This paper presents background information on the development of the folk oral tradition of black American literature. It then examines seven types of black literature that are basically oral: black folk tales, black folk sermons, black ballads, black American spirituals, black nonreligious or secular songs, black American blues, and Afro-American jokes. Such verbal and rhetorical strategies of the black ghetto as rapping, running it down, jiving, shucking, copping a plea, sounding, and signifying are discussed, and it is noted that these verbal strategies are parts of the black oral tradition and serve definite needs and functions in the black American community. The final part of the paper indicates ways in which teachers of English composition may employ the folk oral types of black American literature and the black verbal and rhetorical strategies as motivational and instructional tools in the classroom. (GW)