Cranston Gittens

Oreo the Token Black Kid Cranston Gittens

Does the "American Dream" exist for minorities, particularly for those who don't match stereotypes?




The United States has long had the reputation for being the land where dreams are realized. Immigrants have left their homes and country to carve out their place in America. But is that possible for American-born minorities given the hostility towards them?




Cranston F. Gittens shares his path to achieving his American Dream in his memoir, Oreo the Token Black Kid. To reach that height, he had to discover discovering his authentic self despite expectations based on his parents' culture, assumptions about Black people, navigating predominantly white educational and athletic spheres, health issues, and being true to his faith in God.




Gittens understands that Black men are not one-dimensional clones and encourages others to go for their dreams. You'll read: The impact of his Guyanese mother's ambitionBrotherhood created across racial lines through wrestlingHow racist incidents hurt but did not hinder himMindset that took him from near high school dropout to Teacher of the Year

Oreo the Token Black Kid is a story of heart, grit, and ambition. It speaks to the champion in us all. If you like inspirational stories of overcomers, this book belongs by your bedside.