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KEV'S VIEW (cartoon commentary): Do Missing Black Women Matter?
*When it comes to missing persons, the media has been consistent on two points. One, if the missing person is female, white and attractive by media standards, that case is going to get plenty of attention. There will be interviews with the victim’s family, friends, teachers, pastor, and family pet.
There will be pictures in newspapers both national and local. Film of the victim will be on as many newscasts as possible. And fliers will be everywhere.
Two, if the missing person is black, Hispanic, (male or female), the reverse is true. There will be an initial flurry of media attention but it will quickly die. If the family of the victim does not have resources and determination, the story of their loved one will quickly move from the front page to no page.
Right now, according to the FBI, there are 47,600 active adult cases of missing persons. Of those 29.1 percent are black and about 22,200 are women. You would never know that from reading the newspapers or watching the news.
We rarely hear about the cases of Tamika Huston or Stepha Henry on national news programs. They spend their time and resources telling us about runaway brides or celebrity drunk drivers. Or sending reporters to Aruba to find the reasons for the disappearance of a young, white woman.
Don’t misunderstand. The cases of missing white, blond, young women should not be minimalized. The heartache and grief their families feel is as real as the pain of any family of color.
But neither should the cases of missing women and men of color be ignored or minimalized. No doubt one reason for the lack of coverage in these cases is because our women are expected to be victims of crime. The media expects our women to be mistreated, exploited and harmed.
That kind of thinking means that if anything happens to someone you expect to be a crime victim, it has no newsworthiness. - Rasheed Baith
