America's Heartbreakers
2016
Flint, Michigan
The Flint Water Crisis was an act of state violence. Activist, Nakiya Wakes lost twins in her second trimester due to drinking poisoned water. Many women had multiple miscarriages due to the Flint Water Crisis, but miscarriages are not recorded as deaths so it was a health issue that was going unreported by health officials.
America’s Heartbreakers was influenced by die-ins from the Black Lives Matter Movement and other protests done by Planned Parenthood while incorporating performance art techniques to raise awareness about the impact of the Flint Water Crisis on women’s reproductive health.
The Flint Water Crisis was so environmentally technical that it was hard for people to understand the emotional and physical trauma that occurred to the people of Flint. When trauma on that scale occurs there are often no words to name the emotional response to such a violation.
America’s Heartbreakers had three goals to help those participating heal, give a name to the unspeakable trauma in our community, and help those outside our community understand how deeply devastating this crisis was on an emotional and physical level.
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