This undated image provided by Jackson State University shows Latasha Norman. The 20-year-old college student has been missing for a week, and this city’s police chief says her race is the reason her disappearance hasn’t gotten more attention.
JACKSON, Miss. — A college student has been missing for a week, and this city’s police chief says her race is the reason her disappearance hasn’t gotten more attention.
Latasha Norman, who is black, was last seen November 13 in one of her classes at Jackson State University. Her car was left on the campus, and the 20-year-old never returned to her dormitory room.
Luther Samuel, a detective with the campus police, said investigators have combed the campus and have been searching all over the state, but no sightings of Norman have been reported.
Police say they have no suspects. Among the people they have questioned are her current boyfriend and an ex-boyfriend who was charged Thursday with hitting Norman last month.
Jackson Police Chief Malcolm McMillin said Norman’s disappearance should get “the same kind of concern” as that of Stacy Peterson, 23, a white woman from suburban Chicago who has been missing for three weeks.
“As far as the interest by the national media in the story, I think race probably had an impact,” said McMillin, who is white. “It’s a small college in the South. It’s the daughter of simple people who maybe are not important outside of their circle, and maybe we don’t attach the same importance to them that we do for other people.”
Police have named Peterson’s 53-year-old husband, a former police officer, as a suspect in her disappearance. Drew Peterson denies any wrongdoing, but prosecutors also are investigating the 2004 death of his third wife, which they now believe was a homicide staged to look like an accident.
Norman is a junior accounting major from the Mississippi Delta city of Greenville.
“We’re not going to stop until we know something. We’re going to be relentless,” said her father, Danny Bolden. “I’ll ask that God may touch whoever … may have done this, that they may come forward and bring Tasha back to us because we love her very much.”
By SHELIA BYRD / Associated Press Writer / article link
Thanks Angel for covering these types of stories. It saddens me everytime I hear a story like this especially when boyfriends become suspects. We need to be more careful…
God bless this young woman and may they find her safe…
My prayers go out to the family….
It is true that her case should be on CNN every night like the Peterson woman. I hope and pray for her safe return! Ladies, let this be a lesson, always make sure that someone knows your coming and goings like a close friend or family member. I am 34 yrs old and I still tell my parents where I am going and who I am with. It might sound a bit paranoid, but nowadays people are getting abucted and killed left and right, and no one even knows they are missing for a couple of days. Also if the man you are dealing with is violent, make sure you report him to the police. it is better that he sit in jail then you wind up missing!
Lets get the word out!
WE HAVE GOT TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN WHETHER THEY ARE HOME OR AWAY AT COLLEGE. THIS IS CRAZY, SHE IS TRYING TO GET AN EDUCATION AND TO COME UP MISSING? COME ON, THEY NEED TO BE LOOKING FOR HER 24/7. I KNOW HER FAMILY IS GOING CRAZY, ITS THE HOLIDAY SEASON. LETS KEEP HER FAMILY IN OUR PRAYERS AND PRAY FOR HER SAFE RETURN…..
GOD BLESS CL BLOGGERS AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING….WE HAVE SOO MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR, JUST ASK KANYE AND ALL THAT HAVE LOST LOVED ONES…
like you said if she was white, blonde hair, blue eyes this would of been head line news.
This is sad. Praying for her family and hoping that she returns to them safely.
Stacy H, keep speaking the truth!
May God Bless her that she might be found safe and alive! This saddens me to the core especially around the holidays. Someone is missing their daughter, friend and sister right now, please Blessed Jesus intercede and hopefully there is a happy outcome!
Thank God there is blogs like Concrete Loop to cover such stories like these. And it’s not suprising at all that the media don’t give a fuck about black people. I mean lets compare this case with Kanye’s mother death. They depicted this woman death very poorly, and showed no sympathy for her. But hey she was just another black woman the media don’t give a fuck about.
This is such sad crying shame. I totally agree with #3 – let people know where you are, snap pictures of friends, share phone numbers and addresses if you can. This is just crazy, and I know the chances are slim after a certain amount of time, but i do pray they find this young woman alive. More media coverage!!!
Wow, they always ignore the black women and it’s really something to think about, I had no idea, but I’ll be praying.
