May 25
BLACK AND MISSING FOUNDATION
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BLACK AND MISSING FOUNDATION
Black women continue to go missing at alarming rates. The co-founder of the Black and Missing Foundation breaks down the stark statistics an
Black women are disappearing at an alarming rate. In 2022 alone, more than 97,000 Black women were reported missing, according to the 2022 NCIC Missing Person and Unidentified Person Statistics, and we believe there are even more. Yet their stories are not making the national headlines. Carlee Russell’s case going viral was an anomaly that we had hoped would change that and spark nationwide interest in our cases.
Instead, it led to backlash due to the outcome. We’ve heard it all, from people saying they will never share a case of a missing Black woman again to resentment and anger, and even a halo of distrust that has others in our community looking at every Black missing woman’s story with a side-eye.
The sad fact is that we can’t afford to look the other way because the statistics and reality of the number of missing Black women is too glaring to ignore.
When I started as the co-founder and publicist for the Black and Missing Foundation, families were reaching out to us in desperation, seeking any help to bring awareness to their loved one’s disappearance. We were their last hope because no one was taking their cases seriously. There was a lack of media coverage, law enforcement support, and community engagement was sparse and disheartening. Although over the last 15 years, the Black and Missing Foundation has made some progress with national and local media partnerships, it is still not enough, with the number of missing Black women continuing to rise.
According to the Urban Institute, only seven percent of missing person cases involving people of color receive national media coverage. In those early years, beyond the Black press, I can’t tell you how many times my pleas for media coverage were met with silence or disinterest despite Black women representing 18 percent of all missing persons cases.
What I didn’t know in those early years of the foundation that I know now, is that Black women are often targeted, particularly regarding sex trafficking. Interviews with predators and pimps revealed that they target Black women because they believe no one will look for them and the penalty will not be as harsh for trafficking them. Also, Black women are not seen as victims. They are often stereotyped as promiscuous and responsible for their disappearance. Their white counterparts, however are viewed as a damsel in distress, needing to be rescued.
Without media coverage to raise awareness, the cases of missing Black women often fall through the cracks. Media coverage sets a sense of urgency in motion, galvanizing the community and putting pressure on law enforcement to add resources to the case, which can result in a quicker recovery. Sadly, our cases remain open four times longer than our white counterparts.
Missing Black women are rarely front-page news; sadly, many of us don’t even know their names. Tarasha Benjamin has been missing for over 13 years after disappearing from Selma, Alabama, following a trip to the flea market. The family of Emily Victoria Benjamin have been searching for her for nearly a year after she disappeared from Culpeper, Virginia, on September 2, 2022, after leaving for a road trip. Then there is Javitta Brockington, who was last seen on August 6, heading to Atlantic City, New Jersey. These are just a few of the cases we are actively working on.
These are our mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends, and if we don’t search for them, who will? While Carlee Russell’s level of media exposure was unprecedented, it doesn’t have to be.
What if it became the norm, and we brought more of our missing loved ones homes? The Black and Missing Foundation has been able to help locate more than 400 individuals with the community’s support over the years. We are working with thousands of families right now. That’s why we can’t afford to be deterred, derailed, or defeated by the Carlee Russell situation. We ask our communities to be our digital milk carton by sharing the profiles of those missing.
Help us to help the cases go viral. It only takes one person to come forward with answers to help bring home the missing individual or provide answers to families who are desperately searching for their missing loved ones. Elected leaders must work to enhance the public communication alert systems. When time is critical, you need to be able to reach the most people in the shortest time. The media and social media are the only entities that have the power to amplify these cases and to keep them top of mind with the public, which is critical for bringing our loved ones home.
Race, zip code, income, and education should never be factors in who gets media coverage and law enforcement support. Our missing Black women are counting on us. They matter, too, and deserve to be found.
Natalie Wilson is the co-founder of the Black and Missing Foundation. With two decades of experience in public and media relations, she knows the power and reach of media coverage. Natalie, who is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), holds a Master of Arts in communications from Trinity University and a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Howard University.
UPDATE: FOUND ALIVE & WELL!!!
This Black child is MISSING since Thursday, DALLAS, Tx!!! PLEASE SHARE THIS!!!!!
“Allen Griffin is critical because he was last seen in clothing ill-equipped for below freezing temperatures.”
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2022/01/20/dallas-police-looking-for-11-year-old-boy-last-seen-early-thursday-in-mountain-creek/
Dallas police are asking for the public’s help finding an 11-year-old boy last seen early Thursday in Mountain Creek. Police said Traveon Mi
This is a prime example of why mental health is so on edge … just one example. I can’t get the link to work so I screenshot it, and linked below in case it works somehow for you SPREAD THIS!! BLACK WOMEN ARE BEING TARGETED
If we don’t act no one will.
Try this site , I can’t get it to post properly
This person is currently missing. Please #HelpUsFindUs.
Please share !!!!
Police Seek Public's Help In Finding Endangered, Missing Girl
Florida officials are looking for an endangered juvenile who they say went missing on November 25.
Florida authorities are seeking the public’s help in locating 12-year-old Serenity Anivin, who is considered endangered. Authorities seek help finding missing and endangered young girl. Serenity was last seen leaving her home by her mother on Nov. 25 at 1:47 a.m. She is described as a Black female with black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a blue sweatshirt and blue…
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TONEE TURNER IS STILL MISSING
Thank you all for the continuous reblogs and reposts. My dear friend Tonee Turner is still missing. I will help to work tirelessly to make sure that she is found, with or without breath. Her family deserves and NEEDS to know her whereabouts.
Tonee is beloved and cherished, shone light upon every person that came in contact with her, and the hearts of our entire community are bleeding for her. As I grew up with her, she quickly became a part of my own and many other peoples' families. This young woman has seen me through some of the hardest times of my life and has made me laugh when all I felt I was capable of doing was drowning myself in my own sorrows.
Blackandmissing provides an anonymous tip line so that if anyone, and I mean ANYONE has seen ANYTHING but you are too scared or unsure to call in a tip, you can CALL THEM without them knowing a single bit of information about you. Any and all information will be helpful because WE STILL HAVE NO CLUE WHERE SHE WENT OR WHO SHE MIGHT BE WITH. We are almost completely in the dark at this point.
Tonee's family, though searching tirelessly, are worried to death, heartbroken, and simultaneously preparing for the worst and the best. Your one reblog could be the one that leads to her whereabouts, so please help us bring Tonee home.
Some links concerning Tonee's story:
Essence.com's article
Seattlemedium's article
The Turner/Johnson Family GoFundMe
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Article
Use the hashtags #bringtoneehome and #toneeturner to help us spread her story as much as possible.
Thank you all so much in advance for your help.
This post was made on 1.12.20. Tonee has been missing as of 12.30.19.
I need your help. Please repost.
This is Kaniyah Janeice Milhouse. She’s from Orangeburg County, South Carolina. She has been missing since 9 pm on Sunday night.
Physical Description:
“Milhouse is a black female who is approximately 5-foot-7, 110 lbs., has light skin, black hair styled in two “puffs” and brown eyes.”
Kaniyah was last seen wearing a red Bulldog sweater, blue jeans and black and white Jordan’s.
If you have any information about her whereabouts, please call Orangeburg’s Dept. of Public Safety dispatch at 803-534-2812.
(Link)
Black and Missing