Chong Kim: Doing Nothing Makes You Part of the Problem

Being a survivor activist can be heartbreaking, especially when the courts empower pimps while ignoring the voices of prostitution survivors, as happened today with the affirmation of the Bedford ruling.  Chong Kim’s written a moving poem about public indifference to the suffering of the women in prostitution.  Here’s an excerpt:

Pass Her By

 

The still picture of her smile,

resembles a life she had.

The date that it was taken

was the last memory of her

spirit dancing.

Beyond that point,

only one can imagine,

but do you stop and wonder

if she’s still pleading?

You look, then walk away.

You excuse yourself

by saying,

“She’s not mine.”

Doing Nothing,

makes you part of the problem

NOT the solution.

Read more

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Eden, Film about Trafficking Survivor Chong Kim, a Huge Hit at SXSW Festival

Based on the life of survivor/activist Chong Kim

Here at Survivor’s Connect we’re over the moon about the movie Eden, based on the life of sister survivor Chong Kim, who’s a fantastic activist, writer and artist.   Chong inspires trafficking/prostitution survivors everywhere she goes. She received screen credit for her story.  We’re teary, happy and proud.

Eden, starring Jamie Chung and Beau Bridges,  was a huge hit at the South by Southwest Arts Festival.  It won  the Women’s Director Award and the Narrative Feature Audience Award.  Jamie Chung won a special jury prize for her acting performance.

Here’s an excerpt of a rave review by Drew McWeeney:

I will definitely catch up with it, because I thought her new film, “Eden,” was a strong, simple presentation of a harrowing story, with a great performance from Jamie Chung to ground the whole thing.  Based on the real life of Chong Kim, who gets a co-story credit, “Eden” tells the story of a young Korean girl who works for her parents in their store and who is just starting to experiment with freedom, sneaking out with her friend, smoking cigarettes.  She’s very young, and despite her little white lies, she seems like a fairly innocent girl.

That ends one night when she uses a fake ID to go to a bar where she meets Jesse (Scott Mechlowicz).  She decides to go home with him, and instead ends up abducted, then driven to her new home, a prison-like bunker where she’s kept with other underage prostitutes.  The main face she sees each day belongs to Vaughan (Matt O’Leary), who works for Bob Gault (Beau Bridges), a law-enforcement officer who is running a fairly major network of flesh-peddling on many levels.

Read more here

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I Can Be Soft-Spoken or I Can Be a Pit Bull

On March 11, 2012 Eden, the movie based on the life story of trafficking survivor and activist Chong Kim, premieres at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, TX.  Chong is such an amazing, encouraging and brilliant woman.  She inspires trafficking survivors every day.  I can’t wait to see Eden.  I know it will have great impact worldwide — just like Chong.  She’s the kind of person who makes you smile and feel thankful when you think of her.  Chong recently wrote of on how she feels about herself, her life as a survivor activist, and her impending fame on her blog Face of Tears.  Here’s an excerpt:

When I look at my life today, being a mother, wife and activist my schedule is already busy as it is and I truly enjoy my “down” time, I can’t imagine a more hectic life then what I’m going through right now. My film, “Eden” is expected to be released this year according to the IMDB and since the announcement of Jamie Chung starring in my film, I’ve received so many contacts, letters, admirers and etc. I am however pleased to receive any letters of those who send sincere thanks and admiration, but what does annoy me is when, all they want to do is talk about the film, the cast or when they can get involved in this entourage of my public life? That is how you know they know nothing about you. I seperate people I “network” with verses people I consider my personal friends. I don’t mind collaborating and networking with other organizations, but if you haven’t reached out to me before “Eden” became an existence and I’ve written to you before, what makes you think you’re invited to network with me now? I don’t care to have an entourage of people to follow me, unless they want to admire the REAL me. I am very outspoken, I don’t back down just because you or I disagree with each other nor will I refuse to silent my voice, feelings or emotions. I can be very soft spoken or I can be a pitbull, it’s all in how you approach me. I don’t like to be told what to do, what to say and who to be. I don’t want to change who I am and I don’t ever want to forget where I came from, but most of all I hate conformiity we don’t have to have the same belief, politics, or lifestyle, I can get along with almost anyone. I don’t care where you come from, I just want to know where you are going, you’re not obligated to explain your past I want to know what you are willing to do about it and if you’ve been hurting, what methods have you tried in coping your pain or to find resilience, serenity and free from bitter and anger? I have always been a fighter and I don’t mean in a steel armor and a long sphere running down the field just for a kill, I mean a fighter in form of not giving up in speaking, loving, adoring and saving those who give me just a glance of their cry for freedom.

Read more

Read an article about the movie Eden in Audrey magazine

Copyright © 2012 Chong Kim, All Rights Reserved

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Tears of a Clown: Stay in Control

Survivor artist, poet, and activist Chong Kim has some important advice for her fellow survivors regarding dealing with the media and nonprofit organizations.  Her words matter a great deal, because many survivors have felt exploited by how we and our stories are used when we are interviewed or when we work with advocacy organizations.  .Chong says that first and foremost we should focus on our healing.  When we do choose to speak out, it’s important to make sure we feel in control.  Here’s an excerpt from Chong’s classic post on the subject Tears of a Clown:

I’m writing this blog specifically for my fellow survivors, because I do understand.  We’ve heard it all before, “If you tell your story, you will save many lives.”  “They want to see your face, because it’s REAL to them.”  And my FAVORITE!  “We are looking for “new” victims, someone who’s just been rescued.”

Now this is what I will share with you what all of those comments sound to US (Survivors).  “Tell your story and you will get 15 minutes of fame and after that you won’t matter because our ratings will get to rise.”  “We don’t believe you until we see the tears in your eyes.”  And last:  “Well . . . you’re getting old and we are tired of hearing your story and we’ve heard it all before, so we need a fresh meat to exploit.”

Let me give you a little hint:

This is not just based off of my own personal experience with media, journalist, and TV Hosts; but I’ve heard the outcries and hurts from my fellow brothers and sisters.  I have however heard on the otherside of the spectrum of journalist, media and TV Host the most common question.  “We CAN’T find survivors that are willing to speak.”  Want to know why???  READ ABOVE!!!

and

There is NOTHING wrong in sharing your story, to empower and enrich the lives of others just as long as you know full and well this is what YOU want and not the obligation of the church/religion, counseling or even peers if you feel you need more time to heal please follow your heart, others can wait. 

(Copyright © 2012 Chong Kim, All Rights Reserved)

Read more at Chong’s great blog Face of Tears

Read about Eden, a feature film co-written by Chong and based on her experiences which is premiering at the prestigious South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin, TX!