4 Black-owned Bookstores You Must Support Today
America is a racially and ethnically diverse nation. It is truly A Melting Pot where people with diverse backgrounds and ethnicities have fused to form the rich fabric of the country. 12.1% of the American population comprises African Americans, making them the second largest ethnic minority.
African Americans have a unique history. From being subjugated to slavery to achieving great heights, their struggle is inspirational and commendable. Books are the most authentic source to learn about African American history, culture, philosophy, political struggle, and the Civil Rights Movement. We have compiled a list of some of the dopest Black-owned independent bookstores nationwide. Being a Bibliophile, show them the support, love, and appreciation they deserve.
Support the Black community by visiting these stores and buying the books of your choice.
Semicolon Bookstore - Chicago, IL
Semicolon is Chicago's largest and only bookstore to be founded by a Black female - Danielle Mullen. The bookstore is a vibrant hub of the literary community. Through the bookstore, Mullen envisions the pursuit of knowledge, increasing literacy rates, and establishing a connection between literature and art. She has been quite successful in her laudable efforts to make books more accessible for everyone - especially for young readers.
Semicolon Bookstore recently launched a unique campaign with the cleverly-put hashtag #cleantheselves. Through this campaign, they distributed 500 bags of methodically selected books to Chicago's K-12 public school students. The bookstore also sponsors the Boys and Girls Club of Chicago.
Pan-African Connection Bookstore, Art Gallery, and Resource Center - Dallas, TX
Pan-African Connection Bookstore is an authentic knowledge hub for the African community. It exhibits and sells books on the African/Black worldview experience. They also sell African clothing, t-shirts, jewelry, Shea butter, artifacts, incense, and oils. The vision behind founding the Pan-African Connection Bookstore is to educate the world about the origins of Black people. Most people associate Africa with the slave trade and slavery, but this bookstore reminds them that Africans have a glorious history of their own.
This bookstore and resource center is a must-visit for all book and art enthusiasts. Here you will find a rare and genuine collection with deep African roots. The bookstore also serves the community by arranging educational classes for children, health workshops, live performances, meetings, and workshops.
Ashay by the Bay - Vallejo, CA
Ashay by the Bay is a minority-owned publishing and marketing company founded by Deborah Day. They publish different educational books with a particular focus on African American and Multi-Cultural books for pre-schoolers to high school students. Their books are quite in demand, and they are being taught at different schools in California and other states as well.
If you wish to instill a love of books in your child, then a visit to Ashay by the Bay is a must. There you will find a unique collection of books that open young minds to the ideas of diversity and cultural traditions. Ashay by the Bay also publishes adult novels and other literary products.
The Lit. Bar - Bronx, NY
The Lit. Bar is an independent bookstore located in the Bronx. It was founded by Noëlle Santos - an African American of Puerto Rican descent. Santos is a bibliophile who envisioned owning a bookstore ever since she was a little girl. The Lit. Bar is more than just a bookstore; it also features a wine bar. The Lit. Bar offers a unique experience for Bibliophiles where they can browse hundreds of books while sipping fine wine and enjoying the company of like-minded fellows.
The Lit. Bar's impressive book collection and commitment to diversity have not gone unnoticed. It has been featured in O, The Oprah Magazine, Forbes, The New York Times, and several other magazines.
At Row House Publishing, we do our best to support Black-owned independent businesses. We aim to make books more accessible for all echelons of society. Our mission is to provide an equitable and transparent platform to publish books in the spaces of wellness, community, health, psychology, memoir, politics, spirituality, children's literature, parenting, business, LGBTQIA+, and other genres.