We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Christine D. a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Christine thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

Eleven years ago, I was given a four show contract to perform Harriet Tubman Herself around the tri-state area. On the 28th of April 2023, in the basement of the B.M.E Church in St. Catherine’s, Ontario. I performed for the 728th time. What truly makes this performance so special is the fact that back in 1857, this is the church where Harriet sought refuge and prayed. Formerly named the A. M. E Church. African Methodist Episcopal Church, it was renamed the British Episcopal Church. B. M. E

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Eleven years ago, I was given a four show contract to perform the interactive, educational, one woman show, Harriet Tubman Herself. On the 28th of April 2023, in the basement of the B.M.E Church in St. Catherine’s, Ontario. I performed for this show for the 728th time. What truly makes this performance so
special is the fact that back in 1857, this is the church where Harriet sought refuge and prayed.
Formerly named the A. M. E Church. African Methodist Episcopal Church, it was renamed the
British Episcopal Church.
B. M. E. The is unconventional and I think that’s why it’s had so much success. My show is very educati0nal and I bring children and seniors from the audience onstage with me to help tell Tubman’s story. I recently starred Off Broadway as Harriet and it was a fantastic run. I always ask myself, “what’s next Chris?” I love that I inspire the masses thro0ugh my art. The show Morna Martell wrote for me 11 years ago, is not what I do today and she loves it. I didn’t know I had the natural raw talent to star in and hold my own on stage for up to four hours with a live audience filled with sometimes over 812 people. I learned that I had great comedic timing. I didn’t know I had the stamina and dedicati9on to drive across the country by myself from NYC to Los Angeles every three to four months promoting and doing five mins promo shows in between the states.

I was born and raised in Brooklyn. I lived in all five boroughs. My mom studied at the
Conservatory of Music in Switzerland. Every day while she was pregnant with me she sang Ave Maria. Right
before my sixth birthday I was in my first musical. I was a singing Stegosaurus. I still don’t know
why I didn’t win a Tony for that performance. My dad is Afro-Cuban and played the Congo drum. As a
child, whenever someone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would always say “a traveling entertainer.” I’ve never had an agent or a manager. I book, direct, produce, star in, make flyers, drive myself, take care of my costumes, and do my own hair and makeup. I am truly a One Woman Show.

Hollywood Theater Critic, Morna Murphy Martell, is an Irish woman who was born in
England. When she moved to Brooklyn, New York to accomplish her dream of being a writer and actress, she read a book about the great Heroine, Harriet Tubman. Morna told herself that one day she would write her story. 35 years later, our paths crossed. Morna said to me “you are my Harriet!” I said, ” oh no I’m not!” Morna told me “I believe in you and you can do this my , dear.” No one has ever believed in me that much, so I said “okay fine, only four shows in New York City.” I’ve performed in three countries and 31 states to date. Maybe Morna was right, I can do it!

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect for me as a creative artist are the amazing seniors and children I get to meet, inspire and entertain as Harriet Tubman Herself. I honestly didn’t know the impact I was having until five years in. I still felt like I didn’t k what I was doing onstage. However, after almost every show, the children would ask me to adopt them and the seniors would tell me “this is your calling, your ministry, not your job or career.” Then they would all ask to hug and kiss me, My show is not promoted on social media. After every show, I receive 7-15 more bookings. My show is spread by word of mouth. I remember when I performed for my first blind and deaf audience, no one could have prepared me for that incredible experience. I sing the same songs {Ol Negro Spirituals) Harriet Tubman sang on the plantation back in 1851. During my opening number, which I start from the back of the house, one of the blind women reached out and as I walked by she leaned up and ended up grabbing the collar of my dress. I still kept on singing and I stayed in character. I stopped directly in front of her, still singing, and I gently moved her hand into my palm and started singing directly to her. She asked me what color is my dress and what color are the stones around my collar. She asked me what color are my shoes and headwrap. I looked around the room and the deaf people were just smiling at me. Three blind people in the back of the room shouted “we can see mental pictures of every word you are painting. Keep going, Keep going!” I was able to do some of the American Sign Language I learned. It’s hard to sign and hold the audiences hands to guide them onstage. After every show, I have a question and answer after my shows and the feedback from this community made me cry. They loved my performance so much. They told me h0w bad they thought they had it. They just hugged me and that is when I felt like I had something special. I’ve had gang members in my audience and I brought them onstage. At first they didn’t want to take my hand and then the seniors clapped and gave them encouragement. At the end, I told them Harriet wouldn’t want them to continue the path that they are on and it only leads to death or prison. The teens said “Harriet is right and they will reconsider there life choices.” This has been an incredible journey and I’ve meet over 76,342 people on my Tubman journey. I love my mission and driving all around the country and to Canada to continue to spread Tubman’s mission of love and Freedom.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Oh Yes Absolutely!

Every three months I reread…

*Dr. Joseph Murphy’s, The Power of Your Subconscious Mind
*Florence Scovel Schinn, The Game of Life & How to Play it
*Rev Ike’s Youtube videos and series
*Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends and Influence People
*Marie Kondo, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up
*Florence Scovel Schinn, The Power of The Spoken Word
*Dr. Shad Helmstetter, What to Say When you Talk to Yourself
*Terri Savelle Foy, Declutter Your Life      

Contact Info:

• Website: https://harriettubmanherself.com/
• Instagram: instagram.com/harriettubmanherself
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Harriettubmanherself1?mibextid=ZbWKwL
• Others: https://youtu.be/xvfJy25-T48 , https://youtu.be/VSAOADvjq-k

Image Credits
Kristopher Johnson Chris Dixon