Originally performed on 16 May 2003 during the season 3 episode 7 finale of “Russell Simmons presents Def Poetry,” A Black American by Smokey Robinson is an ode to being called black. As he reviews and critiques the other names that Black American’s are called or call each other, he expounds on why he prefers the simpler title.

In the wake of his reading, the poem found much praise, but more importantly it sparked conversations about racial identity, giving even those who did not agree with Smokey a voice to speak their minds.