She came to speak about the issue of racism in the US at my college. She performed exerpts from her plays during her lecture; I had never seen anything so profound or original. I was literally moved to tears. After the lecture, the bookstore staff had set up a table for the audience to purchase books. I had exactly $7.28 in my bank account, but I wanted to meet her. So I waited in line, and when it was my turn, I asked her if she wouldn’t mind signing my ticket, since I couldn’t afford to buy a book. She leaned over to one of the bookstore guys, and asked him to get her a book -she signed it for me “Be Strong, Be Bold, Be New, Be You – Anna Deavere Smith” ... I think I said thank you, I can’t remember. I was so shocked, and so full of overwhelming gratitude I wept (again) all the way back to my dorm room. It was the MOST definitive night of my life.