When we hear the words “human trafficking,” we often think of sexual abuse and exploitation. When we hear the word “slavery,” we think of the oppressive use of forced manual agricultural labor from the 19th century. But here in 21st century America, children and young adults are being enslaved and being trafficked for their labor at tasks as inconspicuous as bussing tables at a nearby restaurant. This was Elijah’s story: a childhood spent working in the restaurants of a religious organization, away from his family and frequently being moved from state to state. Elijah shares his story of silence, shame, abuse, and ultimately escape from the human trafficking of slave labor. Elijah Muhammad is an aspiring motivational speaker who is truly an example of the saying, “succeeding against all odds.” He spent his childhood and early adulthood in a human trafficking cult, that dictated every aspect of his life. Elijah’s story was told for the very first time when he served as a contributor on A&E’s “Cults and Extreme Beliefs.” He has aided in freeing others from similar enslavements and volunteers a great deal of time advocating for other victims of human trafficking. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx