Where is the "outrage" when brown kids go missing? ... Holloway/McCann but rarely Johnson or Washington

Question

Now obviously I am opening myself up to opportunites for cheap shots and other frivolity here but please let's get some serious discourse and thoughts shared here. I don't mind discussion of race and socio-economics its real and a factor so don't be timid (don't be dumb either).

I could have asked, "whose pain is more marketable/palatable?" but I didn't because its a little rhetorical. Anyone who wants to share serious thoughts (but may be a little shy of the forum) can email me instead.

Answer 1

I wish to God I could remember which university did the study so I could back this up, but about six or seven years ago I think, a study was done on all the disappearances of children in the United States and which ones got national attention and which ones did not. The study found out that three factors made the biggest difference in getting someone nationally televised:

#3. Race. It is a fact that black and hispanic kids in this country disappear and get less attention than when white kids do. So you are right on there.
#2. Social status and class. Rich and upper middle class kids get more attention than poor kids. Fact is that the McCann's were not poor if they were vacationing in Portugal. That said, a wealthy black child is more likely to make it on television than an impoverished white child, unless...
#1. Unusual circumstances. The fact is that dozens of children disappear in the United States EVERY DAY. They can't all be nationally covered. It is impossible. So the most unusual cases get the attention: kids being kidnapped by strangers right out of their house (very rare occurance, actually), kids getting kidnapped in Portugal, kids getting taken away while at Disney, etc. etc.

In any case, the outrage is there, though probably not as much as it should be. Editorials have been written. Articles have appeared in magazines. You are demonstrating it right now. I, for one, and with you on it. The problem is that the study also found that these unusual cases involving wealthy white kids also sold more newspapers. People, in general, are more interested in the rich white girl. I guess maybe it is because, currently, there are still more white people in American than minorities. I am afraid to admit that I don't have a solution for the problem. I guess we all just need to continue to write those editorials and Yahoo Answer posts bringing it up. Also, don't buy the tabloids that promote this filth!

Answer 2

thats our media for ya. equal coverage is not what they want. Good question but there isnt a good answer for this issue. Plain and simple the media is blind. if you ask most people (at least here in Mid-MO) they claim that white girls get kidnapped all the time. I dont know if its something in the water or what but the people here are so blind to the effect of claiming that most kidnappings are white girls. if you ask what the normal appearance of the missing person the most common here is a blonde shoulder lenght blue or brown eyed young woman. Same say they are easy targets. Really i think it goes back to the Summer of Sam. thats what the media uses as the bench mark in order to report on it. white women gather more attention in alot of peoples minds. i say if anyone is missing FULL ATTENTION from all. sad but true from what ive seen

Answer 3

Sure, the public eats it up, but the media decides what to feed the public. Thousands of kids go missing in this country EVERY DAY. There's pain and misery enough to go around. The media floats all kinds of stuff out there and waits to see what turns out to be a marketable story and then they shove it down everyone's throats. You believe that Americans care more about white kids than black ones? I'd say your most likely correct. You tend to care about your own, and the odds and demographics are in their favor.

Answer 4

I'm not sure I have heard of any brown kids going missing in the news lately , Sadly I have heard of lots of brown kids being stabbed or shot which has had a fair share of media coverage . There is plenty outrage from the parents of the dead brown kids and they do fight for justice and they do stay in the papers .

When I use the term "brown" kids I am using your words and do not mean it in an offensive manner .

Answer 5

You're absolutely right! It's a shame that people see the color and not the child! Children are precious. We should all do what we can to help keep them safe!

Answer 6

i was going to post some BS, but after explaining yourself a little further, i appreciate the question.
thats what the public eats up. THATS what sells. as unfortunate as it may be, thats the public view.