$25,000 reward for missing white woman; $3500 for murdered black children

[proud2BlibKansan]

My title hopefully says it all. There is a white woman missing and her husband is suspected of killing her and disposing of her body. She has been missing since January and the increased reward amount was announced this week.

http://www.kansascity.com/115/story/1181037.html



In March, two boys, ages 7 and 10, were murdered along with their aunt and her boyfriend. There are no suspects and the investigation is not going anywhere. Today they announced the reward has been increased from $!500 to $3500.

http://www.kansascity.com/news/breaking_news/story/1143606.html

[asthmaticeog]

1. Um, the reward in the first case is being offered by the family.

Your second link doesn't even mention a reward at all, but it might not be unreasonable to conclude that the disparity in rewards might be due to disparity in what each family can afford to offer?

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. They announced the reward for the boys on the radio this afternoon

I couldn't find a link to a story yet.

[Dorian Gray]

55. But who offered the reward?

The police or the family?

If the family is doing it in either case, it's comparing apples to oranges.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

19. hey, this is off topic, but i wanted to say hi

i havent seen you aroudn at all :hi:

[johnnie]

2. The family put the money up for the woman

I don't understand where you are going with this?

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. I find it sad

Don't understand why I need to explain it.

[Baby Snooks]

40. It is sad..

It is sad but it is also a reality that "whites" usually have more money to put up for rewards than "blacks" and I put used quotation marks because our society still does. We are a racist society.

We have come a long way in this country. We still have a long way to go.

This is not a matter of society valuing a "white" person more than a "black" person but merely a matter of a family having the means to put up a substantial reward and not reflective of racism but just economic disparity which is tied to racism but not solely tied to racism.

We are two Americas. Divided along many lines. Not just race.

[ProfessorGAC]

65. You Should

If Bill Gates had a family member missing, he'd be able to offer more money than me. That's a sad fact.

Sorry you don't deal with facts well.
GAC

[Hangingon]

66. It is sad.

Obviously, the young woman's family is very concerned and willing to put up money. What are you implying?

[nomorenomore08]

15. It's the fact that this seems to parallel the media's "missing white girl" syndrome.

Young white women (and little white girls) always seem to get more media attention than anyone else when they vanish, particularly if they're blonde, blue-eyed, and/or good-looking. Think of Natalee Holloway or Elizabeth Smart.

[tammywammy]

20. The OP says further down both are getting lots of media attention n/t

[nomorenomore08]

21. Well, I'd imagine any quadruple homicide would, especially involving young kids.

:shrug:

[tammywammy]

35. Agreed, I'm just pointing out in this case

Where I'm going to assume the OP was hoping to point out that the white girl gets high reward money (though it's from her family) versus the minorities reported, that even in the media attention there's not a lack of disparity according to the OP.

I do agree that it's the young white blond women that go missing that get ALL the media attention and that's unfortunate when there are other people missing that get NO attention, but it's not so in this specific case.

:hi:

[roguevalley]

23. I don't hold grieving people responsible for their efforts to get

something done about their misery. I wonder about that little boy in California who was taken in a home invasion. I would pull my eyes out if it helped me get back mine. God help them all.

[nomorenomore08]

34. I don't hold them responsible for anything either. That wasn't my intent.

I was simply commenting on how some missing people are apparently considered more "important" than others by society at large.

[roguevalley]

50. agreed. sad isn't it.

[Baby Snooks]

44. True...

And if you had a "white" family and a "black" family that each put up a $25,000 reward for a missing child there would be more media focus on the "white" child than on the "black" child and that is a reality that the media always denies but is the reality just the same.

[Raskolnik]

3. I understand the point you're trying to make, but its the family of the (presumed) victim

that is putting up the 25k reward with their own money. This isn't a case of the police offering 25k on one case and 3k on another.

[proud2BlibKansan]

Why does it matter who put up the reward

[closeupready]

10. Because if she's from wealth, they can put up mountains of money.

If it's someone from the projects, they are probably struggling just to survive and can't afford much, let alone a reward.

[Tim01]

12. Wow! Laughing AT you. Race bait much?

[nomorenomore08]

16. Even if so, reacting in a knee-jerk fashion doesn't help. Just saying.

:shrug:

[Tim01]

32. Fair enough. I'll try to mellow out a bit.

[proud2BlibKansan]

22. Actually no I don't

but thanks for kicking the thread!

