36 Children of Color Dead in Chicago
Posted By The Editors | May 14th, 2009 | Category: The Drinking Gourd, Year in Review | 10 comments
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By Stacey Patton
Megan Kanka. Amber Hagerman. JonBenét Ramsey. Elizabeth Smart. Caylee Anthony. Sandra Cantu.
When these six cute, middle-class white girls, ranging from age 2 to 14, went missing or were horrifically murdered, national news outlets devoted hours, days and weeks of coverage to their cases. But when children of color are victimized in similar ways, the mainstream media often remains conspicuously silent or provides scant coverage at best.
A quick GOOGLE news archive search illustrates my point.
There are 3,670 articles on the 1994 murder of 7-year-old Megan Kanka, who was raped and abducted by a twice-convicted sex offender who lived next door. The 1996 murder and abduction of 9-year-old Amber Hagerman produced 2,570 headlines. An astonishing 13,500 news stories helped sensationalize the 1996 murder of JonBenét Ramsey, a 6-year-old beauty pageant contestant found bound and strangled in her home.
Between June and November of 2002, 8,300 new stories were printed about the abduction and recovery of 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart. Since last October, 1,570 stories have discussed the murder of 2-year-old Caylee Anthony, whose skeletal remains were found a month later. And in one month, 424 articles have appeared on 8-year-old Cantu, who was raped, killed, stuffed in a suitcase and thrown in a pond in northern California on April 11.
Do the math. Six young white girls. One abducted and later returned. Five killed. 30, 134 news stories and nearly two million total web hits. And with the exception of the Ramsey case, suspects have been captured, indicted, tried, and even sentenced to death for the brutal crimes against these innocent children.
Each of these girls has her own Wikipedia entry, which discusses their lives, details of their investigation, and archives media references and external links to various websites, talk shows, and made-for-TV documentaries and movies as well as child and victims advocacy sites.
Now enter the names of the following children: Corey Hatter, Ordero Hillard, Marcus Washington, Andre Malcolm, Arthur Tyler, Sameer Conn, Shaun Brown, Shaun Bowens, Kiyanna Salter, Daniel Calderon, Ernest Williams, Julian King, Brian Murdock, Quentin Buckner, Devour Robinson, Dushawn Johnson, Isiah Stroud, Andre Stephens, Esteban Martinez, Itzel Fernandez, Johnel Ford, Rachael Beauchamp, Johnny Edwards, Kendrick Pitts, Raheem Washington, Carnell Pitts, Franco Avila, Gregory Robinson, Lee Ivory Miller, Rakeem Washington, Tommie Williams, Marquell Blake, Juan Cazares, Christina Campos, and Alex Arellano.
All 36 of these schoolchildren, mostly black and a few Latinos, were killed in the streets of Chicago during the past nine months. They were shot, stabbed, beaten with bats, kicked to death, burned and run over by cars.
GOOGLE their names and you won’t get a return of hundreds of national news stories or thousands of web hits discussing their deaths. The only child of all these victims to gain a great deal of media attention was 7-year-old Julian King, the nephew of singer and actress Jennifer Hudson, killed last October by his mother’s estranged husband.
For the rest of the children, there are no Wikipedia entries. No documentaries. No made for TV films. And there won’t be. They’ll be remembered in a few grainy YouTube video tributes posted by friends and family members. And if there are more shootings, all of these children will be lumped together and described as statistics and tragic victims of urban warfare, even though most were not high school dropouts, gang members, or criminals. They were killed during day-to-day activities: walking to the store, playing in a park, waiting for a bus, or riding in a car with a parent.
Sure, CNN’s Anderson Cooper recently ran a story about the killings of these schoolchildren. But it took three dozen children to die before their murders became national news. Let a white woman or child go missing or be killed and what follows is predictable, sensational news coverage.
New York Times columnist Bob Herbert contends that a major part of the problem is that the country’s news media is still very color-conscious when covering murder. In an Op/Ed published this past Monday, Herbert wrote: “It’s a searing double-standard that tells us volumes about the ways in which we view one another, and whose lives are considered to have value in this society and whose are not.”
For years, Herbert has been one of the few voices consistently writing about the terrible toll on children in ghettos and barrios. What impact will the steady decline of the numbers of minority journalists in newsrooms have on this kind of coverage? This is one more reason why news decision makers and reporters must more accurately reflect the diversity of their audiences.
The disturbing silence about these 36 murders tells me that a great part of the white mainstream media has long been numb to black suffering, and it continues to be so. There’s nothing intrinsically new to this. What is new is that our 24-hour all-information-all-the-time culture has heightened the contradiction between the mainstream media’s obsession with white victimhood -a dynamic that probably stems from deeper impulses than just revulsion at specific crimes against young white females – and hearing statistics about lethal violence against black youth.
