Chain reaker S B
F E AT U R E S
Atlanta Redemption Ink harnesses the talents of area tattoo artists to summon hope, recovery and transformation for sex trafficking survivors, former gang members and those in the midst of self-harm and addiction recovery. by DAVID ROTEN
It was Nikki’s own personal brand of ink therapy. Tattoos covered her arms and legs, neck and shoulders, all of them chosen for their significant meaning related to people or events in her life. However, this one was different. Chosen for her, it was a constant reminder of a shameful past she desperately wanted to forget. It was also a dangerous tagalong companion that, if seen and recognized, could betray her into the hands of those who would enslave her again. Branded on her leg by a gang member, this tattoo penetrated much further than skin deep. “At the time I was like, ‘Oh, this is kind of cool’ or whatever, but I didn’t realize the symbolism in it. When you get branded by a gang member or a trafficker, their symbol that they put on you means that they own you,” she said, pointing out that victims of human trafficking often get caught in the middle while traffickers fight over “ownership” rights. “They can abuse you, beat you, sell you for a different fee and things like that.” Like many others who end up on the streets as victims of commercial sexual exploitation, Nikki’s life had been punctuated with abuse. The physical abuse she suffered at 6 months old was only the beginning. “My cousin molested me when I was 5,” she said, “and I internalized that as being my fault.” The emotional and sexual abuse continued until age 10. At age 13, she was raped. “By the time I was 19 years old, I was sold for the first time by my best friend’s mom,” she said. “I never really understood what all that meant.”
14 The Newton