[Raskolnik]

17. Because one family may have quite a bit more money to put towards a reward than another.

Again, I understand the (however oblique) point you are trying to make, but I think you do your argument a disservice by comparing these two rewards.

[Egalitariat]

53. The reward is a private reward from private individuals. You are free to offer a

reward of $21,500 for the black children. Then, the rewards would be equal (which would presumably satisfy you) in amount and the nature of their source.

[closeupready]

6. If you are suggesting racism here somehow, please be clear about it.

I don't necessarily see it.

In her case, her family is offering the reward. While that isn't what would be considered a 'fortune', it's a lot of money. What is the socio-economic background of her family?

In the case of these two boys, 1) there is no mention of any reward whatsoever in your link; and 2) depending upon who is offering it, it will vary depending upon the source's means.

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. The reward for the boys is being offered by a car dealership

It is in the area where they were killed.

[closeupready]

13. Oh.

Some of my family is in car sales, so somehow that makes me thankful that they are doing that. I hope they get useful information and get to the bottom of it.

[Dappleganger]

7. A more valid argument could be made

for the amount of media attention compared between the two cases, but rewards are put up by friends and family members.

[proud2BlibKansan]

9. Both stories have gotten lots of media attention

[Dappleganger]

11. Then I'm not seeing the bias

several have already pointed out that out.

[proud2BlibKansan]

25. Do the math

[Dappleganger]

26. I have

and your premise is faulty as every other person in this thread has pointed out to you, yet you fail to acknowledge.

Classism--yes.
Racism--no.

[nomorenomore08]

37. Can't it be a little of both? They aren't entirely separate issues - far from it.

:shrug:

[paulsby]

38. it's not classism

first of all, it's an isolated example.

second of all, it would be classism if a third party treated one missing kid case differently based on class.

it is an entirely different thing when the family of the missing party simply has more MEANS to offer a reward.

i understand the OP's point, but this case does not make it.

it's silly

[Mike 03]

14. You are justifiably raising a complicated issue. Both rewards are low.

I've seen extremely high rewards offerered for information for missing white girls--the average is $50,000 to $150,000, but I believe I've seen them as high as $300,000.

Recently a young student at the University of Southern California was killed by a hit and run driver and some anonymous donor (no doubt an alumnus) coughed up a generous amount (I can't remember what it was).

A student at a community college would never have that kind of luck.

There is also a "search and rescue" company based in Texas that does these elaborate searches for missing white girls. If they have looked for minorities or males, I have not seen it.

But one has to examine who the source of the reward is.

Also, a lot of times the rewards escalate in size. They often start small but grow exponentially as people learn of the crimes and grow furious as time passes.

My heart goes out to all the victims in both of these cases. I'm sure we all hope for resolution.

EDIT:

Rec, for discussion.

[mitchum]

18. That's class-based disparity, not race-based

[proud2BlibKansan]

24. I don't understand why it makes a difference

It's still wrong.

[mitchum]

29. Your not understanding the difference is why we will always lose the class struggle

Racial tensions are a smokescreen ginned up by the over class in order to keep we proles of all colors from killing our true oppressors

[Mike 03]

31. Why does it make a difference? Doesn't it make a difference because you are asking "Why"?

If you want to know "Why" there is a disparity, of course it makes a difference why.

Doesn't it? Or am I missing something?

And there are many other reasons to.

How many really ugly missing girls do you seen on CNN verses attractive missing girls?

How many missing males verses missing females?

[paulsby]

39. it's not wrong at all

people with greater financial means have a right to offer financial rewards.

period.

there is nothing 'wrong' about that, except in some kind of cosmic justice feel good stance that says that all people should have similar means (which is preposterous).

rich people can afford bigger rewards than the middle class. middle class can afford more than poor people.

duh

unless you find something inherently wrong with different people having different income, i don't see the problem

[Mike 03]

30. I agree, but I think it can even go lower than that, into

"attractive" versus "unattractive" victim, and even male versus female.

[mitchum]

33. Yes, but "attractive" and "female" also play into that sentimental horseshit that...

the over class always uses in order to manipulate the masses

[anonymous171]

48. Correct. nt

[Mike 03]

27. This is such a vast and complicated issue, do you mind if I try to make a poll on this general

concept?

Honestly, I think you have begun an important discourse that has so many elements, in addition to race...