MY PRAYERS GOES OUT TO HER AND HER FAMILY. I’M STILL TRYING TO FIND OUT DID THEY EVER FIND THE TRINI GYAL FROM NY WHO WENT TO JOHN JAY. SHE HAS BEEN MISSING SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE SUMMER. ANYWAY, STORIES LIKE THIS…. DOESNT HAVE HAPPY ENDING.I JUST HOPE THAT I’M WRONG. GOD BLESS HER AND HER LOVE ONES.
PS. THANKS CL FOR COVERING THIS STORY
I hope she is okay, this is sad.
God be with her and her family during this time.
I don’t care what these women race is this is sad. Every week there is some woman missing and usually it’s the ex or current boyfriend/husband that has something to do with it. This ish needs to stop.
This damn nation has got to get itself together! A young girl aspiring to be somebody in this world is missing! I truly hope they find her safe and sound. Black women have endured so much, it’s time everybody woke up for once and realized there is no world without em!
Thanks Concrete loop for getting the word out to our community. I’ve been hearing about Petterson for weeks now and I’m just now hearing about Latasha Norman! This is getting ridiculous, does this young lady’s dissaperance not deserve to be publicized because shes black?! My thoughts and prayers go out to this young lady and her family, I’m praying for a happy outcome.
I pray they find her safe. My nephew was murdered this same day. R.I. P. Deont’e
Being a current graduate student at the university, I’m glad that you guys have strated to cover this story i read concreteloop everyday at the office and its about time this story is getting some press. Thank you guys for cover this story and my herat and prayers go out to her and her family
this is how we are viewed by the world, thank you concrete loop for highlighting this story, my prayers are with the family.
wow this really hits home… my sister goes to jackson state!!
i really hope she returns home safely
thanks CL
Latasha and her family will be in my prayers…
May God be with her and her family. I pray she returns home safe.
Thank you Angel for posting this story. I have NOT heard about this case. It is a damn shame how the media ignores one story and constantly covers another one when it is basically the situation. It is just like Kanye said ” Racism still alive they just be concealing it.”-Never Let Me Down
I will pray for the family,this has to be an absolute nightmare for them.
My prayers are with her family and I hope she is okay and found.
IM SO HAPPY YA’LL POSTED THIS…i dont attend jackson state but i do attend MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY and we first heard about this through facebook by some friends who attend JSU….never had this happen so close to home,i hope they find her still alive and well…
Her, her family got my blessings hope she has a safe return.
Damn shame. If she was white this would be all over the news….
It is amazing how white women/children’s lives are more valued to the MEDIA than any other race.
Sad story, my heart goes out to the family & friends.
Ya’ll be safe and have a nice Turkey Day….keep praying for her family and all the families who have loved ones that are missing or recently passed away. the holidays are no joke… this is the worse time of year to be without the ones you love.
I have family in Jackson, so I will see if they have heard. I know it hasn’t reached Memphis yet, and we aren’t that far away not to get this news. I will be praying for her and her family! Thanks for the heads up Concrete Loop!
Yeah, almost everybody in the SIPP has heard.. I also attend an HBCU in the Jackson metro area. I don’t understand wtf is going on these days with ppl! Ladies, PLEASE leave these crazy men alone. I know ppl think this may not happen to them, but the girl went missing in broad daylight getting out of class. UGH! Thnx for covering this concrete loop.
Wake-Up Everybody!
We’re still treated like second-class citizens in America! Just because slavery was abolished, doesn’t mean we gained equality! Job opportunities are not the same. The right to a quality education didn’t become a priority with civil rights! Martins death didn’t convince them to protect our women and children. First Katrina and now this!
And, to the brothers!!! Some of us are still acting like wild animals! From ministers beating their wives to abusive professional athletes. What is it with black men? Too many steriods. I know it soulds like I know the whole story, but crazy $#!T like this be going on all the time on black college campuses! Jackson State University should be the pride of Mississippi, but the brothers…and a few sisters mess it up!
Don’t get me started, because I don’t care what the white media does about white on white versus black on black crime! In a majority of the cases, the outcomes has nothing to do with the news coverage! The solution for us is not equal news coverage…the solution is what Teddy Pendergras said: “Wake Up, Everybody”! The world ain’t gone get no better, if we just let it be!
