Unprotected Flowers Can't Bloom: Na'Ziyah Harris

She deserved more. More love, more attention, more protection, more life. I recently learned of Na’Ziyah Harris, the 13-year-old, who is missing and presumed dead from Detroit, Michigan. Seeing pictures of her smiling knowing she was being groomed, manipulated, and abused by her aunt’s fiancée is yet another example of how Black girls all over the world lack the protection needed to keep more of us alive and thriving. I see comments about how she must be “fast”, how she seemed to handle herself in a manner older than her age, and how she was in full control of a situation.

I must say this, as I have said before. Pedophiles prey on children children. Period. Hard stop.  They cannot be “tempted” into pedophilia. No lack or type of clothing can sway them, no dance is “too grown”, and there are no words or conversation that should put an adult in that position. The abuser’s intentions are already set. They just need a victim.

According to authorities, Na’Ziyah was in the clutches of the perpetrator from 2022 to 2024. And now everybody has their hands up wondering what went wrong. And once again, the answer remains EVERYTHING. The environment, the family members she should have been able to trust, a system that does not protect victims even if they do everything right, and stereotypes and perpetuations of children’s maturity level.

Na’Ziyah is not an anomaly. There are too many instances of children being placed in situations they should never be exposed to by people with increasingly more access to them. According to RAINN, 93% of juvenile victims knew the perpetrator and 34% were family members. Knowing that children are more likely to be harmed by those they trust is alarming and sickening.

This is a tragic and unfortunate tale of a village that did not do everything it could do to ensure that this baby would still be here. Nothing exists in a vacuum and the fact that the perpetrator was a repeat offender is textbook neglect. Every single adult in her life failed her. They collectively fostered an environment that ultimately put her in harm's way.

The saying is that boys will be boys but we expect girls to have their frontal lobe fully developed by age 1, able to take care of a household by school age, and then save the world daily before nightfall. That is not fair. Children should be allowed to be children and Black girls should be allowed to grow up.

I cannot imagine not having the protection of my mom and other family members but that was not reality for Na'Ziyah. The pain behind her precious smile was there and no one seemed to notice or if they did they just did not care.

I encourage you to hold the children in your life near and dear. Be a safe space, a shoulder, a listening ear, and a source of stability. Protect those the world wants to devour. Be that village member who is plugged in and asks questions. The lives of Black girls in your life depend on it. And most importantly, believe them, EVERY time. Uplift them and let them know that life can be filled with beauty, peace, and love.

Unfortunately, Na'Ziyah's victimization and subsequent murder, highlight the lack of security Black women have in this world. We have so much to face outside of the home, but for Na’Ziyah to not be protected at home makes my heart hurt. This world is so cruel to Black girls and Black women I want more than justice for Na’Ziyah. I want CHANGE. She deserves to live, she deserved to heal, she deserved to thrive. Mentor and be a presence, make this world safer for Black girls everywhere.

*If anyone has any information regarding this case, please contact the local authorities.

Rest in Peace Na’Ziyah