BY SIMONE J. SMITH
“As someone who is part of this community, I feel this pain deeply. When one of our children is missing, it is not just a family tragedy—it is a collective loss that shakes us all. These boys are our future.” Shana McCalla
Six boys. Six empty chairs at dinner tables. Six families living in a nightmare. We are failing our children.
Right now, six families are searching for answers. Six mothers are wondering if their boys are safe, and six futures are hanging in the balance. Six of our boys— Michael (15), Kimani Langley (16), Ayden (15), Trayshawn (15), Malachi (15), and Alpachino Mignott (25) —are missing across Ontario. These are our sons, our brothers, our neighbours, and our friends. Their families are living a nightmare, desperately searching for answers and holding onto hope. Our entire community is affected, because when one of our children is missing, we all feel that pain.
Why have I not received an amber alert about this? There has never been any media attention involved to alert the public, nor any amber alerts issued to notify the public about these six missing Black young males missing in such close proximity!
The numbers tell a devastating story. According to the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, 30,000 children are reported missing in Canada each year. African-Caribbean children are often underrepresented in media coverage and public alerts, and this has led to a critical gap in urgency and resources. This systemic neglect has left our community feeling unheard and unseen.
I want to mention these young boys names again: Alpachino McNaught, a 25 year old last seen in Niagara, on the Lake, 15 year old, Michael, whose last name was not provided on the list of missing persons from the Durham Region, Ayden 15 years of age, has gone missing from the Durham Region, Treyshaun, 15 is missing from Toronto, and 15 year old Malachi, who was last seen in Toronto.
All but one of these young Black males are under the age of 18. The police from various regions in Ontario, have yet to create awareness to this very concerning pattern through the various media channels available in Canada.
I did some research online, and to my dismay, only found two petitions about what has been happening, but nothing from the mainstream media in Canada. Hmmmm!
“Bring Them Home: Our Black Boys Are Missing—We Need Immediate Action,” was created by Shana McCalla, and highlights the devastating impact on the families and the chilling reality of missing children. She questions how many children must disappear before society takes meaningful action, creating a sense of urgency and outrage. Shana demands a system that prioritizes the safety and well-being of all children.
I also found a petition titled, “Stop the Injustice Against our Black Community,” created by Nessa St Louis. In her petition, she speaks to the lack of protection that the African-Caribbean community receives in Ontario, “We are petitioning the Office of Independent Review Director to take action on this, and demand that the same efforts made to protect the members of other ethnic communities in Ontario, be made with the Black Community.
“Failure to create media awareness and increase police efforts of finding the whereabouts of the six young Black youths in Ontario is a reflection that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom is not upheld when dealing with the Black community.”
Other than that, silence…
Nothing from CBC. Nothing from CP24. Nothing.
The Face of Neglect: How Race Impacts Media Response to Child Abductions
In an article titled, “New Voices, New Vision,” the author Ellie Cromling highlights the fact that: young, White, and attractive—missing persons of these three traits tends to be the deciding factor in whether their case is covered by news outlets, or thoroughly investigated by police.
While the disappearance of a White influencer may garner unprecedented amounts of media attention, the thousands of cases of missing Indigenous women remain ignored and in the dark. A missing White child may be immediately filed as missing and endangered, yet their Black counterpart will be labeled as a runaway.
She mentions Missing White Woman Syndrome, a term first used by bloggers and journalists that is now beginning to enter academia, encompasses the underrepresentation of minority missing persons in the media.
In a research study titled, “Missing White Woman Syndrome: An Empirical Analysis of Race and Gender Disparities in Online News Coverage of Missing Persons,” researchers found that many bloggers and commenters have argued that there are widespread and systematic race and gender disparities in the amount of media coverage dedicated to abduction or missing persons cases. They have termed the phenomenon “Missing White Woman Syndrome,” or alternatively “Missing White Girl Syndrome,” based on the belief that white women tend to disproportionately receive the most amount of news coverage.
Academics have joined the fray in theorizing and trying to understand why these perceived disparities exist. However, even with those theoretical contributions, surprisingly little work has been done to actually establish empirically that the disparity is real.
I also stumbled upon a research study titled “Racial and gender differences in missing children’s recovery chances,” where the researchers bravely ask if the race and gender of missing children are associated with their daily recovery chances. To the best of our knowledge, this study was the first to ask and investigate this question.
In their theoretical analysis they proposed three mechanisms through which race and gender of missing children may impact their likelihood of recovery: The greater news coverage that White girls receive may aid search efforts, the resources available for search efforts involving Black children may be more limited, and law enforcement may exert greater effort in cases involving white boys. These mechanisms unequivocally imply lower daily chances for Black children to be found.
This phenomenon is not just happening in North America, it is also being found in other parts of the world. Missing People is the only charity in the UK which is dedicated to supporting those affected by missing persons. The charity provides specialist support to people who are at risk of missing, those who are missing, and the families and friends left behind.
New research, carried out by ListenUp and Missing People, aims to explore Black children and their families’ lived experiences of going missing, to try to better understand:
- Why are Black children more likely to go missing than other children?
- Why are Black children more likely to be missing for longer than other children?
- What response are Black children and families receiving from professionals, and does this differ from the response other children and families receive?
The report includes quotes directly from interviews and focus groups, to ensure their direct views and experiences are centred in our understanding of these issues, and in recommendations for improving the response in future. Below are some of the key findings:
- Reasons for missing: Exploitation and conflict, or problems at home are common drivers of missing incidents for all children, however, our research found that these risks may be particularly pronounced for Black children. A lack of a sense of belonging or identity was seen to increase vulnerability to going missing.
- Lack of value and care: Black young people consistently reported feeling undervalued compared to their White peers. Poor media representation further exacerbates this issue, as Black missing children receive less attention and care.
- Racism: Racial biases against Black children and their families impact risk assessments and safeguarding responses. Black children are often stereotyped, adultified and criminalized, hindering their access to necessary support.
- Trust in Services: Many Black families lack trust in services, including the police. Firsthand experiences of racism and indifference contribute to this lack of confidence.
Echoes of the Missing: A Call to Action
The silence surrounding missing boys is deafening. While the nation rightly mourns missing daughters, the plight of our sons often fades into the background. This cannot stand. We as a community demand law enforcement prioritize these cases, treating them with the same urgency and resources dedicated to missing White girls.
Media outlets must amplify the voices of these missing children, ensuring their stories are not buried beneath a wave of indifference, and the public must demand action – utilize Amber Alerts, support local search efforts, and never stop advocating for the safe return of every missing boy. Their lives hang in the balance, and we cannot afford to wait.
The silence; it’s a silent epidemic, a stain on our society. How many more must vanish before we truly wake up? Before we demand action, before we ensure every child is valued, every life precious?
These boys deserve better. We all deserve better. This is not just about finding them; it’s about demanding a system that protects our most vulnerable. Time is running out. Every day that passes is a day these boys remain missing. We cannot stand by in silence while our children disappear without action.