September 18 of September is Black Reading Month: Anna Deavere Smith

Happy birthday Anna Deavere Smith! Born September 16, Anna Deavere Smith is an African American playwright, actress, author, journalist, and educator, who is best known for her one-woman plays that examine the social issues behind current events. She is credited with having created a new form of theater. Smith’s work combines the journalistic technique of interviewing her subjects with the art of interpreting their words through performance. She was a pioneer in what is now called “verbatim theater.”

View one of Anna Deveare Smith’s performances here: