Oh, my mama heart.
Trey Reed. Kohen Wiley. Nolan Wells.
These are all very serious stories involving Black males. And if you’ve been here long enough, you know I am the mother of two sons, Kobe, 26 and Kaleb, 20.
No matter how old they get, they will always be my babies.
So anytime I read a story involving a young Black man, a child or a family facing an unimaginable loss, my mind immediately goes to my sons. I think about their faces. I think about the parents receiving the phone call that changes everything. And my mama heart aches for every family involved.
That is also why I am proud of the way the Mississippi Free Press approaches these stories.
We do not rush to publish just to be first. We do not fill the gaps with assumptions or repeat information that has not been verified. We take the time to report carefully, responsibly and with compassion.
Because we recognize that we are not simply reporting a headline.
We are reporting on someone’s baby.
Regardless of their age, their background or the circumstances surrounding the story, every person deserves to be treated with dignity. Every family deserves care. And every community deserves journalism that seeks the truth without losing its humanity.
That kind of reporting takes time. It takes journalists who are willing to ask difficult questions, verify every detail and resist the pressure to publish before facts are clear.
Recurring donors make that possible.
Your monthly gift gives our newsroom the steady support needed to approach sensitive stories with patience, accuracy and compassion. It helps us continue reporting in a way that honors the people at the center of the story, not just the attention surrounding it.
Please become a recurring donor today and help the Mississippi Free Press continue providing journalism that handles every story—and every baby—with care.
This MFP Voices opinion essay reflects the personal opinion of its author(s). The column does not necessarily represent the views of the Mississippi Free Press, its staff or board members. To submit an opinion for the MFP Voices section, send up to 1,200 words and sources fact-checking the included information to voices@mississippifreepress.org. We welcome a wide variety of viewpoints.
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