An excerpt from Kailynn Johnson‘s May 14, 2026 article on Mama Stories
Mama Stories is based on nearly 90 interviews “devised and collected by Morehouse Medical College’s Center for Women’s Health Equity” and focuses on women of color who had a maternal “near-miss” experience . “These women, somewhere in their pregnancy delivery or 40-ish days postpartum, had a major health issue happen that could have taken their life,” Harris said.
The study asked women about their experience, and after going through the proper channels to get the data and follow confidentiality rules, Harris worked on structuring the information theatrically.
“What we try to highlight in the play is that there’s this variety of experience, which is also true in the data,” Harris said. “It doesn’t matter how intelligent a Black woman is — that doesn’t lessen that woman’s potential for having a near-miss experience.”
Harris said she hopes this piece lives on past live performances, because its importance is timeless. She noted Tennesee’s statistics regarding maternal health outcomes and mortality, and how Black women are more susceptible to these inequities.
To read more: Kailynn Johnson
Healing Waters Productions 