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Cleveland abductions: Do white victims get more attention? | Cleveland abductions: Do white victims get more attention? |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Three young women disappeared in Cleveland. Media coverage of their cases illustrates stereotypes about race. | Three young women disappeared in Cleveland. Media coverage of their cases illustrates stereotypes about race. |
Charles Ramsey heard someone screaming in a nearby house. Luckily, he managed to help the woman, Amanda Berry, who was in distress. | Charles Ramsey heard someone screaming in a nearby house. Luckily, he managed to help the woman, Amanda Berry, who was in distress. |
Because of his efforts, she, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight escaped from the house in Cleveland where they were held captive for a decade or more. | Because of his efforts, she, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight escaped from the house in Cleveland where they were held captive for a decade or more. |
"I knew something was wrong when a little, pretty white girl ran into a black man's arms," Ramsey said later. | "I knew something was wrong when a little, pretty white girl ran into a black man's arms," Ramsey said later. |
"Something is wrong here. Dead giveaway." | "Something is wrong here. Dead giveaway." |
As it turned out, Ramsey's assessment was a twist on what is known among media critics as the Missing White Woman Syndrome. | As it turned out, Ramsey's assessment was a twist on what is known among media critics as the Missing White Woman Syndrome. |
Charlton McIlwain, a professor at New York University and the author of Race Appeal: How Candidates Invoke Race in US Political Campaigns, defines the syndrome: "White women occupy a privileged role as violent crime victims in news media reporting." | Charlton McIlwain, a professor at New York University and the author of Race Appeal: How Candidates Invoke Race in US Political Campaigns, defines the syndrome: "White women occupy a privileged role as violent crime victims in news media reporting." |
In other words, the victim is white and middle class. Ideally, she is saved - by a white guy. | In other words, the victim is white and middle class. Ideally, she is saved - by a white guy. |
"Our victims are colour-coded," says McIlwain. A proper victim is one who looks like a journalist, he says. | "Our victims are colour-coded," says McIlwain. A proper victim is one who looks like a journalist, he says. |
"Research shows that in terms of crime victims, they are people who we view as being like us - like those who are covering the events or reading about them," he says. | "Research shows that in terms of crime victims, they are people who we view as being like us - like those who are covering the events or reading about them," he says. |
"Our national ideal of who is vulnerable - and who holds victim status - are those who are white and female." | "Our national ideal of who is vulnerable - and who holds victim status - are those who are white and female." |
The perception of victimhood is partly a media creation. | The perception of victimhood is partly a media creation. |
In truth, nearly half of those individuals who go missing in the US are not white - though one might not know that from the news coverage. | In truth, nearly half of those individuals who go missing in the US are not white - though one might not know that from the news coverage. |
Berry was abducted in April 2003 and DeJesus a year later. They were children when they vanished, and their families were desperate to find them. | Berry was abducted in April 2003 and DeJesus a year later. They were children when they vanished, and their families were desperate to find them. |
Yet the coverage of their abductions was dramatically different. | Yet the coverage of their abductions was dramatically different. |
In Cleveland, the newspaper stories were mainly about the white girl. | In Cleveland, the newspaper stories were mainly about the white girl. |
In the 10 years Berry was missing, the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper published 36 articles about her, according to a search of electronic news archive Lexis-Nexis. | In the 10 years Berry was missing, the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper published 36 articles about her, according to a search of electronic news archive Lexis-Nexis. |
During the nine-year period that DeJesus, who is Hispanic, was missing, the newspaper published 19 articles about her case. | During the nine-year period that DeJesus, who is Hispanic, was missing, the newspaper published 19 articles about her case. |
The coverage of these two cases reflects an overall trend in the media. | The coverage of these two cases reflects an overall trend in the media. |
According to a 2010 academic study, roughly 80% of the news coverage about missing children is devoted to victims who are not black, while only 20% is given to children who are black. | According to a 2010 academic study, roughly 80% of the news coverage about missing children is devoted to victims who are not black, while only 20% is given to children who are black. |
The breakdown in media coverage does not reflect reality. "We have a sort of racial hierarchy," says McIlwain. | The breakdown in media coverage does not reflect reality. "We have a sort of racial hierarchy," says McIlwain. |
The coverage of violent crime and of people who have disappeared is biased and hurtful, says Natalie Wilson, co-founder of the Black and Missing Foundation, which fights racial stereotypes in the media. | The coverage of violent crime and of people who have disappeared is biased and hurtful, says Natalie Wilson, co-founder of the Black and Missing Foundation, which fights racial stereotypes in the media. |
She first came across the stereotypes in crime reporting when she heard about a 24-year-old black woman, Tamika Huston, who went missing in Spartanburg, South Carolina, in 2004. | She first came across the stereotypes in crime reporting when she heard about a 24-year-old black woman, Tamika Huston, who went missing in Spartanburg, South Carolina, in 2004. |
Journalists seemed indifferent. | Journalists seemed indifferent. |
"The family really struggled to get any coverage whatsoever," says Wilson. | "The family really struggled to get any coverage whatsoever," says Wilson. |
Wilson knows she cannot change the outcome of these cases. Many end in tragedy. More than a year after Huston's disappearance, a former boyfriend pleaded guilty to her murder. | Wilson knows she cannot change the outcome of these cases. Many end in tragedy. More than a year after Huston's disappearance, a former boyfriend pleaded guilty to her murder. |
Yet at least the story has been reported - and her family knows what happened to her. | Yet at least the story has been reported - and her family knows what happened to her. |
In some cases, it takes years to sort out the truth. | In some cases, it takes years to sort out the truth. |
Some families who have lost a loved one only manage with help from an organisation like the Black and Missing Foundation or from a prominent activist. | Some families who have lost a loved one only manage with help from an organisation like the Black and Missing Foundation or from a prominent activist. |
Experts say that all too often when crimes are committed against people of colour the cases remain unsolved. And no one except their families seems to care. | Experts say that all too often when crimes are committed against people of colour the cases remain unsolved. And no one except their families seems to care. |
The case in Cleveland shone a spotlight on the cases of missing children. | |
Experts hope that this will make more people pay attention to those who have disappeared, regardless of the colour of their skin. | Experts hope that this will make more people pay attention to those who have disappeared, regardless of the colour of their skin. |
Indeed, the story may help to remind journalists - and their audiences - that crime cuts across racial lines. It may have another positive aspect, too. | Indeed, the story may help to remind journalists - and their audiences - that crime cuts across racial lines. It may have another positive aspect, too. |
Charles Ramsey helped to save Berry, DeJesus and Knight from their prison. He was also blunt. | Charles Ramsey helped to save Berry, DeJesus and Knight from their prison. He was also blunt. |
"Ramsey just called it like he saw it," says Farai Chideya, author of The Color of Our Future: Race in the 21st Century. | "Ramsey just called it like he saw it," says Farai Chideya, author of The Color of Our Future: Race in the 21st Century. |
"People say, 'Wow, he's representing our race, and he's doing something really awesome - but why can't he comb his hair?' | "People say, 'Wow, he's representing our race, and he's doing something really awesome - but why can't he comb his hair?' |
"I think it's healthy to expand the notion of what a good black man is. You don't have to have a full set of teeth to be a hero." | "I think it's healthy to expand the notion of what a good black man is. You don't have to have a full set of teeth to be a hero." |
You can follow the Magazine on Twitter and on Facebook | You can follow the Magazine on Twitter and on Facebook |