The Griots of Oakland 2024 is about examining and changing the narrative about Black boys. By using affirmative language and providing young Black men with the tools to tell their own stories, we directly confront the negative stereotypes and systemic inequities that continue to oppress youth of color. The stories in this book were curated from a series of interviews conducted by a group of Black male high school students from Oakland. These young men interviewed over 75 of their peers, educators and community leaders and in so doing became griots - storytellers who hold the history and values of their own community.