Honored to be named to The Playwrights’ Sidewalk outside of the Lucille Lortel Theatre here in NYC. I’ll be in the company of many of my heroes: Bertolt Brecht, Langston Hughes, Paula Vogel, Adrienne Kennedy more. Thank you @offbroadwayleague for last night’s virtual celebration!
I’m thrilled to announce that the film of my play, Twilight: Los Angeles will be rebroadcast on PBS this Monday (6/8) at 10pm. Beginning next week, the film will also be available to stream, for free, online. Let’s keep the conversation going. #TwilightLosAngeles http://ow.ly/spTv50A05d6
In cities across our nation, protesters are demanding #JusticeforGeorgeFloyd. Tuesday (6/2) at 6pm, we’re rebroadcasting #NotesFromTheField on HBO2, exploring the #SchoolToPrisonPipeline. Change the conversation. Change the system. #HBOFilms
How cool. Me and poet @alexanderlizzy kickin’ back right before induction to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. An org that’s been around since 1780. At that time, she and I did not count as fully human, let alone as artists. Thanks to @richardj.powell for the photo.
“It’s difficult to be born, difficult to learn to walk, difficult to grow old, difficult to die and difficult to live for everybody, everywhere, forever. But no one has a right to put on top of that another burden, another price which nobody can pay.” –James Baldwin, “A Rap On Race.” This Tuesday at 6pm, we are going to revisit some of James Baldwin’s words, as well as the words of activists, educators, and students from all over the world in a rebroadcast of my play, Notes From The Field, on HBO2 and online. In this time of national mourning, I hope you will join us we look to folks like Baldwin for words of healing, inspiration, and insight into America’s ongoing racial struggles, specifically the School to Prison Pipeline. Photo: Carl Van Vechten
TONIGHT at 6PM: Rebroadcast of #NotesFromTheField. Change the Conversation. Change the System. On all HBO platforms. Link in bio. #HBOFilms
Today is the the day! My play ‘Notes from the Field’ is out in print. I interviewed folks all over the country to learn more about the school to prison pipeline, and how we can help young people thrive. This book includes the real words of twenty people I met along the way: teachers and students, counselors and congressmen, preachers and prisoners. Look for ‘Notes from the Field’ at your favorite bookstore, or download the e-book or audiobook. @vintageanchorbooks
You can see me, and others, discuss poetry with Harvard Professor Elisa New on https://www.poetryinamerica.org/ (check out Season 1!), and you can find accompanying lesson plans and activities at https://bit.ly/2RHGM3R. #poetryinamerica @poetryinamerica
“Prison don’t do nothing but make you a worser person…The longer you stay in prison, the more you lose your feelings about even caring.” – Taos Proctor. Hear his story and others in #NotesFromTheField tomorrow (6/2) at 6pm on all HBO platforms. #HBOFIlms
#NinaSimone transcended the constraints society placed on black female performers to become a powerful voice of the Civil Rights Movement. Let’s make more space in history for women of color – join me and @savingplaces to preserve her legacy by restoring her childhood home. Link in profile.
Congresswoman Barbara Jordan as photographed by @annieleibovitz. She brought down the house in the impeachment hearings. If you are looking for inspiration, check out her speech here: http://ow.ly/za1N50zWKrv
There’s NOTHING like a community of poets and writers. Here I am, fully inspired, circa 1983. Squaw Valley Writers Conference. Walks at night in the mountains, under the stars – sharing ideas, encouragement, and possibilities. @communityofwriters
I’m honored that @gracecathedral San Francisco has invited me to deliver a guest sermon this Sunday, June 7th. The service will be streamed at 2pm ET / 11am PT on Facebook and at www.gracecathedral.org. I hope you’ll join us. #GraceAtHome #graceisonline
When Pastor @jamalhbryant preached at the funeral of Freddie Gray, he called Baltimore to action. “After this day, we gonna keep on marching. After this day, we gonna keep demanding justice.” And the march continues. Meet Pastor Bryant and some of the other people I interviewed about race in America in #NotesFromTheField, now free to watch on @HBO’s YouTube channel. Link in bio.
If you missed last night’s broadcast of #NotesFromTheField on @HBO, it’s not too late to watch it on demand. The full film is now available on HBO’s YouTube channel – no subscription required! Change the conversation. Change the system. Link in bio.
“A lot of us were taught to live silently… with your brokenness… and I don’t think that’s the way forward.” –Bryan Stevenson Photo: James Duncan Davidson
“A lot of us were taught to live silently… with your brokenness… and I don’t think that’s the way forward.” –Bryan Stevenson Photo: James Duncan Davidson
TOMORROW (6/2) at 6PM: Rebroadcast of #NotesFromTheField. “The moments when we move are the moments we have to confront ourselves” – Sherrilyn Ifill On all HBO platforms. #HBOFilms
TOMORROW (6/2) at 6PM: Rebroadcast of #NotesFromTheField. “The moments when we move are the moments we have to confront ourselves” – Sherrilyn Ifill On all HBO platforms. #HBOFilms
In making #NotesFromTheField, I met so many people who are working to champion young people and help them succeed. You can hear Abby’s story and many others in the full film, now available HBO’s Youtube channel – no subscription required. Link in bio. Photo: Yurok Tribe
#ICYMI You can see me talk poetry with Harvard Professor Elisa New on https://www.poetryinamerica.org/ In this episode of Season One, we discussed “To Prisoners” by Gwendolyn Brooks. #poetryinamerica @poetryinamerica
My mentee @samorapinderhughes has a new song out today. Inertia ft. @jackdeboe. From the new project VENUS.
High school seniors, you inspire us! Let’s #GraduateTogether. On May 16th, we are coming together as a nation to honor the high school class of 2020 on major Television Networks and Social Channels 🎓🎉. Visit graduatetogether2020.com to submit your photos, videos, and speeches to be featured on the @GraduateTogether stream.
Tomorrow (Wed 5/13) at 5pm ET, I’ll be talking with @arthurgianelli as part of @signaturetheatre SigSpace Summit. Hope you’ll join us for the conversation. Register to attend via Zoom or join us on Facebook Live. https://www.signaturetheatre.org/shows-and-events/Featured-Events/SigSpace-Summit–Anna-Deavere-Smith-and-Arthur-Gia.aspx