Thank you for that.

[proud2BlibKansan]

42. No problem Mike

Thanks for understanding my concern.

[Mike 03]

45. I DO understand your concern. You are right on so many levels, but

I just think there are other levels too, but they all mix and match and it truly gets very complicated.

I'm almost too embarrassed to say what I think, but I'm so very happy you have raised this concern.

[Mike 03]

46. I'm not that thrilled with how my poll turned out. We'll see what the answers look

like.

I was too passionate when I was writing it, and not logical enough.

In any event, I was so happy to see you raise this issue.

[hugo_from_TN]

28. Why don't you send them some money so they can raise the reward?

[proud2BlibKansan]

41. I did

[nonconformist]

36. .....

http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=120563436409470900

Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for any information in the case of a missing 32-year-old Portland woman who has been missing for since March 8.

Detectives are looking for Heather Dawn Mallory, who disappeared March 8 after an argument with her husband. She left her house early in the morning and has not been seen since.

Mallory, who has one child, is described as a white woman, about 5-foot-5, 120 pounds with blonde hair and brown eyes. She was driving a bright red 2001 Ford Focus with Oregon license plates 061 BZX. There is a black bike rack on top of the car and a child seat in the back seat.

[proud2BlibKansan]

43. Let's watch and see if the reward fund goes up.

The white woman in my OP has been missing for 4 months.

[Mike 03]

47. kick, just because I think this is an important discussion. NT

[mitchum]

49. Is it actually a "discussion" when the original poster appears to be willfully obtuse...

about the reason for the disparity between the two rewards?

The majority of respondents have pointed out time and time again
that money not only talks
it also implores

[proud2BlibKansan]

57. So I am obtuse

because I point out a disparity that seem unjust?

Nice.

[mitchum]

59. Economic disparity is INDEED unjust

However, it certainly seems that you are being obtuse when so many respondents pointed out to you time and time again
that one family had the economic means to offer a much bigger reward. And your continued response was little more than
"But...but..I don't understand...it must be...something...more..."

I repeat:
money not only talks
it also implores

[LisaL]

51. In the case of the missing woman, the reward is being put up by the family.

They can put up as big a reward as they see fit.

[ArbustoBuster]

52. I'm not sure I get this.

Your general thesis - that missing/dead white women get a lot more attention from the media and generally have higher rewards offered - seems perfectly correct to me and I agree with you.

However, these cases don't appear to prove your point. The woman's reward was put up by her family. The kids' reward was put up by a car dealership. Therefore, it seems to me that the kids were considered more important by the community, because the money for their reward was put up by someone outside their family while zero money was given to the woman's reward fund by people outside her family.

[JonLP24]

54. I agree with your point but I'm sure you could've found a better example

Such as media coverage of Jessica Lynch over Shoshana Johnson. Both were involved in similar circumstances but Lynch was the focus.

[proud2BlibKansan]

58. And that story has been told

This is a recent story.

[LostinVA]

63. But there is no race bias here -- you yourself said the media attention is about equal

[LostinVA]

62. And, kudos to Lynch for pointing out this bias many interviews

Which helped Shoshana get the treatment and help she needed and deserved. Jessica Lynch is an incredibly good egg.

[asksam]

56. So, what are you proposing then?

Are you proposing that it should be illegal for wealthy people to offer reward money about missing loved ones?

Are you proposing that there should be a cap on reward money offered (and if so, what about people who cannot spend up to the cap)?

Are you proposing that the government should handle all rewards (with all amounts being equal) and make it illegal for private citizens to add their own funds?

What, exactly, do you propose?

[LostinVA]

60. The families are offering the rewards, not the government or the cops

[LostinVA]

61. Donate to the black family's reward fund

[Catherine Vincent]

64. There's nothing there if the reward money comes from the families. nt

[Sultana]

67. Racism strikes again

:grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr:

[LostinVA]

69. How?

[LanternWaste]

68. That anyone with relevant information would be compelled

That anyone with relevant information would be compelled to release that information to the appropriate law authorities if and only if a reward is offered (regardless of the amount) is something I find much more insidious in its subtlety and its passive toleration.

It is in effect saying, "I'll do The Right Thing, but only if I get a piece of the action, too." Regardless of race, regardless of class, why can we not do the right thing for its own sake and as a matter of course?

(That last question was rhetorical...)

Greed knows no race. Greed knows no class.