Zena and Nicole were sent from West Africa to the U.S. with promise of an education . They and others ended up working as slaves in hair braiding salons in New Jersey . But once they arrived , they were forced to work in hair braiding shops across the Newark area -- just a short drive from New York City , right in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty . The girls said they had no idea what was happening when they arrived at their new jobs, but that it didn't matter because they would be paid well enough for it. `` American Slaves : Hiding in Plain Sight '' airs tonight on AC360° at 10 ET on CNN .
Zena and Nicole were sent from West Africa to the U.S. with promise of an education . They and others ended up working as slaves in hair braiding salons in New Jersey . The girls said they had no idea what was happening when they arrived at their new jobs, but that it didn't matter because they would be paid well enough for it. `` American Slaves : Hiding in Plain Sight '' airs tonight on AC360° at 10 ET on CNN .