I spent the last week researching the disappearance of Eric Sernando Salguero Franco. Unfortunately, I could find little more than the missing child poster generated by the NCMEC. I then decided to research another boy also missing from Arizona, Jose Rafael Henriquez-Diaz. Shockingly there was no information beyond the poster available on him either. I then realized that both of these boys were around the same age and both minorities.
This, of course, started my conspiracy theory mind spinning and caused me to really think about the well publicized missing children. Very few of them are minorities. Although this is not news for most people, I am one of those naive individuals who only think about what is placed in front of me. I rarely seek out news, if it is not front and center on MSNBC or on one of the many 24 hour news channels (which I am rather addicted to), then I don't know about it. Unfortunately, I am sure I am not the only one guilty of this. The question is are we, as the viewers, the ones responsible? Is it our responsibility to take a stand and demand equal attention to all missing individuals?
A recent example of this is that of missing 2 year old Caylee Anthony. As the search for Caylee began and the nation was drawn into the Anthony family drama, 3 year old Denim Sylvester and her 7 year old brother were reported missing in Pasadena, TX. Unfortunately, on June 21st, the bodies of the siblings were recovered in a wooded area in Houston, TX; their Father has been charged with the murders. Although the story of Denim received some media attention, I would guess that if provided a picture of the siblings few people would be able to tell you the story. I would be hard pressed to find someone who would not recognize a picture of Caylee Anthony and all the details surrounding her disappearance.
While the story of 7 year old Reigh Rockefeller filled the headlines, the story of 7 year old Karla Casanova received little national coverage. Reigh was expected to be on a yacht with her father. Karla, who is missing with her brothers Oscar, 6 and Fernando, 11, is suspected to be with the father of her brother's. Benito Casanova allegedly killed the childrens mother prior to taking them. Again, everyone knows the story of Reigh Rockefeller, how many know about the Casanova children or their murdered mother, Sophia Garcia.
In 2005, 18 year old Natalee Holloway disappeared in Aruba. However, almost a year earlier, in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the family of missing 24 year old Tamika Huston were trying desperately to get some national attention. Eventually, the case did get media attention, although not the attention it deserved. Tamika's story became a focus of the disproportionate attention missing white women receive in the media as seen here and here. In August 2005, the remains of Tamika Huston were found off of a highway in Duncan, South Carolina. Subsequently, Christopher Hampton, Tamika's ex-boyfriend was found guilty of her murder and received a life sentence.
The lack of attention missing minorities receive has gone unnoticed by me, and possibly by many others.
However, I have discovered that there are wonderful, dedicated people out there trying to speak for the missing monorities. Please visit Missing Minorities and Black and Missing for information on those who are virtually ignored by all other media sources.
As always, information regarding missing children can be found at the website for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
As a final note, I have no issue with the media attention Caylee Anthony, Reigh Rockefeller or Natalee Holloway received. I only wish that all of the missing could expect similar treatment.
2 comments:
My guess, just from looking at their posters, is that both boys were illegal immigrants and possibly vanished during a border crossing. There are scores of such disappearances each year and they don't attract much attention, unfortunately. It's so sad. They were so young, and if I'm right their bleached bones are out in the desert somewhere.
why do you assume there were 'illegal immigrants'? just by looking at their posters? i hate to break it to you, but because they were of 'color' doesn't mean they were 'illegals'. most of 'us' are here legally.
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