Clint Smith

Clint Smith is the author of the narrative nonfiction book, How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning With the History of Slavery Across America, which was a #1 New York Times bestseller, winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction, and selected by The New York Times as one of the “10 best books of 2021.” He is also the author of The New York Times’ bestselling poetry collection Above Ground as well as the award-winning poetry collection Counting Descent. He is a staff writer at The Atlantic.

Selected Work:

• An Intimate History of America: An essay on how many histories we are told happened a long time ago, weren’t that long ago at all. It ultimately served as a catalyst for Smith’s book project. (Paris Review, 2017)
• James Baldwin’s Lesson for Teachers in a Time of Turmoil: An essay on how rigorous lessons are not mutually exclusive from culturally and politically relevant ones. (New Yorker, 2017)
• How to Raise a Black Son in America: A TED Talk on childhood advice from Smith’s father and exploring the role race plays in growing up. (TED, 2015)