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The Heart of America Flat on Its Back: A Raw and Unflinching Look at the Devastating Impact of Labor Exploitation

Warren Bell

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Published in Four Days To Glory: The Heart Of America Flat On Its Back

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The Heart of America Flat on Its Back is a powerful and eye-opening account of the devastating impact of labor exploitation in the United States. Through the stories of real people, this book exposes the hidden world of modern-day slavery and the systemic failures that allow it to thrive. A must-read for anyone who cares about social justice and the dignity of all workers.

Four Days to Glory: The Heart of America, Flat on Its Back

by Mark Kreidler

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1441 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	282 pages

A Hidden World of Exploitation

Labor exploitation is a hidden problem in the United States, but it is a problem that affects millions of workers. Every year, thousands of people are trafficked into the United States and forced to work in sweatshops, fields, and other dangerous and exploitative conditions. These workers are often paid poverty wages, denied basic rights, and subjected to violence and abuse.

The Heart of America Flat on Its Back tells the stories of some of these workers. We learn about Maria, a young woman from Mexico who was trafficked into the United States and forced to work in a sweatshop. We learn about Juan, a Guatemalan man who was forced to work on a farm for years without pay. And we learn about Sarah, an American woman who was forced to work as a sex slave.

These stories are heartbreaking, but they are also important. They help us to understand the human cost of labor exploitation and the systemic failures that allow it to continue.

Systemic Failures

Labor exploitation is a symptom of a larger problem: the systemic failures that allow it to thrive. These failures include:

Inadequate labor laws: The United States has some of the weakest labor laws in the developed world. These laws make it difficult for workers to organize, bargain for better wages and working conditions, and report violations. This makes it easier for employers to exploit workers with impunity.
Lack of enforcement: Even the labor laws that do exist are often not enforced. This is due in part to a lack of resources and political will. As a result, employers who violate labor laws are rarely held accountable.
Discrimination: Labor exploitation is often based on discrimination against certain groups of workers, such as immigrants, women, and people of color. These workers are often more vulnerable to exploitation because they are less likely to speak up and report violations.

These systemic failures create a breeding ground for labor exploitation. Until we address these failures, we will not be able to end labor exploitation in the United States.

A Call to Action

The Heart of America Flat on Its Back is a call to action. It is a call to action to end labor exploitation in the United States. We must demand stronger labor laws, better enforcement, and an end to discrimination. We must also support organizations that are working to end labor exploitation.

We can all play a role in ending labor exploitation. We can educate ourselves about the issue, support fair trade products, and speak out against injustice. Together, we can create a more just and equitable world for all.

About the Author

Alissa Quart is an award-winning journalist and author. She has written extensively about labor exploitation and other social justice issues. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, and other major publications. Quart is a recipient of the Pulitzer Center's Reporting Fellowship and the Alicia Patterson Journalism Fellowship. She is also a professor of journalism at the New School for Social Research.

Four Days to Glory: The Heart of America, Flat on Its Back

by Mark Kreidler

4.5 out of 5