Now, to the parents who raise sons that go on to abuse and violate women, children and aminals: Start setting boundaries for these knuckleheads when their young. Single moms, find some strong men in your church (start attending) or community to mentor your son and make sure that your young man learns to respect women.
Ray Carruth… O.J. Simpson.. Bishop Weeks (Juanita Bynum)… Mike Tyson… Jason Kidd… Ron Artest… Bobby Brown… Michael Vick… R. Kelly… Jackson State ex boyfriend???
Lastly, to the young women: Learn to recognize a self-respecting and gentleman who knows how to behave himself! You should avoid the thugs and pimps. Life is too short to waste it on someone who is immature, lazy, mean, drunk and stupid! I don’t blame the Latasha’s of this world, but I hope my college sister learn from this incident! You have to protect yourself at all times. Even if it means finding another College and moving to another city! Then minute you realize that you’re involved with a fool…its time to kick him to the curve like “New York” did Budah! But, she then turned around and let him back in the house! He’s an alpha male with violent tendencies! He and Punk have used steriods and they are walking time bombs.
Thanksgiving???
#35 – You speak nothing but the truth…
Thanks to Concreteloop for prociding a medium to get the word out.
To the extend possible everyone reading this needs to get the story and her picture out through email, posted on your myspace, facebook, and other personal websites.
If her race is a barrier in getting the support needed to help find her, then we must do what we have always done – make another way.
Prayers for her Safe return – Prayers of strength and faith for her family and friends.
^^ I’m sorry that should be #34 -MEAT… Speaking the truth.
@ #35 I COULDN’T HAVE SAID IT ANY BETTER! YOU LITERALLY TOOK THE WORDS RIGHT OUT OF MY MOUTH. ANY ONE THAT COMES OM THIS BLOG NEEDS TO READ WHAT U WROTE AND REFLECT.
R U A MALE OR FEMALE? JUST WONDERING WHERE THE WORDS OF WISDOM ARE COMING FROM
Wow, I hope she’s alright, she’ll be in my prayers
I MEANT #36 NOT #35, THEY MUST’VE JUST CHANGED THE # B/C I MADE THE SAME MISTAKE
I am a student at Jackson State University so this hits right home!! Its a shame how they cant find any clues to her whereabouts. None of her friends have any idea of where she could be. Its just so saddening to hear about these type of things, but when it happens right under your nose, its even worse.
I live in Chicago and the Peterson case is on the top of the news almost everynight, while a black 14 year girl from Chicago has been missing for a week barely gets media attention. I get so mad at this. Also, two black women were found burned in Chicago, but that story just slipped away from the news. We have to start making the media pay attention. I commend the family of Naliah Franklin because they made sure she (Naliah) stayed in the news until she was found. CL thanks for the post
DAMN THIS MY FIRST TIME HEARING ABOUT THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SHE SHOULD GET THE SAME ATTENTION AS
STACI PETERSON
NATALIE HOLLOW AND OTHER WHIT MISSING WOMEN THAT AINT EVEN RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
START POSTING AND BLOGGING PEOPLE..I KNOW I AM HEADED OVER TO MYSPACE RIGHT NOW…HOW SAD….MAY GOD BLESS HER AND HER FAMILY
I hate to sound like the devil’s advocate, but I saw in a news report that the main reason why so many white women are reported in the news when they come up missing is because the family and friends of these women go out and get the media attention, they call the stations and alert the media, and form the search groups for their loved ones. they are active in getting the word out. I don’t know if it is ignorance on our part ( I mean lack of knowledge not stupidity), or if is the general lack of trust with the police or media, but if someone is missing then the first thing we need to do is report it to the police and then get the local media involved ASAP. even if the first radio or TV station does not want to help, you have to keep trying until someone does care. we have to be just as vocal as the white families and not just assume that the police are going to get the media involved.
WHEN WILL THIS SOP!!??
if it was not posted on here i would not have heard about this!
lord please be with this young lady and give her parents and
family some comfort and strength during this time, i could not
imagine what they’re going thru!!1!11
I’m so glad you posted this Angel………I pray that she is found safe and alive………Why haven’t I heard this?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
It’s really a shame that our black sistahs and brothas never get the same media attention as whites.
