Michael Gibson wrote:

lol
You mean she first had to be Pretty- Black, Pregnant AND Hispanic?
To finally garner the attention usually reserved for precious white females?
Now mind you this is just one black female. I don’t think this lone story will start a trend of sorts. I mean God forbid black women and children should be held in the same esteem as their white counterparts.

I have been writing USA Today, CNN, and FOX News; as well as my local paper about this issue. As a black male of 47 years, no one institution in American reminds me of my position as “Minority” more than the News Media.

I am reminded on a daily bases that I have a place in society, and it rates below that position reserved for white males and females and their children.
That I am not as precious- nor am I as valuable as a white female/male child.
Even during the local news broadcast it’s like we blacks do not exist.
Unless we have done something wrong to raise the ire of white society we get hardly a mention. Our triumphs and our successes are downplayed, while our negatives are exploited to the fullest. Ask any black person about the local news and note their response.

We make the front page of the paper as “Fugitive of the week,” or if we have shot or stole from someone. While in contrast, the lighter more pleasant side of the news is reserved solely for Middle Class Whites living in the suburbs. Oh the wonderful things that are going on in the suburbs. Negative information is down-played and minimized so as not to reflect badly on the community. Whites are doing such wonderful things as blood drives, and charity/religious work of all sorts. White male sportscasters play up the latest news in the suburbs with regards to soccer, volleyball softball, and baseball scores.

As if blacks did not participate in sports at any level.

The concerns of the inner city get virtually ignored. We just don’t exist in white eyes.
Those making the decisions in the back room of the local media outlets are mostly white males. Who apparently have a world view of themselves, and apply it with a broad brush. Anything that may be of interest to their white viewers gets priority. The assumption being that when you are addressing the camera, that you are speaking to a white middle-class male.
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Even stories about pets rate higher on their list than stories about blacks. Abuse a pet and you will incur the wrath of white society. Abuse a black male/female- and oh well, its probably drug-related. Let a white child perish in a car crash, or die of disease; and we will know everything about that child.

His hopes and dreams will be recalled in explicit detail. Every nuance of his life will be explored to the fullest. There will be a memorial fund set up for him. A candlelight vigil will mark the place of his/her passing. School mates and teachers will be interviewed at length.

And most often than not, a Bill will be introduced- and passed, to make sure this tragedy never happens again.

The Amber Alert- Megan's Law and other ordinances passed because a white child has been lost. For this is a loss to the community and possibly to the world. Let a black child die, and it’s mentioned in passing…but never- ever- followed up on; or treated with the same concern as his white counterpart.

Minority related topics do not make for compelling news.
White female in peril reflects what we see at the box office. It makes for compelling copy. White child in peril harkens back to the days of Lassie, and Rin-Tin-Tin.

As minorities we just don’t figure in. We aren’t worthy of the same consideration.
The Amber alert is basically just a “Be on the lookout for missing white child” Alarm.

Its not applied equally, nor fairly across racial socio-economic lines. And it pains me every time one is issued. I get mad, and then I get hurt. The assumption being that only a white child/woman is worthy of the attention reserved for Kings and Queens.

I am glad to finally see some movement, some concern for the value of our lives. But it took a lot didn’t it? Look how much sand had to be raised before it caught the eye of someone in the media. Must this be done for every black person? Do we have to go to such lengths to just be treated fairly in this country?
Fair and balanced my ass.
07/29/05 07:14:51