Common Sense (1776), Addressed to Today’s Citizens of America: An Erasure
Common Sense is a powerful work that exposes the uncomfortable truth about America’s founding text. While Common Sense is celebrated as a cornerstone of American democracy, Thomas Paine’s arguments for “total freedom and equality” were written for white men—completely excluding women and people of color from his vision of liberation. Through innovative erasure poetry, Smith transforms this foundational document into a mirror reflecting both our nation’s incomplete promises and today’s ongoing struggle for true equality.
By making Paine’s original text translucent and highlighting specific words, she reveals new meanings that speak to the experiences of ALL Americans. This creative reinterpretation arrives at a crucial moment—just as America approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026.