tavis: good evening. from los angeles, i am tavis smiley. tonight a conversation with shyima hall, whose harrowing story as a child slave is covered in her book, "hidden girl." 43is estimated there are thousand slaves right here in the u.s. at any given time. hyima was one of those living right here with the egyptian family who enslaved her. those conversations are coming up. ♪

>> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. tavis: some sobering stats. 20 one million people worldwide are modern-day slaves. 43,000 in this country a loan. now freeslave and

to tell her story. her book is called "hidden gir " ." thanks for being on this program. talked, and i was so taken by our conversation i thought we would continue this a bit. i want to have you go through this again. how yousome sense of found yourself being sold into slavery in the first base. >> it really started with my older sister. i am seven of 11 kids. egyptrks for a family in by choice. she would pretty much steal money from them, and they gave of either a choice put her in jail or you give her

someone else as a replacement and somebody younger so we can teacher our way exactly how we wanted. tavis: it was either prosecute your older sister for so your replace her, ended up being put up by your parents as replacement for your older sister to payoff this. give me some sense of this family you were given to as a barter arrangement. >> i lived with them in egypt for two years. they were a very wealthy family. pretty much they can do anything but you know you work for them, and they are above you. much is how they are. they didn't care for anybody else's rights other than their

own. lived with them here in the u.s. for two years as well. tavis: for two years you live with them in egypt? you were what age when you got turned over to be their slave? >> eight years old. there foryou stayed two years. you were about 10. how did you end up in the states ? >> they told my parents they are leaving so they are going to take me with them. they arranged everything, and i came over with another guy who to pretty muchm act like he was my dad so it would be ok to come to the u.s. tavis: so they snuck you in? >> pretty much. i came and work for them here. tavis: in southern california.

>> yes. tavis: it's one thing for your parents signed off -- it's one thing for your parents to put you up as repayment as the payment of a debt. it's another thing to let you leave the country with this family. >> i thought about it so many times. the only way for me to take it .as they had 11 kids tavis: as in you weren't going to be missed? >> ready much. of the 11 kids, you're one sister stole the money so was on the run. have you ever thought why of those 10 kids you were the ones offered up? >> when she told her what happened, i was with her.

there was one more younger than me. she was a baby, so it was easy to go, here you go. tavis: your mother went to hear what happened and what the proposal was? you were with your mother at that time? it was kind of wrong place, wrong time? >> ready much. -- pretty much. tavis: you are with this family two years in egypt. you are so not into the country slavethere slave -- their to pay off this debt. tell me what you are doing specifically as they're made. >> i lived with them here in the u.s. in a beautiful home in a beautiful neighborhood. tavis: in l a? orange county? >> it anaheim. orange county. they had five kids.

dad, and my job was to get up, get the twins ready for lunch, close to everything, as well as for the other three girls. one was in college. one was in high school. they are a little older. it is still the same thing. are a kid yourself. you are 10 years old. you are taking care of other kids. >> that wasn't how they saw me. i was there made, and i work for them. i didn't see myself as a kid either. -- i was their maid. tavis: how did they treat you? you are their slave. how did they treat you? >> it was pretty bad. they let you know you work for us and you don't say anything. whatever we tell you, you do it, and you do it right then and

there. tavis: what were your living conditions in this gorgeous house? -- i slept in the garage in a storage room pretty much. nore were no lights, no air, window, nothing. that's where they put me. i want to fast-forward because my time is running out, and i want to encourage people to read your book. there are a number of journalists writing about this issue for years, trying to focus on the issue that there are too many children and slave. 43,000 of these modern-day slaves in this country. you were there for a couple years. tell me what happens. how did you get discovered? whohere was a neighbor

called in and said, there's a child that's always there, always seems to be cleaning around the house and doesn't go to school. one day it happened the door knocked and they came in. tavis: who is they? >> the cops. they pretty much fought him the whole time. i wasn't allowed to open the door, so he opened the door. tavis: you weren't allowed to open the door because you were illegal. >> they let you know you are not allowed to or the cops will take you and beat you up. tavis: that's what they told you to put the fear into you? this day the cops come knocking. he answers the door. >> i hear yelling. all of a sudden the door closes again. in less than five minutes they come back with a war it, and they pretty much dragged me out of the house. on the phoneeaker

