Remember When: Anna Deavere Smith

On this day, September 18, we celebrate the birthday of Anna Deavere Smith — actor, playwright, professor, and a groundbreaking force in American theater.

Smith pioneered a form of documentary theater that amplifies real voices in moments of crisis. In works like Fires in the Mirror (about the 1991 Crown Heights conflict in Brooklyn) and Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 (about the aftermath of the Rodney King verdict and uprisings), she interviewed hundreds of people — from public officials to everyday citizens — and then performed their words verbatim on stage. By embodying these diverse perspectives, she opened space for audiences to confront hard truths about race, justice, and democracy in America.

Beyond the stage, Smith has been a tireless advocate for education and civic dialogue. Her career bridges art and activism, showing that storytelling can be a powerful tool for empathy and social change. She has taught at prestigious universities, received a National Humanities Medal, and continues to influence new generations of artists and changemakers.

Her legacy is a reminder that democracy is not only defended in courtrooms or voting booths, but also in classrooms, theaters, and community conversations. Smith’s work shows us that to heal as a nation, we must listen — even to those we disagree with — and reckon honestly with injustice.

Today, we celebrate Anna Deavere Smith for showing us how storytelling can be an act of justice, compassion, and civic power.

Photo credit: facebook.com/AnnaDeavereSmith/