Black and Still Missing - Chioma Gray

I had a hard time sleeping last night, I kept thinking about mothers of missing children this Thanksgiving week.

My blog amigo Yobachi asked me if I knew anyone here on the west coast who could spearhead an effort to get the word out about Chioma Gray, a beautiful, smart, kind and ambitious young girl now missing for almost a year. I don't know anyone like that, but I can lend my voice to the effort to find Chioma Gray and to bring her home to her family. Here is some background according to Kevin Myles at the Wichita NAACP blog:

From September 2008 - We are now approaching the 9 month mark since the disappearance of Chioma Gray, the 16 year old high school student who was kidnapped by Andrew Tafoya from her school in Oxnard California. 9 Months have passed... 9 months... and during that time we've heard countless cries and pleas for Stacy Peterson, Cpl. Maria Lauterbach, Madeline McCann, and now, little Caylee Anthony.

I grieve for the families in each of these tragic situations; no family should ever have to endure the grinding despair or enervating uncertainty of a missing loved one. But I have a special place in my heart for Chioma... I am pained by her disappearance and disheartened by the apparent limits of our compassion. Can we all not grieve for her as well? Can we all not share her mother's burden? ...

Kevin Myles spoke with Chioma Gray's mother and here is what she has asked of us:

I spoke with Chioma's mom yesterday... She told me that she hasn't received any word, NOTHING, from the FBI since February. She told me that the Ventura Police Department has already stopped looking. There were leads in the case that Chioma may have been spotted in Mexico, but they were never followed up on, reports of various sightings, and she still has no information and no real assistance.

Over these past 9 months, I have come to know Mrs. Black, and I consider her a friend. And it is truly painful to hear the hurt and the pain in her voice as she asks the very simple questions, "why won't anybody help me find my Chioma?" and to know that there is no good answer...

I ask you to help. Please forward this post to as many people as possible. It doesn't matter if you think no one you know can help - you never know. Let us do for each other what the mainstream media will not help us do for our children.

READ MORE - Where's the news on Chioma Gray - Black and Missing
READ MORE - Letter from Chioma Gray's Mother - Electronic Village