Besides supporting Black Women Authors, I’m trying to do as much of my shopping as I can with small local businesses: shopping indie bookstores and working to Support These 75 Black owned bookstores. Here’s a list of over 75 Black Owned Bookstores!
Times are tough in retail and some of the stores on this list have closed. But there are new ones as well. This list was updated in June 2023!
Recently I’ve been trying to support small businesses as much as I can and have expanded my project to learning about and supporting Black owned bookstores in my book buying.
The History of Black Owned Bookstores in the United States
Black owned bookstores in the U.S. date back to the 1830s, when David Ruggles ran a lending library and sold anti-slavery publications at his grocery shop in downtown Manhattan. He was an amazingly inspirational person who devoted every part of his life to fighting slavery – read more about him here.
Are you wondering: “where are the Black owned bookstores in my community?”
Here’s how you can Support These 75 Black Owned Bookstores
Some of these stores have websites and online ordering, others have Facebook pages with contact information. Many are on social media!
Thanks to LitHub, US News and World Report, the AALBC (African American Literature Book Club, which is a great resource), and the many people on social media who mentioned their favorites!
If you want to support a store not in your community, many offer online ordering.
Black Owned Bookstores in Arizona
Grassrootz Bookstore – Phoenix, AZ
“Each purchase from Grassrootz Bookstore helps to fund grassroots activism, education and economic development efforts through The Phoenix Local Organizing Committee for Justice or Else.“
Here is the Grassrootz Instagram!
Black Owned Bookstores in Arkansas
Pyramid Books – Little Rock AR
“In 1988, Archie and Garbo Hearne combined their passion for African American culture and history with their entrepreneurial spirit to open Pyramid Gallery. In January 1989, Pyramid Gallery relocated from a 600 square foot storefront to a much larger venue in the Madison Guaranty Bank Building on Little Rock’s Main Street. Pyramid Gallery and Books served as a community space: hosting book signings, art exhibitions and demonstrations, and other cultural and community enrichment programs. “
Black Owned Bookstores in California
Ashay by the Bay – Vallejo CA
Here’s the Ashay by the Bay Instagram!
SistahScifi – Oakland CA
Check out the Sistah Scifi Instagram!
Multicultural Children’s Bookstore – Richmond CA
Old Capital Books – Monterey, CA
Carol’s Books – Sacramento CA
Shades of Afrika – Long Beach CA
Reparations Club – Los Angeles CA
Malik Books – Los Angeles CA
St Hope Underground – Sacramento, CA
Black Owned Bookstores in Colorado
Shop At Matter – Denver, CO
Black and woman-owned. For revolutionaries, designers and other thinking persons.
Black Owned Bookstores in Delaware
MeJah Books – Claymont DE
Black Owned Bookstores in the District of Columbia (Washington DC)
Mahogany Books – Washington DC
Loyalty Books – Washington DC
Black Owned Bookstores in Florida
Dare Books – Longwood FL
Pyramid Books – Boynton Beach FL
Here is the Pyramid Books Instagram!
African American Literature Club – Tampa, FL
Black Owned Bookstores in Georgia
Medu Bookstore – Atlanta GA
For Keeps Bookstore – Atlanta GA
Brave and Kind Bookstore – Decatur GA
Listening Tree Books – Decatur GA
Black Dot Cultural Center – Lithonia GA
Nubian Books – Morrow GA
Black Owned Bookstores in Illinois
Da Book Joint Chicago IL
Semicolon Bookstore – Chicago IL
Afriware Books – Maywood IL
Frontline Publishing – Chicago IL
The Underground Bookstore – Chicago IL
Black Owned Bookstores in Indiana
Akoma Books – Evanston IL
Brain Lair Books – South Bend IN
Beyond Barcodes – Kokomo IN
Black Owned Bookstores in Louisiana
Between the Lines – Baton Rouge LA
Community Book Center – New Orleans LA
Black Owned Bookstores in Maryland
Everyone’s Place – Baltimore MD
Loyalty Bookstore – Silver Spring MD
Black Owned Bookstores in Massachusetts
Frugal Bookstore – Roxbury MA
Olive Tree Books and Voices – Springfield MA
Black Owned Bookstores in Michigan
Detroit Book City – Detroit MI
Source Booksellers – Detroit MI
Blackstone Book and Cultural Center – Ypsilanti MI
Black Owned Bookstores in Minnesota
Black Garnet Books – Minneapolis MN
Black Owned Bookstores in Missouri
Aya Coffee and Books – Kansas City MO
Eye See Me Bookstore – University City MO
Willa’s Books and Vinyl – Kansas City MO
Bliss Books and Wine – online only
Black Owned Bookstores in New Jersey
Source of Knowledge Bookstore – Newark NJ
Little Boho Bookshop – Bayonne NJ
Black Owned Bookstores in New York
The Lit Bar – Bronx
Cafe Con Libros – Brooklyn
Revolution Books – Manhattan
Sisters Uptown – Manhattan
Grandma’s Place in Harlem – Manhattan
Zawadi Books – Buffalo NY
Hobart Book Village of the Catskills – Hobart NY
Black Owned Bookstores in Ohio
Ujaama Book Store – Columbus OH
Black Owned Bookstores in Oklahoma
Fulton Street Books and Coffee – Tulsa OK
Black Owned Bookstores in Oregon
Third Eye Books – Portland OR
Black Owned Bookstores in Pennsylvania
Black Reserve Bookstore – Lansdale PA
Hakim’s Bookstore – Philadelphia PA
Harriett’s Bookshop – Philadelphia PA
Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee and Books – Philadelphia PA
Books and Stuff – Germantown PA
The Tiny Bookstore – Ross Township PA
Black Owned Bookstores in South Carolina
Turning Page Bookshop – Goose Creek SC
Black Owned Bookstores in Texas
Black Pearl Books -Austin TX
Check out the Black Pearl Books Instagram
Pan African Connection – Dallas TX
Enda’s Booktique – Duncanville TX
The Dock Bookshop – Fort Worth TX
Kindred Stories – Houston TX
Black Owned Bookstores in Virginia
Harambee Books and Artworks – Alexandria VA
Riches in Reading – Chesapeake VA
Check out the Riches in Reading Instagram
Urban Moon Books – Chesapeake VA
Positive Vibes – Virginia Beach VA
Black Owned Bookstores in Washington State
Estelita’s Library – Seattle WA
Check out the Estelita’s Library Instagram!
Black Owned Bookstores in Wisconsin
Niche Book Bar – Milwaukee WI
Check out the Niche Book Bar Instagram!
I’ll keep adding to this list – if you have any other suggestions, please let me know in comments!