I was originally going to post this in the Real Life section, but since it's got some politics involved, I'm sure, this section is probably better. Besides, in here we can all scream and bitch at each other, hurl insults--all the usual love fest stuff that goes on in this section. But I digress...

Something that's been bugging me for some time is this media obsession with pretty WHITE gals who go missing or who are murdered, or who do something that the media feels it must turn in to a national event. In addition to the overly sensationalistic stuff that disturbs me is one glaring realization: what about the BLACK gals? (I'm not going to discuss other minorities here; rather, I'm focusing on the large minority intentionally.)

Why does the media seem to ignore black women who are murdered?

Is it because they're not victims to such violence? (Bullshit. I'm sure they're victims just as much as white women.)

Is it because they're not pretty enough? (Bullshit. Look at two well-known black babes, Vanessa Williams and Vivica A. Fox. These ladies are smokin', if you ask me.)

Is it because we as a nation don't seem to get as riled up or upset when a black gal is missing or is brutally murdered like the NYC gal just was? If so, then collectively we should be ashamed of ourselves.

Or is it because the media is racist? Do they not care about the plight of a black gal? Why do they go so crazy over a white gal who's missing--how long have we heard about Natalie Holloway down there in the Caribbean?--yet seem to go silent when a black girl is missing or murdered?

They should either treat both equally or just shut the hell up altogether and stop making every one of these stories another Geraldo Rivera-type of moment (the fact that that doofus is still around amazes me).

My preference is for the latter. Truthfully, I'm tired of the sensationalistic coverage of any female's murder, black OR white. However, absent this personal feeling, I'm disgusted by the constant parade of beautiful white girl gone missing/murdered stories when no mention whatsoever is made of their black counterparts.

WGN-TV is running a segment on this very topic on their 9:00 p.m. CST news tonight.

Reminds me of one of the Wayans brother's Scary Movie series. cindy is in danger of being slashed by the killer and she calls 911 and says "White woman in trouble" and the next second the police are there. Pretty much accurate.

One time being female is an advantage is when it comes to being a victim. Women are supposed to be victims. Men are supposed to be able to take care of themselves. So missing or dead women are a "better" story than missing or dead men.
White women are supposed to be get more sympathy from a "wider" (read: white) audience. Most news editors and publishers are white. Pretty always is more newsworthy than plain for a woman.
Today's SF Chronicle was an example. A huge front page story with color pictures of the funeral of a young blonde thin & pretty white woman killed by a hit & run driver while jogging. Tragic, yes, for her & her family and friends. But is it extraordinary news? Would it have been on the front page had she not been pretty?
Missing children are the same. Girls get more publicity than boys, unless the boys are very young, like under 6. White girls get the most, followed by Asian, Latina, and Black and Native American girls at the end. The big news stories are exclusively on pretty girls. Plain girls may be just as missing but who wants to see them on TV? And it also helps if the girl's family is at least middle class so they can talk to the media, to authorities, etc. with no accent or bad grammar.

As Brenda in Scary Movie 3 says, "Cindy, the news is on. Another little white girl fell down the well! 50 black people get their ass beat today, but the whole world gotta stop for one little whitey down the hole."



[ March 14, 2006, 09:33 AM: Message edited by: dfwAggie99 ]

At least here in Chicago, I still remember the story of Diamond and Twanda, two sisters who suddenly disappeared a few summers ago. I want to say their last name is Bradley, but they were both African-American, and it received huge coverage, at least in Chicago. Sadly, they have never been found. For the most part, though, it is sad that only "pretty" white women get national attention when missing.

I can assure the scenerio is quite the opposite in the city of Detroit.

There are two young African-American boys missing from Milwaukee, which has been getting national attention as of late. Perhaps the tide is beginning to change. I hope they find the boys safe and sound...my prayers go out to their families.

we sort of had this discussion, albeit a bit more tongue in cheek, here

that discussion was based on this article originally posted by herr tiggee, in that thread.

Um, pardon me, but I was referring to posts in THIS thread. Please read the comments above mine in THIS thread.