I love studying how people are. Not just what they're saying, but how they are, what they're doing. Anna Deavere Smith lovepeoplestudy Change image and share on social
I mean, I think that - as an actress, in particular, I'm basically a fool, and I see the world upside down. Anna Deavere Smith actressbasicallyfool Change image and share on social
What my work is, is my approach to it. It's the practice. And my work is about the effort that I make to get there. And I think if there's anything artistic, it's in that middle space. Anna Deavere Smith approachartisticeffort Change image and share on social
Somehow we can't live outside the politics of race. There's something very deep in all of us, that is taught to us when we are very, very little. Which is the disrespect and fear of the other. Anna Deavere Smith deepdisrespectfear Change image and share on social
Each person has a literature inside them. Anna Deavere Smith insideliteratureperson Change image and share on social
We would like doctors to listen, but the fact is, we better be ready to be able to talk to them. You're going to have to be an active participant in that conversation, so I'd say the American people are going to need ways of stepping up to the conversation. Anna Deavere Smith activeamericanconversation share on social
Well, the terrible thing right now, and I don't know the statistics, but there's a growing concern in some communities about how rapidly people are sent from school to jail, how quickly they're put into the criminal justice system. And of course the rapidly growing number of brown people, both men and women, in prison. And this is terrible. Anna Deavere Smith browncommunityconcern share on social
I feel like my work has been my path to freedom from having grown up in a segregated environment. Anna Deavere Smith environmentfeelfreedom Change image and share on social
In my own life I'm frequently in predominantly white atmospheres. Anna Deavere Smith atmospherefrequentlylife Change image and share on social
In my profession, I'm around a lot of people whose bodies are their instruments in one way or another. Anna Deavere Smith bodyinstrumentlot Change image and share on social