Mission Statement

 The National Association of Black Storytellers, Inc. (NABS) promotes and perpetuates the art of Black storytelling--an art form which embodies the history, heritage, and culture of African Americans. Black storytellers educate and entertain through the Oral Tradition, which depicts and documents the African-American experience. A nationally organized body with individual, affiliate and organizational memberships, NABS preserves and passes on the folklore, legends, myths, fables and mores of Africans and their descendants and ancestors - "In the Tradition..."

Vision

 We envision strengthened communities through the telling, collecting, owning and institutionalizing of our stories.

Our Beliefs

• We believe that communities are empowered through storytelling.
• We believe we need to own and tell our stories by collecting, creating, publishing and archiving the oral histories of black life in America.
• We believe that we must enrich our neighborhoods by developing programs and performances that share our stories, culture and history; and, address contemporary social justice issues.
• We believe in institutionalizing storytelling in underserved environments by creating curriculum and guidelines that are unique to our art form. 
• We believe that we must sustain the tradition of Black Storytelling by listening and blending the voices of our elders and youth.
• We believe it is our responsibility to provide both traditional and innovative tools of action in order that our members may be the best stewards of the Black Storytelling Tradition.