FBI statistics indicate that black children under age 19 comprise one-third of all homicides nationwide. The Bureau’s statistics reveal that in 2006, 1,375 black children were murdered, and 1,389 were murdered in 2007. The larger society’s avoidance of these statistics and the recent killings in Chicago is a deliberate act that tells me that black children’s lives have no intrinsic value in this country.
Why is it that when Laci Peterson, a pregnant white woman, was killed by her husband, our government passed federal legislation (The Laci and Conner Act) making it a double homicide to kill a pregnant woman? What kind of double standard is this, when the killings of pregnant women of color don’t grab headlines or inspire legislation? Are the lives of children of color living in urban inner cities less worthy of attention and protection than white fetuses?
Kanka’s murder inspired Megan’s Law, which requires the registry of convicted sex offenders, and Haberman’s killing provoked the establishment of the Amber Alert, designed to instantly galvanize communities to help search for missing children. But what of the killings of 36 black and Latino children in Chicago? Who will legislate on their behalf?
Father Michael Pfleger, a Roman Catholic priest at the St. Sabina Church on Chicago’s South Side, has ordered the American flag to be hung upside-down as a sign of distress and to symbolize the growing death toll among schoolchildren. His actions have drawn protests from some war veterans who believe it is a sign of disrespect for the sacrifices of soldiers who lost their lives protecting the country. A U.S. flag code, passed by Congress, states that the flag should be hung upside down only “as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.”
“There’s more attention being given to the flag than to children dying,” Pfleger told the Chicago Tribune. “What do we care about children dying? My God, isn’t it a dire emergency that we’re losing children — almost two classrooms in Chicago alone — to gun violence? This is a dire emergency. This is a pandemic.”
Pfleger is insistent that the murders of these children have not gotten the attention they need. He maintains that had 36 children died of swine flu, “there would be this great influx of resources that say, ‘Let’s stop this, let’s deal with this.’” Instead, the violence continues. “We’re hiding it. We’re ignoring it. We’re denying the problems.”
No child’s humanity should be devalued or overlooked because of their skin color or economic status. The murders of these 36 are a stark and glaring reminder of how our race-conscious media continues to assign unequal value to the lives of people of color.
We can continue to repeat our same old complaints about the mainstream media. But maybe the example of these child murders will provide the perfect opportunity to harness the power of the much more diverse and democratic blogosphere. In doing so, we can better represent and inform ourselves of the dire challenges facing our communities.
Stacey Patton is Senior Editor/Writer for TheDefendersOnline and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.
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Thank you for this article. I thought I was the only one noticing that night after night Nancy Grace talks about the same stories andthe same people again and again. I have been trying to figure out what makes certain children so special that they warrant our attention every night and there are hundrends of others who never receive a second thought….I am glad someone else is paying attention…
In the news recently, maybe online or on tv, I saw a headline about the flag turned upside down
and the 36 deaths of young people in Chicago. The news about 36 children dying got my
attention so I looked it up on google today. I dont live near any part of Chicago but I travel through
supposedly bad neighborhoods sometimes, I guess, with my car or on a bicycle. This was an
interesting article, but as it seems to happen, the deaths not getting enough media etc
attention in the recent past, may change now with more media possibly getting on board
to cover the story. I`ve read a few articles online about this now and seen the summaries on
google, and they cover the story. But when I went to find out about this, I didnt primarilly
care how much attention what murder stories, white or black, got from what media.
I wanted to know WHO (gangs, supposedly) is killing who and WHY? And how would
people, police or whoever, stop the violence? Not to be a wise guy, but I dont think
its white media killing people, although I`ve heard the expression that the truth
will set you free, so somehow getting down to where the real reason for the
desparation is could possibly enlighten people about what to do. I think I heard that
there are 100,000 gang members in Chicago. I guess I`m supposed to assume that
its all about gangs that have developed this way in some Chicago communities,
but I dont really know from the news reports directly who and why. So, I`m not
a writer or into this that much, but the gang phenonenon is getting my attention.
Anyway, I`m a quiet guy and I dont really want this message posted on your
webstie. I just wanted to know who and why.
Wow! I came across your site doing research for my thesis Missing children. I never knew this information ever exsisted until now. it is so sad, my paper is an argumentive one as to why the criteria for amber alerts should be changed, and is the media fair. I am so glad that I decided to click on , the site. it hurts my heart to read about our black children that go missing,and no one really gives a heck, until we make a stink.
the media should realize that our children are just as loved, and that they are just as important as the next set of children that are fair skinned, and blond haired and blue eyes.They deserve a Nancy Grace or an Quick Amber Alert!
Why do our missing children ,not get the same media as the Elizabeth Smarts and the Caylee Anthony’s.
Is the media and the Amber Alerts only seeing the color White? What about seeing children, who parents are frantic, scared and devastated to , even if our children’s skin is fair, brown, or mokha ,coffee black.
