EMPOWERING AND BRINGING HOME MISSING, MURDERED AND MARGINALIZED MINORITY PERSONS​

In 2020, 543,018 people were reported missing in the United States. Black people make up only about 13% of the American population, yet almost one third of the people reported missing were Black. This reveals how Black communities are affected by this issue disproportionately.

There are simply not enough resources, compassion or attention on our missing black and brown women, men and children. Most importantly there isn't enough support for the children devastated by a parent that has unwillingly vanishing. Many families are dealing with lack of cultural awareness or competency by the entities they rely on to help, lack of sensitivity to victims and their families, poor or nonexistent communication with families, preconceived judgment for families with criminal records and survivors, chronic lack of cases being brought to justice. 

Missing-person cases involving people of color in the U.S. are less likely to be solved due to the lack of attention they get when reported missing. Additionally, the number of missing people of color is disproportionately higher and their stories are often underrepresented in national conversations and mainstream media. The issue of underrepresentation and, consequently, inadequate attention and mislabeling of the reported case by law enforcement of missing Black people in America. This is an ongoing issue that very few attempted solutions have solved. Dock Ellis Foundation focuses on the racial disparities that is present in the investigation by working with the families and law enforcement. Our goal is to hold law enforcement accountable, offer financial support to those who may be less fortunate to receive resources when reporting a missing person. ​The social and economic impacts on families, friends, and the community as a whole are profound. It is estimated that each missing person costs the community about $2,360—in search costs, loss of earnings while family members look, and health and legal costs. For 30,000 people, this adds to over $70 million per year.

Law Enforcment may say: they will not waist resources when dealing with a missing minority. Law enforcement agencies fail to address minority missing persons cases. The disproportionate number of missing persons cases involving people of color are a result of a profound lack of media attention and police inaction, both of which are facets of America’s systemic racism. 

News media has the powerful ability to sway public interest and has undeniable effects on how police approach certain missing persons’ cases and how quickly these cases are solved. Cases with people of color as the victims are often forgotten, or far fewer resources are devoted to finding the missing individual. 

Dock Ellis Foundation focuses on missing women and children. A vast population of young women missing are mothers, when a minority woman is reported, and she has children the youth is affected in a tremendous way. Children dealing with the loss of a missing or murdered parent is affected by the outcome. They are often uprooted, displaced and unsupported. We want to make sure when a loved one is missing the family can stay unified. 

Dreadfully having a missing loved one means anguish for their families, left in limbo over their loved one’s fate. Not knowing if their relative is dead or alive, families search and wait, often for many years, hoping against hope, unable to find the closure of mourning. Dock Ellis Foundation provides resources that minorities in most case would not have an opportunity to utilize. We partner with SAR teams, National organizations and media outlets to provide a seamless process for families. 

The emotional and psychological suffering is severe. As if their pain were not enough, family members of the missing are often plunged into economic and social hardship. After time forgotten, hundreds of African American families are left with painful details of wondering what has happened to their loved ones. Children are left parentless, forced into the system and left traumatized by the crisis. ​ Dock's legacy lives on through the work of the Dock Ellis Foundation, whose mission is to advocate and assist minority missing persons and victims of human trafficking, domestic violence, and sexual assault.