The Danger Of Silence By Clint Smith (Grades 10+)

In his powerful TED Talk “The Danger of Silence,” poet and educator Clint Smith urges us to recognize the cost of staying silent in the face of injustice. Drawing from personal experience and social history, Smith argues that silence is not merely the absence of speech—it is a form of complicity. With measured intensity and poetic rhythm, he reflects on moments when he failed to speak up and how those moments shaped his understanding of responsibility. Smith challenges his audience to reconsider how they use their voice, emphasizing that speaking truth—even when it is uncomfortable—is an act of courage and necessary change. The talk is a call to action: to listen more carefully, think more critically, and speak more honestly. Smith uses the tools of poetry to convey a powerful message and illustrates how our language, the way we shape our words, shapes our world.