About Francis Bok
Piol Bol Buk (Francis Bok), was a seven year old Sudanese Dinka boy in 1986 when, along with about ten other children, he walked to the town of Nyamlell to sell food and goods for his family. While there, the town was attacked by Arab gunmen from the north. The Dinka men in the village square were murdered, and the children were captured and taken back to the north to be used as slaves. Piol was taken by a man named Giemma to his farm, where he was beaten with sticks by the man’s children, while they chanted “Abeed!” (black slave). He spent ten grueling years as a slave, tending large herds of goats and cattle, enduring numerous beatings and living on scraps from the family’s meals. Finally, on his third attempt, he was successful in escaping. Making his way to Khartoum, he went to the police to report his captivity. Their only response was to force him to work as a stable boy. After escaping from that situation, he went to a refugee camp where he spoke openly about his captivity. He was soon sent to prison for “speaking out against the government”. After his release from prison, he eventually was granted UN refugee status and came to the United States. He was recruited by Jesse Sage, of the American Anti-Slavery Group (AASG), to join that organization and work to increase the level of awareness of modern slavery. He has become an important voice for his people and for those still in captivity today. He was the first escaped slave to testify before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, and has met with President Bush, Condoleezza Rice, Madeleine Albright, and other important leaders. He has spoken about his experiences all over the country at colleges, universities, high schools, middle schools, churches, and other organizations. His book, “Escape From Slavery”, is considered an important record of the experience of contemporary slavery.
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