Poet, Playwright & Spoken Word Performer; National Book Award Winner for "The Intentions of Thunder"; Professor at Princeton University
Patricia Smith Biography
Patricia Smith is an African-American poet, spoken word performer, playwright, author, writing teacher, and former journalist whose work has influenced contemporary American poetry. A veteran of the slam poetry movement in Chicago, Smith contributed to the spread of slam poetry in New England and played a significant role in its national prominence. She is a four-time individual champion of the National Poetry Slam and a two-time Pushcart Prize winner.
Smith is the author of ten books of poetry, including "The Intentions of Thunder: New and Selected Poems," which received the National Book Award for Poetry and the NAACP Image Award for Poetry. Her other collections include "Unshuttered"; "Incendiary Art," which received the Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and the NAACP Image Award, and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize; "Shoulda Been Jimi Savannah," which received the Lenore Marshall Prize from the Academy of American Poets; "Blood Dazzler," a National Book Award finalist; and "Gotta Go, Gotta Flow," a collaboration with Chicago photographer Michael Abramson. Her debut book, "Big Towns, Big Talk," received the Carl Sandburg Literary Award. Smith has also authored the children's book "Janna and the Kings" and the historical work "Africans in America," companion to the PBS series.
Smith's poetry has been adapted for the stage, including a one-woman play produced by Derek Walcott. She has performed internationally at venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Sorbonne in Paris, and the Poet's Stage in Stockholm. Her work has appeared in Poetry, The Paris Review, The Baffler, The Washington Post, The New York Times, Tin House, and in anthologies such as "Best American Poetry," "Best American Essays," and "Best American Mystery Stories." Smith co-edited "The Golden Shovel Anthology — New Poems Honoring Gwendolyn Brooks" and edited the crime fiction anthology "Staten Island Noir." Her story in "Staten Island Noir" received the Robert L. Fish Award from the Mystery Writers of America and was included in "Best American Mystery Stories."
Smith has received numerous honors, including the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize for Lifetime Achievement from the Poetry Foundation, induction into the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, service as an Academy of American Poets Chancellor, and membership in the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame. She is a Guggenheim Fellow, a National Endowment for the Arts grant recipient, and a finalist for the Neustadt International Prize for Literature.
In addition to her creative work, Smith is a professor in the Lewis Center for the Arts at Princeton University and a former distinguished professor at the City University of New York. She is also known for her mentorship of emerging writers and her contributions to poetry education. Smith's career encompasses poetry, spoken word, literary editing, and teaching, establishing her as a significant figure in American literature and the poetry community.
Patricia Smith Speaking Topics
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An Evening with Patricia Smith
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Introducing Poetry to Underserved Communities
Patricia Smith Videos
Dear Poet 2024: Patricia Smith Reads “When the Burning Begins”
Patricia Smith reads "When the Burning Begins" as part of Dear Poet the Academy of American Poets' educational project for National Poetry.
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How do I book Patricia Smith to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Patricia Smith for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Patricia Smith, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Patricia Smith or any other speaker of your choice. -
What are the speaker fees for Patricia Smith
Speaking fees for Patricia Smith, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Patricia Smith are $20,000 - $30,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Patricia Smith, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does Patricia Smith speak about?
Patricia Smith is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Author, Black Heritage, Diversity & Inclusion, Journalist, Music, Poetry, Women -
Where does Patricia Smith travel from?
Patricia Smith generally travels from Howell, NJ, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent. -
Who is Patricia Smith’s agent?
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Patricia Smith is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as An Evening with Patricia Smith, Introducing Poetry to Underserved Communities, Utilizing Poetry in the Classroom, Writing on the Other Side of the Wall — Confronting What Frightens You and Prosody vs. Performance — Spanning the Chasm. The estimated speaking fee range to book Patricia Smith for your event is $20,000 - $30,000. Patricia Smith generally travels from Howell, NJ, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Toni Blackman, Morgan Jerkins, Pearl Cleage, Enuma Okoro and Phantom Knoet. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Patricia Smith for an upcoming live or virtual event.
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