Michelle Obama Attends Beyonce Concert
7 Weird Ways To Bug-Proof Your Picnic
The last time her grandmother saw her, 13-year-old Aja Stroud (pictured) was leaving for school. The teen, who suffers from bipolar disorder, was living with her grandmother in Atlanta while her mother was back in Ohio caring for her own mother as she lost a battle with cancer.
School officials say Aja spent the day at school but no one has seen her since. Now, Aja's mother feels Dekalb County officials are not doing enough to find her daughter:
"I don't know if she's alive or what's going on," Lonyel Cole, Aja's mother, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution during a recent trip to Atlanta to search for her daughter. "All I know is she's missing and nobody cares except me."
Police are treating the situation as a runaway case. Cole thinks that's improper because Stroud had no money on her and suffers from bipolar disorder.
"She cannot make any clear decisions," Cole said.
Aja's story is, unfortunately, all too common.Of the 558,000 people under the age of 18 listed as missing last year, 194,000 are black, according to FBI statistics. According to the FBI, 719,558 people were listed as missing in 2009. Statistics show that 238,847 were African American - that's a little more than 33 percent of the total. African Americans only make up 12 percent of the country's population.
Minorities accounted for more than 38 percent of the total of missing people, but it could be higher because some Hispanics and Latinos are classified as white based on appearance, according to the FBI.
The Black and Missing Foundation says black children are more likely to be considered runaway cases than kids of other ethnicities. Aja's case is eerily reminiscent to that of Mitrice Richardson. The Cal State Fullerton graduate was released from a remote police station late at night without a car, cellphone or money, after being arrested for failing to pay an $89 dinner bill.
Richardson's parents say their daughter was bipolar and there was evidence she was acting oddly before her arrest. The Richardsons complained that police were not doing enough to find their daughter as well. After complaints from the family and political pressure from Rep. Maxine Waters, police stepped up search efforts but it was too late.
Richardson's remains were found two weeks ago in the rugged Malibu Hills. Both of Richardson's parents have filed a suit against police.
Aja's grandmother said a bus driver told her that he may have recently seen her granddaughter. Meanwhile, police say they have no leads. Cole says police told her that the case is not a priority.
"I'm doing more investigation than they have during the three months," Cole said of police. "I'm coming in Atlanta blind searching around for my child."
This is where members of the community have to step up and take matters in to their own hands. We know blacks receive less media attention than other missing people. The Richardson family launched a media campaign that forced police to do more and landed their daughter on the cover of People.
Aja's family and their community support must now step up and do the same thing.
The fact that Aja is only 13, bipolar and without her medicine should move the case in to some sort of priority status.
"You have to continue your life and your day, but my mind is on my granddaughter," Carolyn Stroud said. "Who has her? Where has she been?"
Comments: (20)
Add a comment
By: Eric on 8/25/2010 12:59PM
Well, I know that one can't, and perhaps shouldn't attempt to "judge' anyone by their photo, but the impression that I got was that this girl was on the "loose"! She's seems to me to be one of many young black women today that on the loose, and running the streets! Sad to say, but that's the typical, and expected behavior for most young blacks today, be they male, or female. Black teens for the most part are simply out of control these days. Where in the world are the parents? Most are on drugs, in gangs, just hanging out in the streets like forever, or far worse! I hope that she returns safely, but in today's crazy world almost anything is possible. I have to say "hope for the best, but expect the worse!"
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: carla ford on 8/25/2010 1:44PM
Oh Eric, you're so transparent it's funny. You had to be the 1st one to post nonsense to try & push peoples' buttons? Do you feel better now sweetie? Now on to business...yes, gangs & drugs are a real threat in many communities unfortunately.
But riddle me this Eric, why do Caucasian teens hate their parents so much? God forbid they're told no, next thing you know their pointing a shotgun in the parent's mouth. Can you explain that phenomenon to me? Did you beat on, harass or threaten your mother while growing up? How does she feel about that?
Report This
By: john on 8/25/2010 1:54PM
This girl's appearance resembles a lesbian. I believe she may be living with a lesbian in the Atlanta area. The situation may be an adult lesbian/child relationship which is not a crime in this country, so I expect no charges if she is found with an adult woman. Since bi-polarism doesn't prevent mothers from gaining custody of her child/ren, I don't buy into the language that she doesn't know what she is doing. This girl knows what's she doing. Just my take, going by the picture given, I would like to be wrong.
Report This
By: fumoron on 8/25/2010 2:05PM
If it isn't little Gay Eric back on BV....again! LOL!!!!!!!!!!
Report This
By: Tara on 8/30/2010 7:45AM
I can't believe the comments that you people are posting. This is a 13 year old child. Not to mention a child with a mental disorder. How can you determine that she is loose, in a gang or a homosexual based on a photo? She looks like an atypical teen in that photo or what one should like. Regardless of what her background may or may not be, she is a child. I have a 13 year old and if anything were to happen to him I would tare up this city searching for him and I would hope that I could get the same community and national attention that Natalie's family did and are still getting for their child. Natalie by the way was out drinking and went off with strangers. But that should and does not matter. I am simply pointing out that if this 18 year high school graduate could make some poor decisions which placed her in danger then what do you expect from a 13 year old child with a history of mental illness. Every child and person is of value regardless of race, sex, economics or sexual orientation. Some of you need to be ashamed of yourselves for posting comments like this to this particular article. I hate reading about the Richardson girl being found dead. The California police department should pay for their gross negligence.
Report This
By: Sky on 8/30/2010 8:48AM
It is not just black children who are on drugs, selling drugs, disrespectful, or having children out of wedlock. That category goes for any child born on the earth today.
I am feeling sympathy for the family of Aja, even if she were born with fair or tan skin. We are all people of color. The only race is the "human race".
If you don't have anything kind to say, remember these words. Don't say anything.
America is not a free country.
Report This
By: john on 8/30/2010 9:10AM
"By: Tara on 8/30/2010 7:45AM I can't believe the comments that you people are posting. This is a 13 year old child. Not to mention a child with a mental disorder. How can you determine a homosexual based on a photo?"
Tara, experience teaches you about what clothing suggest. Yes, she is a child, but a 13 year old boy would not be seen as a child. Have you not paid attention to the news in this society? An adult woman having sex with a little 13 year old boy and the relationship is an affair/relationship. Reverse the genders and you have a sexual criminal and an innocent, young girl, victim--no affair/relationship. And about bi-polarism, rarely are children taken from their mothers and given to the fathers if the mother suffers from bi-polarism. If the illness is not enough to award child custody to the fathers; the mental illness isn't that bad. Have you noticed men are not classified as bi-polar as much as women. It's o.k. men normally are excluded from anything that can be used in court to mitigate a crime. Lastly, I don't close my eyes. I check all angles in a case, nothing is off-limits. 13 the number may represent what a child used to be, however, these kids are more advance than children 20 or more years back were. She is not a dummy.
Report This
By: Tiffanee on 8/30/2010 4:14PM
Yes, you are right YOU CAN'T JUDGE A PERSON FROM A PICTURE. This is a 13 year old child with a mental disorder.
Report This
By: MOMtoo on 8/31/2010 2:30AM
You aren't very bright at all. Refrain from posting anything.
Black children are no worse than any other race of children. They just get targeted more for exposure by the media and nitwits like you. You say "I have to say "hope for the best, but expect the worse!". You & all others like you need a real mental evaluation & no more access to the internet.
Report This
By: QUEEN JANET on 8/31/2010 3:11AM
It is not only the black children, but white chidren as well.
Report This