The bias and challenges black women face in life
Response to the handling of missing person, Owami Davies.
I am so pleased to hear that missing black student nurse Owami Davies, 24, from Essex and went missing in West Croydon, has been found alive and well.
I still find it hard to believe that it’s almost two months since the investigation began.
As a black person and female, I understand the challenges and bias this group faces in life and the impact of these intersections, which are widely misunderstood.
These things contribute towards an unfair, inequitable, and exclusive society.
Sadly, this case resonates my fear as it was revealed that the Met officers unknowingly spoke to Owami on July 6, after responding to a welfare concern call in Croydon, on the day she was reported missing.
Despite her being found asleep in the street, with clear signs of her being in a distressed state, they left.
Also, vital information, which might have led to her being led to a place of safety was not made visible in the shared Police National Computer until July 7.
This was compounded by the fact that the wrong image of Owami Davies was provided by the police and circulated across the media, adding more distress to her family and colleagues.
These dramatic failures continue and have fuelled concerns and increased criticism of the Met and the systemic discrimination when it comes to the issues of the black community.
In this case, despite various CCTV sightings, Owami, who it is claimed suffered from depression in the past, was missing for six weeks.
Why? Was Owami just another missing black person? Do all black women look the same, given that the wrong photo of Owami was released into the public domain? Was she not vulnerable enough?
So many times, black people go missing, and are failed by the system. Police are there to serve and protect but this doesn’t apply in the same way for black people.
When you then add gender into the mix, police are less eager to help black women as we are perceived as strong and in less need to help.
This is why it remains a constant battle to bring awareness of marginalisation by law enforcement and national media.
Dr Diahanne Rhiney by email
Picture: Metropolitan Police
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