The Ebony Alert: California’s Groundbreaking System to Protect Missing Black Youth

Shalena
Oct 9
3 min read

When a Black child goes missing, the world often stays silent. Their stories rarely make national headlines, their faces don’t go viral, and too often, law enforcement labels them as “runaways” rather than victims in danger. That’s the painful reality that led to the creation of the Ebony Alert, a first-of-its-kind system launched in California to bring urgency and awareness to missing Black youth and young women.

The Origins: From Frustration to Action

The Ebony Alert became law in 2023 through Senate Bill 673, introduced by Senator Steven Bradford (D-Gardena) and signed by Governor Gavin Newsom. It officially took effect on January 1, 2024, positioning California as the first state in the nation to directly address the racial disparities in how missing persons cases are handled.

For years, advocates and families of missing Black children argued that the Amber Alert system didn’t work equally. Many Black teens were disqualified from alerts because they were labeled “runaways,” despite evidence of trafficking or foul play. The Ebony Alert was designed to change that narrative.

Senator Bradford said it best:

“When Black children go missing, there is often no urgency or attention from media and law enforcement. The Ebony Alert will ensure that missing Black youth and young women get the attention they deserve.”

How the Ebony Alert Works

The system functions similarly to the Amber and Silver Alerts already in place, using California’s Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts to broadcast information about missing individuals. The alerts reach the public through:

Highway and freeway message boards
Television and radio interruptions
Cell phone alerts
Social media and online broadcasts

To qualify, law enforcement must determine that the missing person is Black, aged 12–25, and their disappearance is unexplained, suspicious, or places them in immediate danger. The Ebony Alert can also be issued if the person is believed to be trafficked, abducted, or otherwise endangered.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

The need for the Ebony Alert is backed by hard data. Black youth make up about 15 percent of California’s population but represent nearly 38 percent of missing youth cases. Nationally, according to the Black and Missing Foundation, nearly 40 percent of all missing persons in the United States are Black, despite African Americans making up just 13 percent of the population.

The reason behind those numbers is complex — systemic neglect, media bias, and a history of underreporting missing Black victims. The Ebony Alert aims to confront those disparities head-on.

Real-World Impact: The Case of Renia Lewis

In 2025, the Ebony Alert system gained national attention following the disappearance of 28-year-old Renia Lewis from Vallejo, California. Though slightly above the standard age range, her case fell within the spirit of the law. After an Ebony Alert was issued, her story spread rapidly online. Tragically, her dismembered body was later found hidden behind a wall in a Vallejo home. The suspect, Douglas Irwin Shaw, was arrested and charged with murder.

Lewis’s family credited the Ebony Alert for helping mobilize attention faster than traditional methods ever could. Yet her death reignited a difficult question — why does it take tragedy to make the system work?

A National Model in the Making

Since its rollout, the Ebony Alert has sparked national conversations about expanding similar systems across other states. Legislators in Texas, Georgia, and New York have shown interest in adopting their own versions, inspired by California’s lead.

Community advocates argue that the Ebony Alert is not just an alert system — it’s a statement of equality. It forces media, police, and the public to treat missing Black individuals with the same urgency shown in other high-profile cases. It demands that Black girls, women, and young men be seen, searched for, and saved.

Why It Matters

For generations, Black families have lived with the fear that if their loved one disappeared, no one would come looking. The Ebony Alert is a long-overdue attempt to change that reality.

It acknowledges what so many already knew — Black lives go missing, too, and they deserve the same response, visibility, and resources. The system represents progress, but it also exposes the deep inequities that still exist in America’s justice and media landscapes.