by Makeda Silvera

I was reading the book, Silenced, and the tears came to my eyes. These are stories of domestic workers from the Caribbean. I never knew that people could treat other human beings like that. I always hear people say that Canada and the USA are places of milk and honey and opportunity. But this book tells a different story. These women go through a life of pure misery. It's like they live in jail. A lot of the women talk about Church. I think the Church and knowing that their children are back in the country they came from, make them want to go on.

For example, one of the women in this book writes about how her employer treats her when she washes her clothes:

"One day she ask me how I wash her panties and brassieres and I told her in the washer and she was very rude to me. I remember that night I went to bed and cry out to the Lord to take me out of that house."(p. 27)

I think all people should read the book, Silenced. Domestic workers would know that they have someone out there to listen to them and help them with their problems, other than Immigration. When women take domestic jobs the employer tells them one thing, and as time goes by, they just keep adding work and no more money. This book tells you about organizations you can go to for help.

A review by Annmarie Hall, Toronto, Ontario