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.
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.
View all posts by Cynthia C Harris
Healing Waters Productions 