MahoganyBooks - An Overview
Founded in 2007, Mahogany Books is a local independent bookstore that promotes reading, writing, and cultural awareness of the Black community. It is a Black-owned business run by Derrick and Ramunda - the dynamic husband and wife duo. Since its inception in 2007, Mahogany Books has established itself as a reliable resource for African American Literature and Publication to meet the literary needs of black readers. Derrick and Ramunda believe that reading and writing can serve as tools for social entrepreneurship, community development, and improved awareness on individual levels.
From 2007 till 2017, MahoganyBooks served as an online platform for the promotion and publication of African American Literature. By capitalizing on the power of the Internet, Mahogany Books conducted multiple book clubs, conferences, and author talks. Ten years after the success of their online venture, Derrick and Ramunda opened the first physical bookstore in Washington, DC. In 2021, the second branch of MahagonyBooks was opened in National Harbor, Prince George's County, MD.
Derrick and Ramunda are not only avid Black Bibliophiles but also have 20 years of retail book industry experience. Hence, they understand the ins and outs of the publishing market and how to run a bookstore successfully. The Young's utilized their practical knowledge and experience in the retail book industry to establish MahoganyBooks - a knowledge hub that seeks to empower individuals and bring forth the hard work of Black writers.
MahagonyBooks is more than a bookstore. It is a credible platform that serves the Black Bibliophile community by connecting readers to authors and enabling the exchange of ideas and thoughts. Mahogany Books has hosted over 600 book events in the DC/Maryland/Virginia metro area. The Young's have also established a popular online author talk series called 'MahagonyBooks Front Row.'
MahagonyBooks not only features books from established authors but also gives voice to brilliant young writers and local authors. Their inventory of black books is unique, thorough, and extensive.
Recognition and Accolades
The Young's efforts to propagate African American Literature have not gone unnoticed. MahagonyBooks has earned the following accolades:
MahagonyBooks was named one of the Top 100 Minority Business Enterprises in the DC Capital Region.
The bookstore has been featured nationally on the Steve Harvey Television Show, Black Enterprise, Vanity Fair Magazine, Essence Magazine, Forbes, Oprah Magazine, TIME Magazine, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, NBC, and ABC.
In December 2021, MahagonyBooks was also included in the Forbes Next 1000 list.
For easy navigation, the books at MahoganyBooks are classified into the following sections:
Black to School - In this section, you will find books for educators, homeschoolers, Administrators, and Parents.
Staff Recommendations - in this section, you will find books loved and cherished by the staff. These books carry a stamp of approval from the staff itself.
Banned Black Books - MahagonyBooks is a strong proponent of freedom of speech and disapproves of unnecessary censorship. They proudly showcase some of the banned black books.
African Ancestry Book List - MahagonyBooks has joined hands with AfricanAncesty.com to bring forward multiple books that shed light on African American ancestry.
MahagonyBooks is located at 231 Good Hope Rd., S.E. Washington, DC, and 121 American Way, Oxon Hill, MD 20745. For more information, you can call the bookstore at (202) 844-2062 or (240) 724-8003. You can also visit their website here.
Row House Publishing stands beside MahagonyBooks in making 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.
