Shamir Kali Griffin, is an award winning author of poetry, grass dancer, altruist, and former ABA therapist. Is a writer of African American, Native American (Choctaw, Creek, Blackfoot), and Irish descent that relies on cultural knowledge and current social issues that he expresses through poetry. Griffin paints vivid landscapes of the human soul with the colors and hues of language (English, Spanish, Choctaw, and Japanese) to express the importance of social issues of those in the LGBTQ, Black, Native American, and migrant communities.

His book Identity in Shades led to his nomination for the 2014 Rainbow Choice award by Community Link and to his overall reception of the award. In 2021 Griffin won the December Collection contest held by Wingless Dreamer Publishing for his poem Yugen (Tranquil Beauty). In 2019 Griffin set out on a California Statewide book tour for his newest collection of poetry Funeral Cry Lusa. In 2021 Griffin was invited to speak at California State University, Fresno on intersectionality in a 2-part event for Black History Month.

 Griffin is a graduate of San Joaquin Delta College, California State University Bakersfield, and National University holding his Masters of Science degree in Applied Behavioral Analysis in addition to 5 complimentary degrees. Griffin's works include Identity in Shades (2013/2014), Tomorrow Morning (2015), Funeral Cry Lusa (2018), and The Living Wound 2021.