Source: BlackVoices

From BlackVoices

Despite detectives’ pleas to national media, the disappearance of an 18-month-old black boy with the wide smile has yet to grab the widespread attention given to other missing children’s cases. Some advocates say the reason why may be as simple as the toddler’s gender – and his race.

From the still-unsolved slaying of 6-year-old JonBenet Ramsey more than 15 years ago to the disappearance and killing of 2-year-old Caylee Anthony, the public has watched with rapt attention as many cases involving young children unfolded, often over many months. Yet Amir Jennings, the little boy who hasn’t been seen since he was captured on surveillance video with his mother in South Carolina nearly a year ago, has registered as scarcely a blip on the nation’s consciousness.

“Media has always leaned toward the cute little kids,” said Monica Caison of the Wilmington, N.C.-based CUE Center for Missing Persons. “And unfortunately, a lot of times they think cute little kids are white.”

Amir’s mother, Zinah Jennings, was convicted Friday on a charge related to his disappearance and sentenced to 10 years in prison. The 23-year-old woman has been jailed since December, and police arrested her after she told them false, misleading stories about the boy’s whereabouts. Jennings has maintained that she left the boy somewhere safe, but prosecution witnesses said the young mother claimed she was stressed and pondered selling or giving away the boy.

Jennings’ mother says she last saw her wide-eyed, giggly grandson early on the morning of Nov. 28, 2011. He went to a bank with his mother the next day but has not been seen since. A store owner has testified she saw the boy and his mother a month later, but prosecutors challenged that assertion, and there was no surveillance video to back up the claim.

In the months since he disappeared, Amir’s grandmother has celebrated his second birthday. His mother has given birth to a second child. And the national spotlight that initially shone on the case has waned.

Read more on how Amir’s race and gender are playing a role in the missing news coverage on BlackVoices.com.

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Source: BlackVoices.com

From BlackVoices

Gabby Douglas is really big in her hometown. Really big and painted on a wall.

The gold-medal-winning gymnast has a giant mural painted in her honor in Virginia Beach, Va. And she loves it.

“WOW!!! This is amazing!! (hashtag)so honored,” Douglas tweeted Friday from the Olympics in London, where the 16-year-old gymnast won two gold medals at the Summer Games.

The mural shows Douglas holding a gold medal with an American flag backdrop. It says “Way to go Gabby.”

Check out more pics of Gabby’s mural on BlackVoices.com.

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Source: a-rose-for-emily-story-summary.qndgova.selfip.net

From BlackVoices.com

Tyra Banks is in spring cleaning mode, starting with “America’s Next Top Model” and ending (we hope) with her headquarters.

Banks is currently at work (well, in a hands-off sort of way) on the Tyra Banks TZONE at the Lower Eastside Girls Club, a space within the Lower Eastside Girls Club’s new Center for Community. As the New York Times reports, Tyra has recently turned her focus to female entrepreneurship and empowering young girls, so the combo makes perfect sense.

By working with and around the girls, Tyra tells the Times, “I can do normal work here and they can see me, to know that this is what a business is. It’s not about living on a red carpet. I am a businesswoman who goes to work every single day.”

Read more about the building plans for Tyra Banks’ TZONE on BlackVoices.com.

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From BlackVoices.com

More than ever, celebrities are cashing in on weight loss endorsements. And at some point, I’m sure you’ve all witnessed the countless weight loss advertisements featuring African-American celebrities, with Jennifer Hudson (Weight Watchers),Janet Jackson (NutriSystem), and Mariah Carey(Jenny Craig) being the most recent additions. While, I’m happy at the increase of African-American endorsements and health awareness I’m skeptical as to whether or not these advertisements are giving off the right impression. Are weight loss programs (such as Weight Watcher’s, Nutrisystem, and Jenny Craig) enough to obtain a Hollywood figure?

For the skinny, visit BlackVoices.com.

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You would not believe the mess that still happens around racism in this world. Read more about what Oprah experienced on the far, far end of the world, better known as Australia, here.

Beyonce Knowles is still in work mode. Although her clothing-designer mother,Tina, was previously the only person shutting rumors that her daughter was expecting a baby with husband, Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, on ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show,’ now the 29-year-old singer herself is letting the world know that her concentration is still on her craft.

Read more here.

So much happens in the world, so little time! But–have no fear, Madame Noire & AOL’s Black Voices present to you: “NOIRE VOICES,” a gallery of all that’s happened in chocolate news this week. Flip through and see if there’s any bit of news you may have missed!

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Since making a splash ten years ago in the hit Showtime series ‘Soul Food,’ Boris Kodjoe has made a conscious effort to shake his sex symbol status and be taken seriously as an actor.

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