Danez Smith Books in Order

Picture a poet who weaves raw emotion and fearless truth into verses that shake the soul—meet Danez Smith! This American wordsmith from St. Paul, Minnesota, has captivated readers and audiences with their bold exploration of identity, race, and queerness. As a queer, non-binary, HIV-positive poet, Smith’s work is a vibrant call to action, blending performance poetry’s energy with the page’s quiet power.

Smith’s rise from a poetry slam star to a literary icon is nothing short of inspiring. Their collections, like [insert] Boy and Don’t Call Us Dead, have earned critical acclaim, tackling tough topics with a mix of grit, grace, and imagination. Let’s dive into the life and legacy of this game-changing poet.

The Making of Danez Smith

Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, Danez Smith grew up in the Selby Neighborhood with their mother and grandparents, their roots tracing back to Mississippi and Georgia. As a kid, reading was a struggle until a third-grade teacher sparked their imagination with a clever nudge: learning to read meant diving into video-game magazines. That moment lit a fire. By their teens, Smith was already writing poetry, and at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, they honed their craft as a First Wave Urban Arts Scholar, graduating with a BA in 2012. It was here that Smith found their voice, blending spoken-word rhythm with literary depth.

Danez Smith’s Unforgettable Poetry

Smith’s poetry is a force—raw, rhythmic, and unapologetically honest. Their debut, [insert] Boy (2014), explores Black and queer identity with searing precision, earning the Lambda Literary Award for Gay Poetry and a spot as a Boston Globe Best Poetry Book. Don’t Call Us Dead (2017) takes it further, imagining an afterlife for Black men killed by police while grappling with Smith’s own HIV diagnosis. It snagged a National Book Award finalist nod and the Forward Prize for Best Collection, making Smith, at 29, its youngest-ever winner.

Homie (2020), alternatively titled My Nig, is a love letter to friendship and a bold reclamation of language, blending humor with heartbreak. Their latest, Bluff (2024), is a manifesto of artistic resilience, nominated for an NAACP Image Award. Smith’s style—musical, vivid, and often fantastical—draws from influences like Audre Lorde and Terrance Hayes, creating poems that pulse with urgency and hope.

As a performer, Smith’s stage presence is electric, rooted in their slam poetry roots as a two-time Individual World Poetry Slam finalist and a founding member of the Dark Noise Collective. Their work, published in Poetry and Ploughshares, bridges the stage and page, making poetry accessible and alive.

Why Danez Smith Matters

Danez Smith’s impact goes beyond awards. Their poetry challenges readers to confront racism, homophobia, and systemic violence while celebrating Black joy and queer love. As a co-host of the Poetry Foundation’s VS podcast and a teacher at programs like Randolph College’s MFA, Smith nurtures new voices. Their work, like the viral “Dear White America,” sparks conversations about justice, resonating with Black Lives Matter and beyond. Smith’s fearless vulnerability makes them a beacon for poets and activists alike, proving poetry can be a tool for radical change.

About Danez Smith

• Born: St. Paul, Minnesota
• Key Works: [insert] Boy (2014), Don’t Call Us Dead (2017), Homie (2020), Bluff (2024)
• Awards: Lambda Literary Award, Forward Prize, Minnesota Book Award
• Fun Fact: Co-founded the Dark Noise Collective with poets like Fatimah Asghar and Jamila Woods

Ready to feel the pulse of poetry? Snag Don’t Call Us Dead or Bluff and dive into Danez Smith’s world of fierce, beautiful truths!