CRACK! BOOM! POP! My ears rang as the sound of the ringmaster’s whip pounded the floor like thunder striking land. My eyes locked with the animals as their pupils dilated in fear. The curtains were drawn as the ringleader prepared for his next routine.

Seconds later, the curtains drew back and out came the next victims lumbering up the stage. They began to do their routine as if their lives depended on it. Each animal gave it their all as their frail limbs began to give out. Their faces began to droop down along with their prolonged tongues turning from healthy bubblegum pink to a sickly bleached white. Yet they kept going. The perfectly synchronized routine came to a halt when one of the zebras suddenly stopped in its tracks and looked as though it was seeing stars. Still, the routine did not come to an end. The zebra clutched onto the bit of existence it had left. Suddenly, the crowd screeched. WOO! HAHA! YAY! 

I slowly turned my head and watched in awe and disgust as the animals limped off the stage and the curtains drew back once again. I began to ask myself questions. Am I the only one who thinks this is wrong? Was I the only one feeling a piercing needle pricking my heart every second of that performance?  Why did I agree to go to this? Why did I get in the car? Why did I enter the tent? Why did I settle in my seat? Why didn’t I return to the hotel? Tears began to fill my eyes as a luminous glow of happiness began to fill everyone else's.

Circuses are known for their spectacular productions, including their exotic animals. But that is not all circuses are known for. They’re also known for putting locks on cages and throwing away the key. Animals are put in compacted cages with the walls closing in on them as each dark day passes by. With nothing but darkness around and ahead of them. For pronging these animals as if they were on their dinner plate. For strapping these animals with chains. These animals are forced to do what is asked by their master out of fear of getting severely beaten. It sounds like history repeating itself in plain sight. We all may have thought slavery, for the most part, has ended but it hasn’t and it has come in an unsuspecting form, through animals working in the circus industry. Circuses should once and for all end the use of animals in their performances. If we see slavery as a cruel and inhumane act animals in the circus industry should be seen through the same lens. Many talented acts in the circus get people roaring in joviality without the tumultuous, roaring whimpers of these animals.