Follows Black and Missing Foundation founders Derrica and Natalie Wilson as they dive into specific cases and break down how systemic behaviors and attitudes stem from centuries of deeply rooted racism.
“There are more than 600,000 people missing in 2019; more than 40% were people of color.” The media’s obsession for covering missing white women has been referred to as Missing White Woman Syndrome. Names like Elizabeth Smart, Natalee Holloway, and most recently, Gabby Petito, stayed firmly in the headlines for months on end. Meanwhile, the same media refuses to spend any decent airtime focusing on missing Black, Indigenous, and Brown people. Police have a reputation for treating minors as adults and assuming missing children are runaways instead of investigating their potential kidnapping or murder. Founders Derrica and Natalie Wilson, along with volunteers of their Black and Missing Foundation, lay out efforts to change the narrative on the media’s racial bias. The four-part documentary series was directed by Geeta Gandbhir and produced by CNN talking head Soledad O’Brien. O’Brien is a cheerleader for the capitalist system, so I was very curious how she would handle critiquing its shortcomings.
One of the biggest factors in the US is the disparity of wealth. This massive wealth gap leaves millions of people (especially marginalized) impoverished and vulnerable. How in the richest country on Earth can this be allowed to happen? “Black and Missing” digs into the issue but when it gets too deep, there’s a pivot back to reinforcing the status quo. Some subjects say things like this country has not figured out how to help victims of domestic violence but it’s simple: housing and basic needs would solve the issue for millions of people. Although it has been statistically proven that more cops do not decrease crime, even in a perfect world, police are needed to solve murders.
Unfortunately, the series glosses over economic and structural issues using catchphrases like “a vicious cycle,” instead of naming or identifying the systemic issue. It’s also sad to see individuals have to do so much for themselves when it should be the State helping out. Without a doubt, the content is important and emotional, but I really wish the execution was more intellectual.
Available to stream exclusively on HBO Max
