When we identify with the US government system as people, what do we expect? Many like myself hope that the rights that the constitution gives to me remain to enact regardless of my race, color, gender, religion, and heritage. However, in a country like the United States, the rights that I have may often be overpowered by the broad interpretation of the laws that exist in various parts of the country. These analyses may allow for the laws that are provided by the constitution to change. The views that exist through the states allow for the victim to become the criminal and the criminal to become the victim.

In recent news, the world saw support for a girl, Cyntoia Brown, who faces imprisonment for killing a man at the age of 16. She was tried as an adult, was found guilty, and then was punished with life in prison at the age of 16, and being eligible for parole at the age of 69. Based on underlying factors we would find that this was a fair trial. Without knowing the details of what pushed this girl to murder, it seems almost appropriate that she faces the punishment of life in prison. Regardless of our judgment, do we as a society, do we question what leads a 16-year to commit a crime? Or do we immediately jump to the conclusion that she is guilty?

Like others, I may have stopped and thought this was fair. However, like everyone else, what if I had considered the factors that may have led her to commit murder? But, if I were to honestly stop and find out what drives this girl to commit a crime, some of this I would have asked would include:

Does she have an illness? Did she struggle with the life she had before committed the crime? Was she abused? Did she show signs of aggression? Was she in a gang?

However, the most significant question rises is when we wonder why her case caught the attention of celebrities like Rihanna and Kim Kardashian. When this 16-year-old story first rose in the media, we discovered new facts. In a CNN story titled “Why Cyntoia Brown, who is spending life in prison for murder, is all over social media” By AJ Willingham three exciting facts rose in her case:

1. She is a 16-year-old who faced a childhood of drugs and abuse

2. She was raped and forced into prostitution.

3. She killed her client in self-defense.

As an individual who took the initiative to understand what this girl went through, I was saddened. I felt that through her case, my rights were taken away from me. However, I thought that this is just one story, what about the thousands of other girls who are victims of trafficking face. I also wondered what happens to those who muster the courage to take action and escape the life of prostitution?

It seems that the issues revolving forced prostitution and sex trafficking are becoming a mere norm of our society. However, it isn’t until we put ourselves in the shoes of these victims do we understand the actions that they took.

Thus, is it indeed her fault? Is it the fault of varied interpretations of the laws that exist in this nation that made the victims a criminal? Cynthia, a minority, because of her gender, faces prosecution, does this imply that all minorities within this country have to confront the law and fear injustice?

Therefore, as a minority, I must identify this case as a warning to myself. That as an individual who is a United States citizen, I remain at risk for prejudice because of the skin color, gender, religion, and sexual orientation. Upon hearing this case, and with the current political climate, I hope that such injustices are averted, and required attention is brought to such issues so that we can prevent such injustices from happening. Like Cyntoia Brown, we all deserve to live in a fair society that is given under the United States Constitution.