives.

To learn more about GEMS and purchase the song “This Is To Mother You” featuring Martha B, go to their website at http://www.gems-girls.org.

Written by Risa Dixon