Review & Endorsement
Endorsement by Brenda Harkins
Roxanne Gail Hodge has not only written a captivating book Beneath the Glitter, but she has also exposed a dark reality permeating our society - right here in America. Human trafficking is a tragic, real-world issue. It is under our noses, all around us, but hidden. Or is it? Certainly, that is the intention of those who prey on the vulnerabilities of others and mask the truth to stay undetected. However, with a bit of education and awareness, we can learn to watch and listen for indicators that equip us all to play a role in ripping that mask off, exposing the evil, and making way for the healing and restoration of thousands of lives.
Beneath the Glitter isn’t written for shock value. It is written to expose truth. Shock leaves us stunned, fearful, hopeless, or helpless. Roxanne Hodge has done a beautiful job weaving in another, more powerful effect. Hope. Hope is essential if we are to ever free those held captive and bring to justice their tormentors. Beneath the Glitter gives hope in the very midst of trauma and tragedy. Hope that there is a way out. Hope that we can play a part. Hope that light is more powerful than darkness.
Keep in mind that many human trafficking cases go unreported; however, of those that were reported, statistics from the 2019 U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline[1] show 22,326 trafficking victims and survivors, 4,384 traffickers, and 1,912 suspicious businesses in that one year alone. In Texas, #2 for highest human trafficking rates per capita, 2,455 victims, 515 traffickers, and 249 trafficking businesses were identified that same year.
Take a minute to reflect on these numbers. They aren’t just numbers. They are lives. Lives we see in our own cities, in the restaurants we frequent, the grocery stores, the schools, and even the churches. What if each of us chose to make a difference in the rescue, healing, and restoration of these precious lives? What if we knew the indicators to watch for that shed light on the darkness? Those indicators are woven into this compelling story.
This book is a must-read for anyone who believes we can no longer turn a blind eye to modern-day slavery among us. Its magnitude affects us all directly or indirectly. Those effects can be wrapped in hope, as Beneath the Glitter so beautifully portrays. Read it and be inspired.
- Brenda Harkins
For more information on Human Trafficking and how you can make a difference, visit these websites: