UB Spotlight: Cast of ‘Black Girl Missing’ Talk New Film | Garcelle Beauvais + Derrica Wilson

In the United States, Black women account for just 13% of the population, but 35% of all missing women. Black women who go missing receive the least media attention of any race.

“Black Girl Missing” premieres this Saturday, March 4th at 8/7c on Lifetime.

Inspired by actual stories of missing women of color and tells the story of a mother whose daughter is missing, only for authorities and media to dismiss her as a runaway while focusing heavily on another missing girl who is white.

When Cheryl (Garcelle Beauvais) gets into an argument with her daughter Lauren (Iyana Halley) over her desire to drop out of college, she initially thinks Lauren is simply ignoring her calls and texts, but Cheryl soon realizes Lauren is missing. While she attempts to get help from authorities and the media, they quickly dismiss the case, labeling Lauren as a runaway while they are all too consumed with another case – that of a missing white girl.

Desperate to find Lauren, Cheryl and her 15-year-old daughter Marley (Taylor Mosby) enlist the help of a dedicated community of amateur internet sleuths to try to find Lauren. Cheryl also discovers the Black and Missing Foundation and is horrified to discover the disparity in how missing persons of color cases are treated with significant lack of media attention and law enforcement resources.

“Black Girl Missing” also stars Linda Park, as Elise, a local reporter who tries to help Cheryl, against the orders of the news director.

The movie is part of Lifetime’s Stop Violence Against Women campaign.

Derrica and Natalie Wilson, founders of Black and Missing Foundation, serve as consultants on the film. Black and Missing Foundation, Inc. (BAMF) has been established as a non-profit organization whose mission is to bring awareness to missing persons of color, provide vital resources and tools to missing person’s families and friends and to educate the minority community on personal safety. Garcelle Beauvais will also be featured in a new PSA in support of Black and Missing Foundation‘s efforts.

“Black Girl Missing” is a gut wrenching dose of reality, for Black Americans.

For many of us the realities of this film have been our own, while others can only pray, they are never on the other-side. The subject of Black women missing, is hardly ever really publicized locally and never nationwide.

Off of the top of most Americans heads, they can probably name at least, three to four white women who have went missing. Not because it was someone they knew or a neighbor or even someone in their state, but because it was publicized nationwide.

This film takes a brave approach in displaying why missing Black women are often overlooked. In touching on facts as, missing white girls equal ratings and in the end money. Black girls are not even covered on local news, all awhile a white woman in another state is leading news daily. 

Mental health is a subject the Black community tends to shy away from. When Lauren goes missing her family learns, she wasn’t in the space they thought she was.

“Black Girl Missing” shows what Black folk have been doing since the beginning of time…taking matters into our own hands! In this case, turning into detectives and doing a job, that should have been done for them!

Not to mention, any film with a Teddy Pendergrass mention, is a winner!

An additional great aspect comes at the end of the film, when the names and faces of missing Black women are showcased. 

#HelpUsFindUs 

UB‘s home state Minnesota, has passed a bill creating the “Office of Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls,” the first office of its kind in the nation. The bill would also mandate that the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension operate a missing person alert system.

The state Senate is now controlled by Democrats and still faces a final pass.

UB Spotlight: Garcelle Beauvais, Derrica Wilson, Iyanna Halley, Linda Park and Taylor Mosby Talk “Black Girl Missing!”