Coping with the craze of the Gabby Petito case while missing POC go ignored.
True crime shows have grown in popularity in recent years but when a case unfolds in real time, the media attention that case receives can seem disproportionate when compared to the hundreds of cases that go relatively unnoticed in the eyes of the public. The disappearance and death of 22-year-old Gabby Petito is the latest case to receive continuous media coverage and has brought about the difficult conversation of why don’t missing Black, Indigenous, and other minority groups get the same amount of attention?
The term “missing white women syndrome” was coined as an attempt to describe the public’s fascination with cases where young, upper-class white women who are considered conventionally attractive go missing. When you think of famous missing person cases, there are a few that come immediately to mind: Elizabeth Smart, Natalee Halloway, Casey Anthony, Gabby Petito. The real challenge is trying to think of a famous case involving a person of color.
It goes without saying that it’s okay to want justice for Gabby Petito and to bring attention to the racial disparity that is at play. It can also be disheartening and makes people wonder, what can I do to help and how do I cope?
Talk About It
While the Gabby Petito case has started the conversation, it is up to us to continue bringing awareness to the lack of media attention that is given to POC communities. Start conversations with friends and family about what feelings this topic brings up, what their reactions are, and why you think this topic is important to discuss. Not only are you having impactful and meaningful conversations, but you’re also informing those around you about a topic they may not have thought about before, bringing even more attention to a well needed cause.
Stay Informed:
Social media has proven to be extremely useful in spreading information in a quick and easy manner. Regardless of what media platform you use, information on missing person cases can be found with just a few key strokes. Try dedicating a few minutes of your time to stay informed on missing person cases in your area. Below are some websites to get you started:
- The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System: https://namus.nij.ojp.gov/
- Murdered & Missing Indigenous Women https://www.nativewomenswilderness.org/mmiw
- Black & Missing Foundation: https://blackandmissinginc.com/
Get Involved:
Some people cope by taking action. The greatest way to help missing POC cases gain media attention is by sharing the information yourself. Sharing, posting, and re-tweeting information about missing person cases on your social media platform helps spread the news faster and to places where it may not have been reachable before.
Learning more about the disproportionate amount of POC that go missing each year can bring up negative feelings of hopelessness or loss. If these feelings become too hard to handle, seek out services from a mental health professional. We are here to help in any way we can.
