Exploring the African American Oral Tradition: Instructional Implications for Literacy Learning: The African American oral tradition provides opportunities for students to engage with texts that reflect their cultural identities

This article reveals how literacy practices based on the African American oral tradition might enhance the literacy engagement of young adolescents, particularly African American youth. Through an examination of the cultural/historical relevance of the oral tradition, this article provides readers with a wealth of literature, poetry, and hip-hop resources. Practical vignettes suggest approaches to using the tradition in language arts instruction.