Written By Jameca Patrick-Singleton
“The Water Remembers” is a powerful performance that is a part of the Sister Tour, a tour that creator Amber Hasan says was born from the Flint Water Crisis.
According to Hasan, she and others worked with photographer Latoya Ruby Frazier in 2016 to capture some images related to the crisis. Hasan went on to state that this interaction sparked a relationship of sisterhood which was the caveat for the Sister Tour.
According to Hasan, this tour is about more than the performances. They are about giving back to communities and creating a platform for women of color.
“Oftentimes we’ll go to a events, and we’ll be the only female performers, or we’ll be the only Black performers at the entire venue” stated Hasan. “So, we always want to bring along with us our sisters or reach out to sisters in the communities we’re performing in to share the stage with us. So that we are all being highlighted so that people know that Black women are out here doing our thing.”
Hasan has been performing since she was a child, having her interest in the arts spawned by her drama teacher at Flint Central High School. She also credits the piano lessons that she took as a child and attending creative arts classes at Boys and Girls Club during her youth.
“Throughout my childhood, different people poured into me artistically and allowed me the space to express myself,” Hasan said. “When we ask kids what they want to be when they grow up, we often expect them to say doctor or lawyer. But we don’t often let them know you can be a writer a dancer and still have a message.”
According to Hasan, “The Water Remembers” chronicles the cultural relationship of Black women with water, connecting from Biblical times all the way to the Flint Water Crisis. The performance is a compilation of acting, dancing, singing, spoken word and more.
Other performers highlighted in “The Water Remembers” are Shay Cobbs and Nicole Middleton. The performance also includes several child performers.
The Water Remembers Performance will take place from 3-5 p.m. Saturday April 8, at The “New” McCree Theater, located at 4501 Clio Road, in Flint. This event is free to the public.
