PsychoCinematic: Antiracist Accountability Post: Supporting Black-Owned Bookstores

Hi everybody,

So you know how I like literally just made the resolution to write monthly antiracist accountability posts this year, and now we're most of the way through February and I haven't written one yet?

Yeah that's not okay.

No excuses: I've obviously got to do better than that. I set up a reasonable expectation to write just one brief post per month focused on antiracist action or engagement because I knew this was an fulfillable expectation. This is a great reminder for me to be more intentional about consistently dedicating time to helping create a more inclusive, just world.

So to get in the saddle in the first place, rather than getting back in the saddle, let's get rolling with our first Antiracist Accountability Post and talk about supporting Black-owned businesses, and in this case, specifically Black-owned bookstores.

I fervently, ardently, and urgently love bookstores. They are some of my favorite places. Once I've entered one, I am incapable of leaving without buying something--both because I absolutely love having physical copies of books, but also because I am terrified that brick-and-mortar bookstores will cease to exist.

This is not an exaggeration: I am so worried about the longevity of bookstores that, years ago, I tearfully made Husband (then Boyfriend) return a Kindle he got me as a gift because I was so distraught about possibly contributing, even in a small way, to the downfall of bookstores. Also the whole premise of books with batteries is an abomination, and yes I will die on this hill.

In addition to my concern about book-centered businesses in general, the catastrophic economic impact of the pandemic has disproportionately harmed Black-owned small businesses. The financial threat posed by the pandemic has created an opportunity to take action on two important fronts: antiracist action, including undoing the centuries-long devastating theft and erosion of wealth in Black communities by spending money at Black-owned businesses, and supporting bookstores.

Before offering some recommendations, I'd love to offer one further bit of rationale for making this change in shopping, for books and anything else. It is no secret that Amazon does not need any more of our freaking money. Intentionally shopping elsewhere is an act of protest against their shameless wealth hoarding in the midst of worker maltreatment. Yes, Amazon seemingly makes it easy to buy exactly what you're looking for (does it?), but that ease comes at immense ethical and real cost to ourselves and others.

Alternatively, when hunting around for Christmas, engagement, birthday, or Mother's Day gifts for people, I've found it so pleasurable to search for Black-owned businesses in the gift recipient's community and using those businesses's offerings to guide my gift-shopping process. I've ended up finding gifts that were much more interesting and beautifully crafted than anything I could have found in Bezos's monolith of misery while also investing, even just a tiny amount, in a Black-owned business. It is an all around much more positive experience.

So with that as preamble, let's get to the stores!

One Black-owned bookstore I love is DC and Maryland's Loyalty Bookstore. Loyalty was established by Hannah Oliver Depp, a Black and Queer bookseller committed to diversifying the book industry so that it better serves the powerful communities of color and queerness. Loyalty is creating a team of local vendors and community partners in DC and Maryland that center Black, PoC, and Queer voices. I love Loyalty's selection and the wonderful personal touch of their emails as they process online orders.

Grassrootz Bookstore is possibly the only Black-owned bookstore in Arizona. You can check out a photographic introduction to the store and its founder, Ali Nervis, here, and learn about the store's transition to online book sales during the pandemic here.

Kizzy's Books and More was founded by Trenessa L. Williams, MBA, DBA, who aimed to open Orlando, Florida's first black-owned bookstore. Kizzy's goal is to embrace the African-American culture as well as the joy of reading.