I pray they find her safe and sound.
Read about this on another board…thanks for posting this Angel! I pray for her safe return.
My prayers will rise up in regards to Latasha Norman. Thank you Concreteloop for providing news that is relevent to us.
God bless.
Praying for a safe return!!!!
I hope this turns out ok. My friends think that I am crazy for carrying a concealed weapon (my baby Mrs .380). I am not going out w/o a fight and in this day and age you need to carry someting, weather it be mace, knife, stun gun.
Damn. Hopefully they find her. It’s good that the police chief pointed out the obvious. Maybe then there’ll be more coverage.
Thanks to Concrete Loop!!! i’m Latasha’s cousin and it was a shock for me to see her picture up on this site because i come here faithfully to read whats going on in the music industry being that i’m in inspiring music producer…. but thanks concrete loop my family is trying 2 hold strong and with so many prays we cant expect nothing least then a safe return..
My Contact Info:
Dee
Greenville, MS
deetrackarsonist@gmail.com
Thanks everyone.. Be Blessed..
OH LORD, NOT AGAIN….WHEN WILL THIS SHIT END…ANOTHER FEMALE MISSING, WITH A VIOLENT ASS BOYFRIEND OR EX-BOYFRIEND….I’M STUMPED AND STARTING TO FEEL VERY CALLOUSED.
I DON’T KNOW THE SITUATION HERE, BUT I JUST WISH WOMEN WOULD GET THROUGH THEIR THICK SKULLS THAT ONCE SOMEONE CROSSES THE LINE AND HITS YOU, PLEASE, NEVER TALK TO THEM AGAIN, AND DEFINITELY NEVER TRUST THEM. I WOULDN’T EVEN GO AROUND THE CORNER WITH THEM…JUST GO YOUR OWN WAY AND NEVER TALK TO THEM EVER, IF THEY GOT SOMETHING OF YOURS, HELL, LET THEM KEEP IT….
MY PRAYER LIST GET’S LONGER EVERY SINGLE MINUTE…….
AND FORGET AN INVESTIGATION…..NONE IS NEEDED, WE KNOW WHAT’S UP…..AUTHORITIES SHOULD JUST GO GET THE EX THAT HIT HER AND TORTURE HIS ASS UNTIL HE TELLS THEM WHAT’S UP……LOW DOWN DOG.
I agree with #3 and #44. We have to get the word out ourselves. Let’s blog this and send this info to as many people as possible! Unfortunately, it usually is the family and friends that initiate the search parties and alert the media to get the attention and public’s help! I’m with #3, when I’m going out by myself, I always leave a note on the back of my front door with the time, date, and type of clothing I’m wearing just in case something pops off! It may be crazy, but if I turn up missing, someone knows where to start. Also, I don’t carry cash and use my debit card for all transactions to leave a paper trail. Cell phones also help to track calls when you move around and it hits different towers! Ladies, let’s be safe and help this family by getting the word out! It’s been 2 years and they’re still talkin about Natalie Holloway and arresting suspects…. AGAIN!
In this case I don’t think the lack of national attention is so much because of her color. I think it has much more to do with the fact that this happened in Mississippi. Mississippi is looked down upon by like everybody in the country. Yes, we have a bad past, but don’t look down on everybody who is from this state. It’s time that the United States learns that everybody in Mississippi is not stupid, dirt poor, and on welfare. Give the people of Mississippi, especially we African-Americans, some respect.
I go to Ole Miss (The University of Mississippi) and I remember when Rodney Lockhart, a track star at our school, was murdered in his apartment on a Saturday; not national news whatsoever. The very next day, a athlete at the University of Memphis was murdered and it was on every national news outlet that exists. They were both black male students, but because Rodney was in Mississippi, it just didn’t matter to the national news.
People better learn that people in Mississippi are just like people in any other state. Hopefully with the first presidential debate being at Ole Miss next year, maybe people will learn to realize that we deserve respect.
It jus happended last week…and was on the news friday….this happened right down the street from..me…so its kind of frustrating
Another young black woman gone missing.
I hope they find this young lady safe and alive.
Stepha Henry is also a young black woman, who has been missing since May ’07. She was a recent college graduate and was last seen in Miami. I don’t think they have found her either.
My prayers go out to the family.