We carried them, for nine months, cried when they were born, cheered when they first walked, and thought that they were the most beautiful babies that were ever born. SHAME ON THE MEDIA! WHAT IF IT WAS YOUR CHILD? Nancy Grace does not deserve rateings , and neither does any other media that think that a Black Child is not important , when they go missing!
I had read an article earlier about how many children had been killed in chicago so far this year. 36 plus. WOW! Its not even 6 months in yet. My next thought was my president if from there. If he let his city go like this wonder what he’s gonna do to my country???mmm While researching this information again since it had come up in a conversation recently. I was making sure what I had read was correct. I came across this article. Read it. My first thought, how racist this article was written. It is horrible when anything happens to children no matter what the situation. In the beginning of your article you talk about all the children who received major media attention. I don’t think it’s really so much about the color as it is about the crime itself. We are country that thrives on thrill,mystery,mayhem,and gory details. However, that still shouldn’t matter. But I just can’t help to see that there is nothing odd about anyone getting killed in crime ridden areas. It is on every news cast everyday “somebody got shot to day”. Its like an everyday routine.
What I can’t understand is WHY? when these crimes happen NO ONE SAW ANYTHING. Thats a bunch of crap. If no one can give any information how the HE** is the police suppose to catch these morons.??? Somebody has to speak up.
Since no one can seem to help. How about the police and government just get together. Start by blocking off areas one at a time. Then they rush every house, building, store and take control. Get the guns the drugs and anything else. Then every person is arrested and put on lock down in their home until the guilty have been found. How does that sound? cuz thats the only way they will be able to get info. OFF THE WALL. yeah maybe.
Then you’d be writing They only invaded the black and latin neighborhoods. It’s a double edged sword.
Something has to change and its not how many articles should have been written on the deaths of these 36 plus children. Who were so violently killed.
The other thing about this article. All of the crimes you mentioned none of them were gunned downed. They were horrific. And their families and communities got behind the story and pushed and helped any way they could to solve these crimes.
How many people from these communities, that lost a loved one, got out and did anything to bring attention to the situation. It shouldn’t take 36 deaths for someone to step up. It shouldn’t take hanging a flag upside down before the people to see there is a PROBLEM. And the federal government shouldn’t have to come in.
You may not like what i said but its how I see it. Just looking at some of the headlines on this page……
It’s sad really. Its sad that no matter what happens there will always be that “chip”. Yes I said that. Also, it takes people taking ownership of their own issues. Instead of placing blame everywhere but on themselves. You know responsibility….
I just read a quote from daily encouragements by Diasaku Ikeda. I think it relates somewhat. “It is important that youth in particular actively seek challenges to forge and strengthen themselves. Those who enjoy material luxury from a young age and do not work hard cannot become people of outstanding character. They cannot become great leaders who protect the people. I hope that you will work hard, sparing no effort, and develop yourselves as indomitable champions, shaken or disheartened by nothing.”Nam Myoho Renge kyo
If this goes through it’d be great to have some real dialog.
I first just want to take the time to say that this article is not only much needed, but serves as an undeniable proof of the injustices/small & stereotypical mindsets that STILL exist in the hearts and minds of people in this country. Dan and Brenda are examples this truth as well. Dan builds his argument stating that his “priority” in terms of the subject matter that is presented is WHO IS KILLING WHO, rather than WHO IS BEING KILLED, which are BEAUTIFUL AND INNOCENT CHILDREN. Yes, we all have taken notice to the media attention and statistics pertaining to gang activity in Chicago. However when a child’s life is lost there should be no other concern aside from that of preventing it again; and yes DAN, if the white media, which, sadly, is the dominant form of media in this land continues to REFUSE to tell each and every one of these stories it makes them just as responsible as the community members who refuse to speak up in the community. IT TAKES A VILLAGE. This is the truth and I hope that this sets you free DAN. I also hope that this awakens something in you, as a citizen of the country, to DO SOMETHING.
Brenda, in all honesty your perspective scares and sickens me. In terms of the president allowing his city to “fall to ruins”, take some time to read some of his books. He garnered support for his grass-roots campaign through his tireless involvement with the community and their issues, which at times included issues just like this one here. In terms of the “severity” of the crimes as you mentioned, there should be NO GAUGE of severity when anybody, especially a CHILD has lost their life. A life lost if just that, AND EVERY SINGLE STORY SHOULD BE TOLD WITH THE SAME INTENSITY AND OUTRAGE. Quite frankly, to say that these communities do not band together to raise RIGHTEOUS NOISE concerning these murders is outlandish and spoken from someone who has no idea what goes on in these communities. The people of these communities create vigils to mourn these heinous crimes, whether one of their children were “GUNNED DOWN” or otherwise. Even if the participation is few, they hold meetings, urging for members of the communities to take a stand with them and to come to resolutions that can possibly save another life. When they come together like this, there is no media coverage; there are no reporters that come to heed the issues of these communities. Phone calls to the news centers go unreturned, sending a message that yet another life lost is not worthy of the front page, or even of a reporter’s investigation. The stripping away of one’s rights as citizen is also not answer to a phenomena as complex as this, it takes these communities, their families, these news stations, the local, state and federal government, law enforcement and EVERYONE ELSE to make this right. POINTING FINGERS, DEFLECTING BLAME and making IGNORANT COMMENTS ABOUT SITUAITONS THAT ARE FOREIGN ONLY CREATE CHAOS AND A LOSS OF THE TRUE FOCUS. Which is that the country’s future is being murdered right before our very own eyes. Yes. Black, Hispanic, White, Asian, Any child losing their life is everyone’s issue, and everyone’s “chip” to bear.
