A Catch 22: Shedding Light on Missing Black People a Necessary Reality

Black people disproportionately go missing in the United States relative to their total population, according to FBI data.

A Facebook user recently posted that her timeline seems to be inundated these days with cases of missing Black people. Her comment is true and the stories are sometimes heartbreaking, embarrassing or confusing. But for decades, the cases of missing Black people couldn’t get any sort of publicity, while a case involving a missing white woman would be on mainstream news outlets nonstop. Social media has played a big part in highlighting more cases and getting the word out throughout the community. The flipside of this however is that it also highlights just how many Black people go missing in the United States on a daily basis. The statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigation are alarming.

According to the FBI’s National Crime Information Center, Black people make up 37 percent of missing person cases in the United States, despite making up only 14 percent of the U.S. population. This disproportionate amount is even greater when you consider that Black women and girls makeup 40 percent of the female missing person cases, even though they only comprise seven percent of the country’s population.  

When I started this website nearly three years ago, I specifically created a section for missing persons to try and reverse the trend of media coverage for missing Black people. Historically, ardent racism, especially in the southern states, meant Black people could be snatched up and never heard from again with ease. As of the writing of this article, four of the Top 10 most viewed articles on Jcoydenreports have been about missing persons. The latest being the disappearance of Rev. Warren Beard, whose body was recovered two days ago inside of his vehicle submerged in a river. The article has been viewed thousands of times, and was eventually picked up by the national media, but his wife spoke exclusively with Jcoydenreports before anyone else.

Partnering with an organization like Black & Missing has made a big difference in how I can bring stories to light. A national organization with a top-notch reputation that wsa started by two sistahs on the East coast and featured on HBO, the partnership allows me to get some local stories national attention and while also alerting them to cases in Chicago they may not know about.

Being in the media for over 20 years, I can testify that missing person stories can bring about the greatest satisfaction for a reporter, especially if a story you wrote about results in the reunification of a missing person with their loved ones. It can also lead to low moments when the missing person is found deceased. But even then, you at least have the opportunity of helping to bring closure to a family. The ones that keep me up at night are the ones where there are still no answers.

Chicago police are still looking for Chance Johnson and actress Andrea Dean.

Andrea Dean’s case will forever be on the top of my priority list. The Chicago actress has not been heard from by her family in years, despite credible leads that show who she is probably with. She is believed to be with Chance Johnson, a South Side native with an interesting past and whose family won’t speak to the media about their son but have told Chicago police detectives they have no clue who Andrea is. This despite their son marrying Dean in a Cook County courthouse ceremony in 2021 and the couple having at least two children together. Chad’s vehicles have also been found at his parent’s home at 9155 S. Paulina and other vehicles registered to him have been pinged on police license plate readers throughout the Chicago area. Dean who worked as an actress and a short time as an exotic dancer, is a potential victim to being sex trafficked, according to investigators, who still have her case listed under the endangered person category.

While Johnson’s parents are remaining reticent, the streets talk. Because of this, most missing persons cases are eventually solved. With the forensic and police technology available in 2024, video surveillance omnipresent and human beings in general just never being able to hold a secret, there is always a better chance that a person will be found then never heard from again.

Assitance from the public is often the key in solving these cases. Runaway children seem to all of a certain return home as soon as their faces get blasted all over X (Twitter), Instagram or TikTok. Law enforcement suddenly finds the resources to investigate and follow-up on cases when the mass media gets involved and the public demands answers. Those with a mental illness who go missing, often need the kindness of strangers who may have saw their photo or read about them to get them returned to a safe place.

That is why it is important to tell the story behind the person who is missing. I try to humanize the victim and make a connection with the readers when I write missing person stories. People are more apt to share a story when they can see themselves in the victim or their family’s position.

Taylor Casey, a transgender woman from Chicago, went missing in the Bahamas three weeks ago. Police found her cellphone in the ocean. Photo by Casey family.

The family of Taylor Casey, who has been missing in the Bahamas for three weeks, shielded her identity as a transwoman because they feared the public and the police in Bahamas wouldn’t care about her case. Bahamian law offers no protection of discrimination against gender identity or sexual orientation.

Discrimination based on race or against members of the LGBTQ community is a real thing. Casey represents both demographics, so the fact that her case has attracted national media attention, as did the case of Rev. Beard’s means that things are moving in a positive direction. But based on the number of missing person cases just on the Chicago Police Department’s website alone, shows there is much more work to be done.

Here is what you can do to help:

1.   Share posts about as many missing person cases in your area as you can on your social media. I find many of my stories through associates on social media.

2.   Have empathy for the victims and their family.

3.   Take a good look at the photos and read the information about the person who is missing.

4.   Share any leads you may have with law enforcement or confidentially with a reporter if you don’t feel comfortable talking to police. A journalist will look into the information and are often responsible for getting victims returned safely. Some of my best leads come from people with felony convictions or who have outstanding warrants.

I am appreciative to all of those who have shared the stories of the missing on this site. I will continue to do this work as a service to my community. You can help me with this endeavor by donating below. I thank you in advance.