(Paperback) Griot of the Gathering Ground

Griot of the Gathering Ground is a moving tapestry of poetry and short stories woven with fierce honesty, imagination, and ancestral reverence. Crystal L. Williams—a poet, advocate, and former foster youth—invites readers into her world of fragmented memories, deep-rooted history, and hard-won healing.

Drawing inspiration from the West African tradition of the griot, the keeper of community stories, Williams embraces her role as a modern-day memory bearer. Through vivid storytelling, spoken word poetry, and raw truth, she explores what it means to gather scattered pieces: family legacy, cultural identity, faith, trauma, and personal transformation.

From the depths of childhood grief to the peaks of global exploration, this work traces the journey of a girl-turned-griot finding her voice, honoring her ancestors, and daring to speak for those still gathering.

Griot of the Gathering Ground is not just a book. It is a call to remember. A stake in the soil. A sacred invitation to gather and come home to yourself.