We’re back with another list of independent bookstores, this time with a focus on Black-owned bookstores! Reading is a great way to celebrate Black History Month. Why not support Black-owned businesses in the process? Here are five great bookstores you can order from today—and all year round.
Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee and Books – Philadelphia, PA
You might not walk into your average bookstore looking for the Third World Revolutions section, but at Uncle Bobbie’s you can. Located in the Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia, the bookstore hosts a Martin Luther King Jr. symposium and a Malcolm X symposium every year. They also have free events, workshops, and a podcast—Coffee and Books—hosted by the bookstore’s owner Marc Lamont Hill.
Find more details on Instagram here.
Check out our 2020 TOP 25 Bestsellers Online!
Can you guess which one came in #1?https://t.co/hAmwsiSqCw
— Uncle Bobbies (@UncleBobbies) February 22, 2021
Sankofa Video, Books & Café – Washington, D.C.
Sankofa Video, Books & Café has been providing books to D.C. since 1998. Owned by two filmmakers, the bookstore also supplies films about people of African descent around the world. Since the pandemic started, they’ve been distributing free books and DVDs to families without internet access. Check out their Zoom author events and online store.
Bliss Books and Wine – Kansas City, MO
What could be better than a glass of wine and a good book? Sisters La’Nesha Frazier and La’Nae Robinson set out to create a gathering place where you can enjoy both. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the store is currently virtual, but you can support their reopening. Order from the online store, attend a virtual author event, or join the Wines & Spines virtual book club.
Find more details on Instagram here.
Fulton Street Books & Coffee – Tulsa, OK
Fulton Street, which opened in July, isn’t just a bookstore-coffeeshop—they’re also on a mission to increase intergenerational literacy. If you’re in the area, you can make a private 30-minute shopping reservation. Otherwise, order online.
Find more details on Instagram here.
Cafe con Libros – Brooklyn, NY
An intersectional feminist bookstore and coffee shop, Cafe con Libros is a community space for everyone, especially those who are female-identified. They host a variety of virtual events and book clubs. Can’t decide what to read? Check out their subscription service and monthly recommendations.
Find more details on Instagram here.
Want to find more Black-owned independent bookstores? Check out this list by the African American Literature Book Club.