Clint Smith, a talented poet and author of *How the Word is Passed*, dives deep into the intersections of history and personal identity. He wrestles with the legacy of figures like Thomas Jefferson, advocating for honest narratives about America's past. Clint emphasizes the need to celebrate joyful moments in Black history, encouraging a broader perspective beyond suffering. He intertwines poetry and personal anecdotes to explore growth, creativity, and the vital role of empathy in understanding our complex histories.
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insights INSIGHT
History, Memory, and Nostalgia
History is what happened, nostalgia is what we wish happened, and memory lies in between.
Our memories are shaped by stories, both factual and fictional, influencing our understanding of the past and ourselves.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Discovering Historical Context
Clint Smith grew up in New Orleans, internalizing negative messages about Black communities.
Later, he discovered scholarship revealing how historical forces, starting with slavery, shaped present inequalities.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Teaching History to Children
Teach young people about historical oppression while also emphasizing the broader Black experience.
Provide space for them to imagine a future beyond those struggles.
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Above Ground is a vibrant collection that traverses the emotional terrain of fatherhood, exploring how becoming a parent recalibrates one's sense of the world. The poems delve into personal lineages, historical institutions, and the experience of discovering the world anew through children's eyes. It meditates on raising a family in a world filled with social and political tumult, balancing wonder and despair.
How the Word Is Passed
Clint Smith III
Clint Smith
How do you grapple with national history, legacy, and the stories you tell yourself? Clint Smith is the author of the narrative nonfiction, How the Word is Passed, and the poetry collection, Above Ground. Clint joins Chris to talk about the cognitive dissonances that shaped American history. From understanding the complexities of Thomas Jefferson, who wrote “all men are created equal” while enslaving over 600 people – to reflecting on growing up in New Orleans – a major site for domestic slave trades, Clint urges you to examine historical contradictions. He also discusses his love for poetry and why it’s crucial to teach joyous moments in Black history too. So students won’t see slavery and Jim Crow as the totality of the black historical experience but can envision themselves of possibilities beyond subjugation.
How to Be a Better Human 
