Anna Deavere Smith

Anna Deavere Smith (born 1950) is an American actress, playwright, and professor known for documentary-style solo performances that portray real voices from social conflicts. Her notable works include "Fires in the Mirror" and "Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992"; she has served as a professor at NYU Tisch School of the Arts and received a MacArthur Fellowship.

Quotes by Anna Deavere Smith

Quotes: 1

Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief. Act justly, now. — Anna Deavere Smith

Facing Grief with Courageous and Just Action

Ultimately, Smith’s wisdom offers a framework for hope. By refusing to succumb to despair, people can sustain engagement and responsibility, even in dark times. Social psychologist Viktor Frankl ('Man’s Search for Meaning', 1946) famously argued that meaning is found through purposeful action regardless of circumstances. Smith channels this spirit, inviting everyone to respond to grief not with resignation, but with justice-minded presence—today and every day. [...]

Created on: 5/21/2025