Groundbreaking Performance by PhD Student Highlights Reproductive Injustice and Incarceration Issues

On Friday and Saturday, an audience filled Swain Hall for “Fight Like Hell,” a powerful performance shedding light on reproductive injustice and the experiences of incarcerated pregnant women. It was a sold-out event, rooted in the real-life stories of four black women: Pamela Winn, Kristie Puckett, Latisha Facyson, and Tiawana Brown. They bravely shared their struggles of pregnancy behind bars.

Kristie Puckett expressed her gratitude, saying, “It’s an honor for my story to be told. I just hope people see incarcerated pregnant women differently after this.”

The script came from director Megan N. Foster’s heartfelt conversations with these women. As a fifth-year doctoral candidate in the Department of Communication, Foster aimed to give these women a platform. She didn’t just write a script; she worked closely with them to shape it, making sure their voices and experiences were authentic.

Foster also took an unconventional approach to casting. Instead of typical auditions, she attended campus performances to find actors who embodied the passion she saw in the women’s stories. Each woman contributed to the script, providing feedback and making it truly theirs. Foster stressed the importance of allowing the women to guide the narrative. “We can only change horrific stories of survival and injustice if we engage the community,” she noted.

The title “Fight Like Hell” came from Pamela Winn’s response to Foster’s question: “What advice would you give to incarcerated pregnant women?” Winn, who founded RestoreHER US, advocates for women affected by the justice system.

Foster narrated the performance herself and reenacted conversations with the women, bringing their stories to life through actors. Latisha Facyson, portrayed by Nadia Jefferson, lost her son to gun violence while incarcerated. Kristie Puckett, played by Jailyn Neville, shared her tough experience of pregnancy and the lack of care for women in prison. Pamela Winn, represented by Cree Noble, relayed her tragic loss of a baby during labor.

This performance highlights urgent social issues. According to a 2021 report from the Prison Policy Initiative, around 6% of women in prisons are pregnant at the time of admission. The lack of healthcare and support for these women can have severe consequences, both for them and their children.

“Fight Like Hell” isn’t just a performance; it’s a conversation starter about how we treat vulnerable populations. By highlighting these stories, it challenges the audience to rethink their perceptions of incarcerated individuals.



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