I find this quite interesting… I watch Nancy Grace quite often and all I would hear about is the Cayley Anthony Story (God Bless her) Yes, her story is sad and very tragic and my heart hurts for her and all the victimized children of the world, however there are no unfamiliar things in her case that makes it unique, giving it the national attention it has received. She is not the only child in the world who has been killed by the one person who was supposed to protect her. Children are killed everyday most of the time it’s by someone close to them; mothers and fathers are not excluded from reality. There was a story on Nancy Grace it was only on there one time. I can’t even remember the name of the child but it was of a black autistic child that had gone missing. I don’t even know what the outcome of the case was, was he found, is he alive, is he dead, do they have any suspects, witnesses, is they’re anything? Even the Hassani Campbell case hasn’t even been largely publicized (the missing child with cerebral palsy). However in part I will agree with Brenda, it is not unfamiliar for a black urban child, as innocent it may be, to be gunned down in a urban area and when it does happen, everyone is so much in fear of there own safety they do not speak up. When Christina Williams went missing in the area I’m from. It was national news, the FBI was even involved. Which was due to her having disappeared and her body being found dead on federal property. That happened in 1998 and it still talked about. Her killer was never found, even though the have a possible suspect in jail for a unrelated sexual assault case. Christina was Phillipino & White (still a minority). Where I’m from there has been 22 homicides in a city with a population of 150,000 all gang-related or mistaken identity. It is not uncommon to hear of another person, typically Hispanic, to be killed by gunfire, but it is uncommon to hear of child from this area (regardless of there race) going missing and being found dead. In urban cities with a large population the police are investigating murders, prostitution, rapes, assaults, drugs etc. Those things should be taken into consideration too. If the community in those areas speak up and help law enforcers catch these suspects then I’m sure more of these tragic murder cases would be solved. I know I probably sound contradictive but you have to look at things from two different perspectives. I do believe that the writer has some valid points but there are other things to consider before making any determinations of racism. For example of reverse-racism. A white kid gets beat up for dating a black girl; the community turns there head the other way. The father of the victim had to push the detectives do even charge the suspects with a hate crime, however if that was a black kid getting beat up for dating a white girl there would be protests, Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton would be all involved and so would the NAACP. The president would have to address it and it would be a media frenzy. That’s where the problem lies; everyone is so hung up on race. We as people have overcome so much. There is always going to be racism we can’t control the way someone feels about a particular race Sometimes we do need to look outside the box something’s are not always as they seem. In case anyone is wondering I am black if that should even matter.
I have been on the internet for hours reading about the murders of youg black kids and it just saddens me. I just don’t dont understand it. I stated by googling Derrion Albert and then other stories started coming to my attention, Eric Morse, Ben Wilson, Rober Sandifer, Alex Arellano and the list goes on. Derrion’s murder seem so real because you can see him being beat and stomped to death. It’s alway sad when a child is murdered, whether they are black or white, but you are RIGHT! Black children for some reason, seem to slip through the cracks, as if there life is not as important. My heart is just aching and I am deeply saddened for all the family and friends involved…..especially when it is kids killing kids!!!!!
hey sorry for the question but does anybody have a picture of marcus washington.or know were i can get one. it for a good cause my club im in my high school is making a like a altar for all the 36 kids that died and i need a picture?nailea_9999@hotnmail.com
Not only is white victimhood given preference in the media, but the criminalization of Black and Brown men is over sensationalized!
The reality is Blacks need to deal with there testosterone levels which lead to higher levels of impulsivitey. This is causing increase violent crimes, increase pregnancy’s, lower intelligence. It must be addressed. How long does the black community need assistance from the rest of america. Its not up to government to cure community ills its up to the community themselves. People keep asking the teachers to be held accountable, yet the parents are more to blame. Also, what about the churches. There are so many dam churches and this violence continues. Many communities have risen above their struggles yet the black community continues to struggle. Why because they have higher levels of testosterone and people are blaming the white man and the lack of financial support when this has nothing to do with it