Black Women & Girls Are Missing

Blame it on the "missing white woman syndrome" or the remnants and lasting impacts of the "jezebel stereotype", minority women and girls of color do not garner the same attention, resources, or empathy when reported missing or endangered.

A study found that minority girls and boys have higher rates of not being found or remain missing for longer periods of time. Any decent human being would have to ask themselves why? Seriously.....where is the minority equivalent to a Laci Peterson or Natalee Holloway or more recently Gabby Petito? Where is the minority equivalent to a Caylee Anthony?

African Americans represent roughly 13% of the US population according to the most recent Census data, yet we accounted for nearly 40% of persons reported missing in 2020 per the latest National Crime Information Center (NCIC) report. This follows a similar pattern and trend of widespread disparities and inequities within marginalized communities, particularly black communities. From health statuses to socioeconomic factors to domestic violence and everything in between, women of color and their families too often find themselves dealing with the historical and generational impacts of a persist devaluing of our lived experiences and trauma in this country.

Consider this... if individuals make decisions based on the options made available to them or the options they perceive as being available it begs to question WHY so many minority women and girls go missing in the first place AND given the countless articles and studies done since 2003 about the media attention or lack there of why has nothing has changed. Could it be the lack of resources given to families that report their children missing? Could it be the lack of trust among minority communities in law enforcement? Women of color are less likely to report incidences of domestic violence, minority youth are more likely to be reported as "runaways" versus missing preventing families access to services like the National Amber Alert System (per Black & Missing Foundation). This is a major problem that demands immediate attention & action.

Something else to consider.... Minority women serve as the head of household for most single family households (per Census.gov). This further complicates matters when those reported missing are mothers. These female-led households are more likely to experience other challenges such as poverty and poorer education systems often resulting in limited or insufficient supportive resources to help protect younger girls and boys of color from circumstances and situations that may increase their risk for being abducted or preyed upon by sex traffickers' and other neighborhood predators.

Lastly, it is equally important to consider the fact that there are unique cultural differences and societal norms within every minority community which also play a role in the lack of commitment and concern by the media, law enforcement, and society at large. Toxic images and negative portrayals of women and girls of color in media and entertainment only help to validate the slave-era ideologies and the hyper-sexualization of black women. The rise of "cancel culture" and reliance on social media relevancy are also counter-productive to addressing this issue as it decreasing the call for community and individual accountability and it can often be the environment that exposes our children to the very person(s) that mean to harm them.

Ultimately, with more than 145K persons of color under the age of 18, the media and all civil systems must rise up and take notice of this glaring disparity. Correction of this crisis will take a collective effort not only from the media but also our legal, educational, and social systems. Approaches to address the root causes of why minorities go missing, why they are missing for such long periods of time, and the complex cultural nuances will require changes in policies, systems, and community environments. One example that provides some hope can be found in Minnesota, which will become the first state to establish and fund a task force on murdered and missing black women and girls. Effective this month, its timely given there are currently 64,000 missing black women and girls in the United States. Time will tell if this law will give way to real change. In the meantime, networks, media pundits, and those with platforms will need to step up and shine a magnified flashlight on missing persons of color in this country.