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The List of Black and Missing Continues to Grow

NNPA NEWSWIRE — The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children – or NCMEC – said the number of reports of missing children made to law enforcement in the United States now totals more than 424,000.

Published

6 years ago

June 3, 2019

Oakland Post

THE NATIONAL NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION CONTINUES ITS SERIES ON MISSING BLACK WOMEN AND GIRLS.

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

Tawny Reed

Type the name Tawny Reed in the Google search engine and click on “News.”

In doing so, one will find among the results, an obscure 1960s Welsh singer named Tawny Reed and even a headline from the Telegraph newspaper in the United Kingdom that reads, “The beautiful Turkish wonder you’ve probably never heard of.”

What you won’t find is Tawny Reed, the missing 14-year-old Black girl from Reno, Nevada who was last seen on May 1.

It’s a recurring theme: An African American female goes missing and there’s no radar too low that she won’t fly beneath.

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children– or NCMEC – said the number of reports of missing children made to law enforcement in the United States now totals more than 424,000.

Tawny stands five feet tall and weighs about 130 pounds and authorities haven’t described what she was doing at the time of her disappearance or what she may have been wearing.

Anessa Reed

Less than two weeks before Tawny disappeared, Aneesa Reed also went missing in Reno.

Aneesa [no reported relation to Tawny] is 16 and authorities said she’s five-feet and four inches tall and weighs 110 pounds. She was last seen on April 26.

Across the state in Las Vegas, Ashantay Jones, 17, also disappeared.

The five-feet and 11 inches tall, Ashantay reportedly weighs about 135 pounds.

Like Tawny, Aneesa and Ashantay, a Google search of Keaisha Hayes-Prater, yields nothing about the missing black teen in the news section.

The 13-year-old, who’s listed at five feet tall and 148 pounds, disappeared on May 3 in Columbus, Ohio.

Authorities believe she may still be in the local area, but they’re unsure what may have happened to her.

Keisha Hayws Prater

The alarming number of missing black females counts for a large chunk of disappearances nationwide. Yet, as the crisis continues, media attention remains largely diverted.

“I worked in Texas as a news anchor and the statistics there are shocking,” said Liz Jeneault, an Emmy-nominated former TV news anchor who once hosted a public affairs show called, “In Focus,” in Texas.

Jeneault, who now works as vice president of marketing for Faveable.com, said she believes some girls have fallen victim to human trafficking.

“I interviewed professionals from the University of Texas at Austin about how there are an estimated 79,000 child sex trafficking victims in Texas alone,” Jeneault said.

“Houston is known to be a hub for trafficking and is unfortunately where black women and girls are roped into the trade,” she said.

It’s really quite prophetic that so many African Americans have gone missing and are forgotten [by society], said Phyllis G. Williams, the co-host of Living the Principles Onward. Of course, they will never be forgotten by their friends and loved ones.

“Malcolm X said the most disrespected person in America is the black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the black woman and the most neglected person in America is the black woman,” Williams said.

“This was stated 57 years ago and sadly the words still ring true. Our lack of protection mixed with constant disrespect and neglect contributes to little effort in being found when we are missing,” she said.

Ashantay Jones

“Many Americans are subconsciously programmed to view black women and girls as promiscuous, angry, and of little overall value, which leads law enforcement, media and others to reason that there’s little need to exhaust the system for someone others believe lack wholesomeness,” said Williams, whose family has endured its own unsolved disappearance.

“My aunt Doll Crooks has been missing since the mid-1980s and, after more than 30 years, it appears she’s just another cold case,” Williams said.

“I can’t help but wonder if my aunt Doll had blonde hair and blue eyes, while living in an upper-middle class neighborhood, [if] there would have been more detective work [done to find her],” she said

Anyone with information about the disappearance of Tawny Reed or Aneesa Reed call the Reno Police Department at 1-775-334-2121. For Ashantay Jones, call the Las Vegas Police Department at 1-702-828-3111. For Keaisha Hayes-Prater, call the Columbus Police Department at 1-614-645-4545.

For information on anyone missing, call 1-800-THE-LOST, or visit www.missingkids.com.

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#NNPA BlackPress

Black Feminist Movement Mobilizes in Response to National Threats

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States.

Published

1 week ago

May 30, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States. The event, led by the organization Black Feminist Future, is headlined by activist and scholar Angela Y. Davis. Paris Hatcher, executive director of Black Feminist Future, joined Black Press USA’s Let It Be Known to outline the mission and urgency behind the gathering, titled “Get Free.” “This is not just a conference to dress up and have a good time,” Hatcher said. “We’re building power to address the conditions that are putting our lives at risk—whether that’s policing, reproductive injustice, or economic inequality.” Hatcher pointed to issues such as rising evictions among Black families, the rollback of bodily autonomy laws, and the high cost of living as key drivers of the event’s agenda. “Our communities are facing premature death,” she said.