and said, these people are here to help you. honestly, to me it wasn't help. i was scared. i didn't know what happens to you. tavis: but they were there to help you. >> they were. tavis: and they helped you. >> they sure did. tavis: and you eventually got out. i guess the question is on my mind. atn you finally got out, some point contact was made with your parents back in egypt. i am just assuming your parents were on cloud nine. they were grateful you have been discovered and found and you are on your way back home to egypt, but i know that eight how the story ends because you are here in los angeles. what happened when they got in touch with your parents in egypt? >> they pretty much told me how

ungrateful i was and how unthankful i was. tavis: your parents are telling you how ungrateful you are? >> for walking away from the people who put a roof over my head. tavis: ict or is it your eyes. you have written a book about this and gone on to establish your own career. how does it strike you after all this time that your parents pretty much sold you into slavery, kind of gave you away to pay off the family debt and that even after you are being rescued and this family is being your parentsstice, still didn't -- >> they didn't see it that way. as an income to them. i took that away from them.

though ourt seem as daughter is in trouble or unhappy or being abused -- they didn't see it that way. i was in the wrong. tavis: i want to talk about your life now in just a second. i am trying to get a sense of up your own shored self-determination and self-respect, how you celebrate your own humanity, as you have a family that sells you into slavery. there is another family that treats you like your, and even when you get out you are in this country with no friends. you have no friends.

you have no family here. in egypty you have ain't worth going back to because they gave you away. i am trying to get a sense -- how did you work your way through feeling worthless and helpless? >> it was a long trip, honestly. through therapies and all the happy medication they can put you on, but nothing really helped me other than me saying, this is what i want. i want to be somebody. knowing that human traffic happens so much, it gives me more courage to speak out for the people who don't have a voice. lucky enough to be saved. there are a lot of people who are not, and i want to speak out. tavis: is that your ultimate goal, to tell your story and

have other people get their stories out? >> i want to help the people who can't beat -- speak and let people know human traffic doesn't happen -- it's not a history thing. nothing happened like this now. i want them to know it happens today. it's time for us to turn the light on it. >> are you a u.s. citizen? >> yes. tavis: when did that happen, and how did it feel? >> it happened in 2011. it felt amazing. i wanted to become a u.s. citizen so i could become a cop. i want to be an ice agent. tavis: i think i get it, but why do you want to be an ice agent? able to assist people just like i was helped. i had a great mentor. he was great and helped me

through all the stuff i have been through. i want to be the same way. tavis: the writing of this book, was it there if you take for you? -- therapeutic for you? did it bring up nightmares? >> it did everything you said. it definitely did. i was pregnant when i did this. it was even harder. i think i am handling this, but at the same time there are a lot of unanswered questions for my parents. tavis: what about your other siblings. we talked earlier about your parents, and i don't think i will ever understand how to parents sell their kids into and when she is

rescued, they get mad at her for ruining a good situation. what about your other siblings? dad.e my mom and i would hate to be separated from them. i love my brothers and sisters. it's one thing to not have a relationship with her parents, but i don't know how i would navigate my life without being able to hang out with my brothers and sisters. how have you dealt with being estranged from your siblings? >> i would love to meet them again one day. that was when i was younger. saw them now, would you recognize them? >> i wouldn't. i don't even remember their names. tavis: you don't even remember their names, because there were 11 of you. it has been so long. just gone.

i wouldn't know how to react, so i lived my whole life without .hem or my parents i'm ok where i am. i have my own friends that are like sisters and brothers to me that i am ok to just have them. i believe you make your own family. i have made my own family. be an ice want to agent. you have become a u.s. citizen and are working toward becoming an ice agent. give me a sense of how your life is. you mentioned the baby. give me a sense of what your .ife is like these days you are on a book tour now, but give me a sense of your life. >> i love my boyfriend and my daughter. tavis: i heard the baby.

i talked to her earlier on the radio show, and i want to continue this on television. i have not met her before today, but i also knew she had a baby. i walked out of the dressing room and said, she must be here. the baby is having a good time across the hallway. i knew your baby was here. how is life? are you happy now? >> i am very happy, very satisfied. i enjoy every moment of my life. tavis: what happened to the came tohen the agents rescue you? they were in violation of a number of laws. ?hat happened to the family >> she spent two years as long as she had me in the u.s.

>> they had you in slavery for , and what about the father? >> he got three years. the laws were a little different back then. was the first case in orange county. the laws are a little harsher. they got the minimum. tavis: what do you make of that? they enslaved do in egypt, had you sleeping in the garage with no light, no heat, no air, no anything, and she ends up getsng two years -- he three years. how did you process the life sentencing? >> at the time i was glad there is an example.

i got to see them put in handcuffs. that was amazing to me as well. changedd the law has now for other survivors. i am ok that i was an example. there is nothing else the government would have done. they pled guilty. , but't think it was fair they pled guilty in the end. this was obviously not your fault. you were a child, and this damage was done to you by wrestledut have you with feelings of embarrassment, feelings of guilt? your parents tried to make you feel guilty. have you wrestled with feelings of embarrassment or guilt as you are healing? >> i will say embarrassment. tavis: i don't know why, but what do you feel embarrassed about? >> the whole thing.

parents, and nobody really understands the situation even if i try to explain it to them. those are my parents. that's why i don't have a parent. i'm an adult now, and i'm ok with it. as i was going through it, i was embarrassed, but i am an adult. i know how to deal with it better. i know how to explain myself. i am more like, this really .appens to a lot of evil i am ok saying that. tavis: what kind of responses have you been getting to the book? >> rate responses. a lot of people are very surprised it happened to me. as much as i struggle to do this, i am glad i did it. tavis: your daughter's name is? >> athena. i love it.

why did you name her that? >> the goddess of war and wisdom. tavis: i love it. it makes perfect sense. will you tellis athena? i am sure she will know the whole story one day, but how do you suspect he will tell your daughter this, and when do you expect that conversation years from now -- do you ever envision that conversation? >> i try to think about it because i know kids are very smart now. they grow up knowing a lot of things really fast. in two see it happening years or so but maybe in four or five for her to understand our world is not perfect and wrong happens to others. tavis: i am curious as to how your experience, being maltreated by your mother, has

influenced the way you mother athena. i almost feel sorry for the baby. you must the overprotective. in thehat's why she is hallway, travis, come get me. how has this influenced your being a mother? i am very protective. a lot of people don't understand it. until the book came out. then they are like, i get it. she is my world. i am going to keep her close to me, and i am going to try to do everything in the world for her. i am going to give her everything i never had and more. i am very excited to be a mom. i love it, everything about it. i still love it. not lad know you are

you had to go through this experience, but i can only assume given the response to the book that you're glad you did the book and you don't have regrets about telling your story ? >> i don't. i am very glad it happened. peopled i met the right to get me to do stuff. tavis: do you have any way of knowing whether the fact that this book has been written has gotten back to your family in egypt? >> i have no way of knowing that. i don't keep in contact with them. i spoke them in 2009 for the last time when they told me by biological father died. tavis: your father passed away? >> yes, that was really it. i don't have anything to say to them. tavis: life goes on. it's a powerful story.

her name is shyima hall. the book is called "hidden gir " ." and glad toor you have you on this program. i wish under different circumstances, but i am really celebrating the work you are to raise on the national agenda this issue of human trafficking. thanks for the story. thanks for coming on. you take care. >> thanks for having me. i appreciate it. >> that's it for our show for tonight. thanks for watching, and as always, keep the faith. >> for more information on today's show, visit tavis smiley at pbs.org. tavis: hi, i'm tavis smiley. join me next time for a conversation with the caesar chavez biographer miriam pawel about the man and his legacy. that's next time. we will see you then.

♪ >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you.

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