“We've stopped outsourcing. We've replaced cheap foreign labor with cheap illegal aliens in the Good Ol’

U.S. of A.”

“Proudly Made in the USA by imported workers on Chinese wages.”

NOBODIES:

EXPERT GROUPS

NOBODIES:

EXPERT GROUPS

• Group 1: Legal Considerations

• Group 2: Economic Considerations

• Group 3: Social & Cultural Considerations

• Group 4: Theological

NOBODIES: EXPERT GROUPS

(A) What considerations pertaining to your area of expertise did Bowe specifically address or imply in his book? What examples (anecdotal, statistical, or other) did Bowe use that point to these considerations?

(B) What other considerations in your expert field came to mind as you read the book that Bowe didn’t seem to focus on or address at all?

(C) How are all the considerations brought up in this discussion important factors or issues in relation to human trafficking?

Group 1: Legal Considerations Group 3: Social & Cultural

Considerations

Group 2: Economic Considerations Group 4: Theological Considerations

NOBODIES:

JIGSAW DISCUSSION GROUPS

• In your expert groups, count off by ones & be sure

to remember your number!

• Meet up with the others in the class who share the

same number! This is your new discussion group.

• Use the information discussed in your expert group,

as well as material from Bowe’s book, to guide your

responses to the questions posed in the remainder

of this presentation.

NOBODIES:

THE ROOT CAUSES OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING

• Bowe’s thesis is that the underlying cause of labor slavery is

power: “What motivates human behavior more than simple

greed or the desire for mere money is the desire for power—

that is, power over other human beings.”

• In your Jigsaw Group, discuss:

Is Bowe successful in defending his thesis? Why or

why not? What other motivations for human trafficking

does Bowe link to power?

NOBODIES:

IS IT SLAVERY?• Bowe: “When I published an article telling the story of García Orozco and

his friends, its subtitle was: “Does Slavery Exist in America?” It might seem

strange to ask. After all, a court of law had found the Ramoses guilty of

holding people in involuntary servitude. But even after thinking about the

subject for two years, I felt slightly hesitant about using the word slavery.

Wouldn’t it be just as appropriate to say that García Orozco and his friends

had simply been intimidated, threatened, and unpaid for a few weeks’

work? The answer to my question, I would eventually realize, is no.”

• In your groups, discuss: In last week’s book, Brennan was

critical of the use of the term slavery to describe human

trafficking. Bowe, however, defends its use to describe

the abuses of workers described in the book. Do you

think slavery is an appropriate term to use to refer to

human trafficking? Why or why not?

Coalition of Immokalee Workers

NOBODIES: SOLUTIONS

• In your groups, discuss:

What solutions does Bowe offer to help solve the

problems of human trafficking? Keeping in mind

Bowe’s proposed solutions and the work of the

CIW; do you feel these suggestions are realistic

in light of his thesis that human beings have a

desire for power? Why or why not?

NOBODIES:

POTPOURRI

• In your groups, discuss:

What else in the book did you find particularly powerful, surprising, meaningful, or puzzling?

NOBODIES: WRAP UP

•What are the main themes

addressed in Bowe’s book?

•Would you recommend this book

to a fellow seminarian, not in this

class? Why or why not?

NOBODIES:

INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE?

• John Bowe appeared on C-Span & the Daily Show with Jon

Stewart to discuss Nobodies, & the video is available online:

http://www.c-span.org/video/?201704-1/book-discussion-nobodies

http://thedailyshow.cc.com/videos/660s6x/john-bowe