Danez Smith (they/them) is a poet and educator most well known for their works highlighting the facets and intersections of their identity. Danez is genderqueer, they are "black in a political sense and in a racial sense" (from their TEDx Talk "Listen, dammit! Student voice are you listening?") and they are HIV positive. One of their most famous works is "Dear White America" in which they fantasize about leaving earth for a better, safer planet. They are the winner of many awards including the Forward Prize for Best Collection, the Midwest Bookseller's Choice Award, the Kate Tufts Discovery Award, and the Lambda Literary Award for Gay Poetry.