Clint Smith (writer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Clint Smith III
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Smith at the 2024 Gaithersburg Book Festival
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| Born | August 25, 1988 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
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| Education | Davidson College (BA) Harvard University (MA, PhD) |
Clint Smith III (born August 25, 1988) is an American writer, poet, and scholar. He is known for his books and his work exploring history.
His book, How the Word Is Passed, became a number one best-seller. It won the 2021 National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction. The New York Times also named it one of the top ten books of 2021. Clint Smith has also written two poetry books. These are Counting Descent (published in 2016) and Above Ground (published in March 2023).
Early Life and School
Clint Smith grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana. His family is of African American heritage. He went to Benjamin Franklin High School for three years.
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. Clint and his family had to leave their home. They moved to Houston, Texas. There, he finished his last year of high school at the Awty International School.
After high school, he went to Davidson College. He earned a degree in English in 2010. Later, he continued his studies at Harvard University. He earned his Ph.D. there.
Clint Smith's Career
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Before becoming a full-time writer, Clint Smith taught high school English. He taught in Prince George's County, Maryland. He was even named "Teacher of the Year" by the Maryland Humanities Council.
He then went to Harvard Graduate School of Education. He studied how young people in prison learn. He earned his PhD in 2020.
Clint Smith is also a talented poet. He was part of the winning team at the 2014 National Poetry Slam. His first poetry book, Counting Descent, came out in 2016. It won an award for best poetry book from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association. It was also a finalist for the NAACP Image Awards.
He was recognized on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2018. He was also on Ebony's Power 100 list in 2017.
Clint Smith writes for The New Yorker magazine. His work is also in a book called The Fire This Time: A New Generation Speaks about Race. This book was put together by Jesmyn Ward.
His second book, How the Word Is Passed, was published on June 1, 2021. The New York Times Book Review chose it as one of their "10 Best Books of 2021." He also won the Dayton Literary Peace Prize for this book.
Clint Smith is currently working on a new book. It will tell untold stories from World War II. This book will be called Just Beneath the Soil.
He is a staff writer for The Atlantic magazine. His article, "Monuments to the Unthinkable," was a cover story in December 2022. It was also a finalist for the 2023 National Magazine Awards.
From 2021 to late 2022, he hosted Crash Course's Black American History series. This was a popular online video series.
Clint Smith is a big fan of the Arsenal F.C. football (soccer) club. He used to play soccer in college. He has written many articles about the sport.
Awards and Honors
- 2024 NAACP Image Award Finalist
- 2022 Dayton Literary Peace Prize Nonfiction Winner
- 2022 Stowe Prize
- 2022 Hillman Prize for Book Journalism
- 2021 National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction
- 2021 New York Times "Best Books of 2021 List"
- 2021 Time Magazine "10 Best Nonfiction Books of 2021"
- 2021 The Root 100
- 2021 GQ "50 Best Books of Literary Journalism of the 21st Century"
- 2021 Andrew W Mellon Foundation Fellow-in-Residence
- 2020 Emerson Fellow at New America
- 2018 Forbes' "30 Under 30"
- 2018 Art for Justice Grantee
- 2017 NAACP Image Award Finalist
- 2017 Literary Award for Best Poetry Book
- 2017 Ebony's Power 100 List
- 2014 National Poetry Slam Winner
- 2013 Christine D. Sarabanes Teacher of the Year
Personal Life
Clint Smith lives in Maryland with his wife and their two children.
