June 3rd 2024.
Tonya Mosley, co-host of NPR's Fresh Air, recently embarked on a journey of self-discovery when she received a call from a man named Antonio Wiley. This call would change her life forever, as Wiley revealed that she was his aunt and the long-lost sister of his mother, Anita Wiley, who had gone missing 17 years ago.
Mosley, who was just starting her career at the time, was shocked and intrigued by this unexpected family connection. She decided to dig deeper and learn more about her sister, whom she had never known existed. With Wiley's unwavering determination to find his missing mother and Mosley's support, the two embarked on a journey to uncover Anita's story.
For Mosley, this phone call was the key that unlocked a whole new world of family history and understanding. As a Detroit native, she had always felt that there was a missing piece to her identity, and now she had the opportunity to fill that void. She knew that one day, she would receive a call that would shed light on these unknown parts of herself.
Through their investigation, Mosley and Wiley discovered that Anita had led a complicated life as a single mother who fell victim to the crack cocaine epidemic in Detroit. Despite the challenges she faced, Wiley never gave up hope of finding his mother. He even participated in a DNA program to help identify deceased individuals in the city, which ultimately led to the discovery of Anita's body in 2020.
For Wiley, this was a bittersweet moment as he finally had closure, but also had to come to terms with the reality of his mother's struggles. He now sees her in a more nuanced light, acknowledging her flaws but also recognizing her as a loving and dedicated mother who did her best in difficult circumstances.
For Mosley, this discovery was an eye-opening experience that gave her a deeper understanding of her sister's life. She realized that Anita was not just an addict, but a multifaceted individual with strengths and weaknesses, just like anyone else. Mosley shared, "You get so caught up in the struggle of addiction that you forget the humanity."
She believes it is important to share their journey and Anita's story with others. Even though she is no longer alive, her story can still make an impact and bring hope to others in similar situations. Mosley emphasized the importance of giving a voice to the voiceless and helping families who have lost loved ones to addiction find peace and healing.
The 10-part podcast, She Has A Name, is now available for all listeners. Through this platform, Mosley and Wiley hope to shed light on the issue of missing and murdered Black women, and bring attention to the need for justice and support for their families. As Mosley stated, "These stories like Anita's need to be told," and they are using their platform to do just that.
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