Via PxHere
Black bookstores are sacred community resources. But because of rising costs and shrinking profits, they’re disappearing.
What happens if these crucial spaces for Black uplift and community building disappear forever?
Black bookstores are about more than books. They bring Black authors and intellectuals to discuss new work. They host study groups and provide space for community organizations to host meetings. They hold children’s events.
And, of course, they sell books that mainstream outlets don’t carry.
“We need Black bookstores... to see the diversity and depth of our people. [They’re] a place to understand the realities we’ve faced and to plot the path we must tread,” says L'Heureux Lewis-McCoy, PhD, a professor of Black Studies.
Massive online companies like Amazon, though, can sell books at much lower prices.
But Amazon has NO interest in Black liberation - they’re only interested in profit. Is that what you want your hard-earned dollars to support?
Entering a Black bookstore can be a powerful experience. They are experts on Black intellectual activity, can recommend books you’ve never heard of, or connect you to other people interested in similar things. And they’re often local centers of Black cultural activity.
Isn’t that worth the extra couple dollars you might spend?
See if there’s a Black bookstore left in your city - your patronage might be what keeps these essential resources alive.