Abstract
Storytelling and the oral tradition have long been entrenched in the African American cultural community. Born on the continent of Africa, the griot (storyteller) has several functions. The primary function of the griot is to preserve the social customs and values of the culture and to contribute to social stability as an instrument for avoiding direct confrontation. Former Kansas City mayor and United Methodist Pastor Emanuel Cleaver functions a modern-day griot. With his primary rhetorical strategy of storytelling, Cleaver is able to transcend rhetorical barriers and discuss controversial topics in a non-confrontational way.
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Shauntae Brown White is an assistant professor at Miami University of Ohio where she has a joint appointment in Black World Studies and Communication. She received her Ph.D. in communication studies from the University of Kansas. Dr. White’s research interests include African American public address, African American women and hair politics, and the culture of the black church.
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White, S.B. Telling the story: Kansas City Mayor and United Methodist Pastor Emanuel Cleaver’s use of storytelling to transcend rhetorical barriers. Journal of African American Studies 9, 32–44 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12111-006-1017-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12111-006-1017-0