Disparity in Media Coverage of Black Missing Children?

“When the sun rises, it rises for everyone.”

This anonymous quote serves as a reminder that all people, including children, are created equal and should be treated with equality.

Statistics on the number of children reported missing annually by the Center for Missing and Exploited Children are alarming. Many of the children reported missing are black children. Approximately 800,000 children in the U.S. are reported missing each year. From that total, approximately 42% of the children reported missing are African American.

There is a perception among some that there is racial inequality in the mainstream media coverage of missing children. Social media has attempted to bring to light the inequality in the coverage of missing white children and missing black children. Despite social media highlighting the inequality, there is still a perception that mainstream media coverage has not changed or done much to address the disparity in coverage of missing children.

One would hope that race is not a factor in the disparity in coverage. Regardless of the reason for the disparity in mainstream media coverage of missing white children and missing black children, the disparity needs to be brought to public attention and addressed.

You can learn more information about this controversial subject by reading my Suite 101 web article “Black Missing Children”.

 Picture credit: Anissa Thompson