Patricia Smith
Encyclopedia
Patricia Smith is an American poet
, spoken word performer
, playwright
, author
, writing teacher
, and former journalist
. She has published poems in literary magazines and journals including TriQuarterly, Poetry, The Paris Review, Tin House and in anthologies including American Voices and The Oxford Anthology of African-American Poetry. She is on the faculties of the Stonecoast MFA Program in Creative Writing
and the Low-Residency MFA Program in Creative Writing at Sierra Nevada College
.
and currently lives in Howell . She is a four-time individual National Poetry Slam
champion and appeared in the 1996 documentary SlamNation
, which followed various poetry slam teams as they competed at the 1996 National Poetry Slam
in Portland, OR.
She gained notoriety when The Boston Globe
asked her to resign after editor
s discovered her metro column contained fictional characters and fabricated events in violation of journalism practice.
, the National Poetry Series
award, the Patterson poetry award and the Pushcart prize. In 2006, she was inducted into the International Literary Hall of Fame for Writers of African Descent.
She won the Distinguished Writing Award for Commentary from the American Society of Newspaper Editors
, 1997. However, the Boston Globe returned the ASNE award and withdrew her from consideration for a Pulitzer Prize
after the newspaper acknowledged that some of her columns contained fabricated people, events, and quotes. Smith admitted to four instances of fabrications in her columns.http://www.boston.com/news/daily/19/barnicle.htm She was asked to resign from the Globe after this revelation.
She is married to Bruce DeSilva, journalist and Edgar Award
winning author.
Journalism Scandal
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, spoken word performer
Spoken word
Spoken word is a form of poetry that often uses alliterated prose or verse and occasionally uses metered verse to express social commentary. Traditionally it is in the first person, is from the poet’s point of view and is themed in current events....
, playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
, author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, writing teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
, and former journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
. She has published poems in literary magazines and journals including TriQuarterly, Poetry, The Paris Review, Tin House and in anthologies including American Voices and The Oxford Anthology of African-American Poetry. She is on the faculties of the Stonecoast MFA Program in Creative Writing
Stonecoast MFA Program in Creative Writing
The Stonecoast MFA Program in Creative Writing is a graduate program in creative writing based at the University of Southern Maine in Portland, Maine. It enrolls approximately 100 students in four major genres: creative nonfiction, fiction, poetry, and popular fiction...
and the Low-Residency MFA Program in Creative Writing at Sierra Nevada College
Sierra Nevada College
Sierra Nevada College was founded in 1969 as a private, liberal arts university. It is located in Incline Village, Nevada, and is known for its programs in Entrepreneurship, Environmental Science, Computer Science, Entertainment Technology, English, Ski Business & Resort Management, and Teacher...
.
Life
She was born in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and currently lives in Howell . She is a four-time individual National Poetry Slam
National Poetry Slam
The National Poetry Slam is a performance poetry competition where teams from across the United States, Canada, and France participate in a large-scale poetry slam. The event occurs in early August every year and takes place in a different US city....
champion and appeared in the 1996 documentary SlamNation
SlamNation
SlamNation is a documentary film by director Paul Devlin. The film follows the National Poetry Slam in Portland, Oregon.It follows the 1996 Nuyorican Poetry Slam team as they competed at the 1996 National Poetry Slam held in Portland, OR...
, which followed various poetry slam teams as they competed at the 1996 National Poetry Slam
National Poetry Slam
The National Poetry Slam is a performance poetry competition where teams from across the United States, Canada, and France participate in a large-scale poetry slam. The event occurs in early August every year and takes place in a different US city....
in Portland, OR.
She gained notoriety when The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe is an American daily newspaper based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe has been owned by The New York Times Company since 1993...
asked her to resign after editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
s discovered her metro column contained fictional characters and fabricated events in violation of journalism practice.
Awards
She is also a 2008 National Book Award finalist, winner of the Hurston-Wright Legacy Award in Poetry, the Carl Sandburg Literary AwardCarl Sandburg
Carl Sandburg was an American writer and editor, best known for his poetry. He won three Pulitzer Prizes, two for his poetry and another for a biography of Abraham Lincoln. H. L. Mencken called Carl Sandburg "indubitably an American in every pulse-beat."-Biography:Sandburg was born in Galesburg,...
, the National Poetry Series
National Poetry Series
The National Poetry Series is an American literary awards program.Every year since 1979 it has sponsored the publication of five books of poetry...
award, the Patterson poetry award and the Pushcart prize. In 2006, she was inducted into the International Literary Hall of Fame for Writers of African Descent.
She won the Distinguished Writing Award for Commentary from the American Society of Newspaper Editors
American Society of Newspaper Editors
The American Society of News Editors is a membership organization for editors, producers or directors in charge of journalistic organizations or departments, deans or faculty at university journalism schools, and leaders and faculty of media-related foundations and training organizations...
, 1997. However, the Boston Globe returned the ASNE award and withdrew her from consideration for a Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
after the newspaper acknowledged that some of her columns contained fabricated people, events, and quotes. Smith admitted to four instances of fabrications in her columns.http://www.boston.com/news/daily/19/barnicle.htm She was asked to resign from the Globe after this revelation.
She is married to Bruce DeSilva, journalist and Edgar Award
Edgar Award
The Edgar Allan Poe Awards , named after Edgar Allan Poe, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America...
winning author.
External links
Poetic Work- The Book of Voices
- Modern American Poetry: Patricia Smith
- Personal website
- The Academy of American Poets - Patricia Smith
- Review of Teahouse of the Almighty in Gulf Coast
- Patricia Smith: An American Poet
Journalism Scandal
- Secrets And Lies
- Patricia Smith's Virtual Reality
- Patricia Smith, Journalism & Poetry: Shall we meditate on Truth?
- Boston Globe columnist resigns, accused of fabrications
- The American Society of Newspaper Editors withdraws award to Globe columnist Patricia Smith