Anna Deavere Smith | Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO)

Anna Deavere Smith is the writer and star of "Notes From the Field," premiering February 24th on HBO.

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[venkatt]

Anna is one of those rare sane guests who speaks common sense that Bill Maher has put on his show.... Wonderful points, Anna....

[DallasTaylor]

This is fantastic. I was raised as a preacher's kid and had relative privilege outside of school. My family comes from generational poverty and so I saw several sides of life. Her describing how poor white people are treated in school was extremely therapeutic and makes me happy to know there are people out there who understand. This lady needs to be elevated.

[MadFrenzy]

Wow, this is so painful and enlightening at the same time. Thanks for having her on, Bill.

[liquidpza]

Twice! Twice she blew my mind in under nine minutes. First, with "People WITH property." and again with "Well, I think the Government needs the help of the Arts." Jedi level counterpoints.

[cypheir]

She's awesome, and she always looks like shes analyzing Bill's reactions... Good Talk.

[drewlovelyhell]

Funny that Bill mentioned "Schools that look like Prisons", coz thats exactly what I thought when I saw the school in Florida..

[joshuachristofferson]

"Cops are all about protecting property." WOW. Such insight. As someone who works w/ the homeless... just, DAMN. Epiphanic.

[NewMessage]

We also have to focus on THINKING instead of rote memory. Some very bright kids can't seem to keep the times tables straight, and fail out.... but can outsmart every attempt to stop them getting weed into the bathroom, and do fractions in their heads while figuring how much to sell it for.

[SuperSpyKindaGuy]

Amazing analysis of data and policy. Let's see Faux Noise have such a discussion.

[Trund]

I love her. An artist, scholar and voice of reason. 💖💖

[davidbates]

It's really refreshing to hear somebody taking a serious problem, properly analysing it, and correctly equating it to an issue with poverty and wealth. Great interview.

[nutsackmania]

She was national security adviser--she know's what's what.

[ms.g]

Ms. Anna D Smith is one of the most underrated actresses. She is not only talented. Smart, funny & beautiful!

[HexIsme]

Looking like a college isn't enough, Bill. College offers topical classes that students need in order to succeed in their chosen fields. As such, colleges periodically update their curriculum, so not only is the curriculum inherently interesting as it pertains to your future directly, but also has much more reliable information, worth paying attention to. You also get to pick what times of day you go, so night owls don't have to wake up when early birds do. Even sleep deprivation alone has a big impact on ability to focus. Kids also mostly know what what they're learning isn't worth much, if anything, in the long run. There's no point in devoting years of your life to understanding something that holds no bearing over your future. We need a curriculum overhaul.

[LividImp]

My highschool was one of those that looked like a prison (during the early 90s). Razor wire, not barbed wire, but _razor wire_ along the top of the fencing. I looked like a highschool out of "Escape from New York". I moved away, then went back about a year later to visit some old friends and I was practically arrested just for walking on to campus. A couple of decades later I drove through my old home town. The area looks gentrified now and the razor wire is gone from the school.

[vuksgitau]

You have to make the schools work like communities get parents involved in their kids educational lives that is a large part of what makes african schools work.

[ChiGuy]

She gave such a brilliant performance in Notes From The Field very seamless and multifaceted.

[gorillaguerillaDK]

Schools should look more like schools!

[KnightofAntiquity]

The amount of salty conservatives is too damn high in these comments.

[gmar]

I have always admired Anna. Very talented.