On Tuesday, December 8th, I entered the temporarily closed, Nashville Public Library to discuss Race and Class for a series sponsored by Nashville’s Human Relations Commission. Our group’s Just Conversation was moderated by my good friend and colleague Jacquelyn Favours, MPH of Health Leads. The base of our conversation was Chapter 12 of Ibram Kendi’s How to be an Antiracist. Our panel of three Black Nashvillians centered around Kendi’s hypothesis that class racism must be eliminated through both antiracist and anticapitalist policies. The Just Conversation series will be shared through various social media platforms beginning in January 2021. The goal of the series is described below:
We believe the final product of all the episodes will engage residents throughout the region in actively discussing and thinking about race, racism, racial equity, and reconciliation in their communities, neighborhoods, organizations, faith groups, and other areas of their lives. Obviously, with the pandemic, many people and groups are not able to take part in these discussions within their communities. This will provide them with that opportunity.
She is a self-described Writer/ Performance Artist/ Dancer/ Activist/ Health Educator/ and proud southerner. A natural sign watcher, very much in tune with her surroundings, Ms. Harris finds it almost impossible not to hear the stories hovering around people. Growing up in a multi-talented family, she always felt at peace pursuing her creative interests. However when it came time to choose a career, Cynthia chose to focus on her parallel interest in health and graduated from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University with a BS in biology in 1999. Her subsequent work in the field of women’s reproductive health research fed her appreciation for the analytical and gave her the opportunity to study human behavior, leading her to not only be a vocal advocate for women’s health issues, but to create stories of empowerment.
Ms. Harris developed her weaving voices technique as she deepened her understanding of the intersection of performance art and public health. In 2017, Ms. Harris completed her Master of Public at Tennessee State University. In 2018, How to Catch a Flying Woman premiered and was commissioned in 2019 by Nashville Public Library. In 2022, The Calling is in the Body debuted with Actors Bridge Ensemble.
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Healing Waters Productions 