Workshops and plenaries will focus on direct action, policy advocacy, and practical organizing skills. Attendees will participate in training sessions that include how to resist evictions, organize around immigration enforcement, and disrupt systemic policies contributing to poverty and incarceration. “This is about fighting back,” Hatcher said. “We’re not conceding anything.” Hatcher addressed the persistent misconceptions about Black feminism, including the idea that it is a movement against men or families. “Black feminism is not a rejection of men,” she said. “It’s a rejection of patriarchy. Black men must be part of this struggle because patriarchy harms them too.” She also responded to claims that organizing around Black women’s issues weakens broader coalitions. “We don’t live single-issue lives,” Hatcher said. “Our blueprint is one that lifts all Black people.”

The conference will not be streamed virtually, but recaps and updates will be posted daily on Black Feminist Future’s YouTube channel and Instagram account. The event includes performances by Tank and the Bangas and honors longtime activists including Billy Avery, Erica Huggins, and Alexis Pauline Gumbs. When asked how Black feminism helps families, Hatcher said the real threat to family stability is systemic oppression. “If we want to talk about strong Black families, we have to talk about mass incarceration, the income gap, and the systems that tear our families apart,” Hatcher said. “Black feminism gives us the tools to build and sustain healthy families—not just survive but thrive.”

Stacy M. Brown

Posts by Stacy M. Brown

#NNPA BlackPress

Hoover’s Commutation Divides Chicago as State Sentence Remains

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Hoover was convicted of murder and running a criminal enterprise. Although some supporters describe him as a political prisoner, the legal and public safety concerns associated with his name remain substantial.

Published

1 week ago

May 29, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

The federal sentence for Gangster Disciples founder Larry Hoover has been commuted, but he remains incarcerated under a 200-year state sentence in Illinois. The decision by Donald Trump to reduce Hoover’s federal time has reignited longstanding debates over his legacy and whether rehabilitation or continued punishment is warranted. The commutation drew immediate public attention after music executive Jay Prince and artist Chance the Rapper publicly praised Trump’s decision. “I’m glad that Larry Hoover is home,” said Chance the Rapper. “He was a political prisoner set up by the federal government. He created Chicago Votes, mobilized our people, and was targeted for that.”

But Hoover, the founder of the Gangster Disciples, is not home—not yet. Now in federal custody at the Florence Supermax in Colorado, Hoover was convicted of murder and running a criminal enterprise. Although some supporters describe him as a political prisoner, the legal and public safety concerns associated with his name remain substantial. “There is a divide in the Black community here,” said Chicago journalist Jason Palmer during an appearance on the Let It Be Known morning program. “Some view Hoover as someone who brought structure and leadership. Others remember the violence that came with his organization.” Palmer explained that while Hoover’s gang originally formed for protection, it grew into a criminal network responsible for extensive harm in Chicago. He also noted that Hoover continued to run his organization from state prison using coded messages passed through visitors, prompting his transfer to federal custody.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who is widely considered a potential 2028 presidential contender, has not issued a statement. Palmer suggested that silence is strategic. “Releasing Hoover would create enormous political consequences,” Palmer said. “The governor’s in a difficult spot—he either resists pressure from supporters or risks national backlash if he acts.” According to Palmer, Hoover’s federal commutation does not make him a free man. “The federal sentence may be commuted, but he still has a 200-year state sentence,” he said. “And Illinois officials have already made it clear they don’t want to house him in state facilities again. They prefer he remains in federal custody, just somewhere outside of Colorado.”

Palmer also raised concerns about what Hoover’s case could signal for others. “When R. Kelly was convicted federally, state prosecutors in Illinois and Minnesota dropped their charges. If a president can commute federal sentences based on public pressure or celebrity support, others like R. Kelly or Sean Combs could be next,” Palmer said. “Meanwhile, there are thousands of incarcerated people without fame or access to public platforms who will never get that consideration.” “There are people who are not here today because of the violence connected to these organizations,” Palmer said. “That has to be part of this conversation.”

Stacy M. Brown

Posts by Stacy M. Brown

#NNPA BlackPress

WATCH: Five Years After George Floyd: Full Panel Discussion | Tracey’s Keepin’ It Real | Live Podcast Event

Join us as we return to the city where it happened and speak with a voice from the heart of the community – Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO/Publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

Published

2 weeks ago

May 28, 2025

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https://youtube.com/watch?v=OsNLWTz6jU0&feature=oembed

May 25, 2020. The world stopped and watched as a life was taken.

But what has happened since?

Join us as we return to the city where it happened and speak with a voice from the heart of the community – Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO/Publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

She shares reflections, insights, and the story of a community forever changed. What has a year truly meant, and where do we go from here?

This is more than just a date; it’s a moment in history. See what one leader in the Black press has to say about it.

Recorded live at UROC in Minneapolis, this powerful discussion features:

Panelists: