1/10/2024 0 Comments Black book stores near me“So it was important to us to meet with and learn from these booksellers.” area are operating within a long tradition of community and resourcefulness,” says Deidre. The store specialized in books written by Black authors for Black readers and was a site of politics and activism, which made it a target for monitoring and interference by the FBI.īut Drum and Spear persisted as a place of learning and culture and was, as Black bookstores have consistently been, an important space for kinship and community. stretches back to 1968 and the Drum and Spear Bookstore, which was founded by a former secretary for the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee, Charlie Cobb. felt like the perfect place both because of its concentration of Black-owned bookstores and the history of the community there,” says Linda. So when we talked about kicking off meeting with folks in person, D.C. for these first in-person visits because of its richness both in bookstores and in Black history and life. Our natural next step was building on that work by connecting with booksellers offline,” says Deidre.Īt Loyalty Bookstore: Hannah Oliver-Depp (owner), Deidre, Christine Bollow, and Lindaĭeidre and Linda decided on Washington, D.C. “We talked during these virtual meetings about what BIPOC booksellers need to run their operations and run them well. Prior to their tour, during Spring 2022, the pair had conducted a series of virtual BIPOC bookseller townhalls, where they made space for personal conversations between booksellers and Edelweiss staff. But there is a need, and Deidre and I are committed to using our platform to uplift them and help level the playing field.” Booksellers of color are not brought up enough in the conversation. “When it comes to diversity in the book industry, the discussion usually focuses on editors, publicists, marketers, and those kinds of roles. “As Black publishing professionals, Deidre and I know firsthand what it feels like to work in this industry, where there is serious underrepresentation of Black folk and other folk of color,” says Linda. So chatting with booksellers in their stores was hugely important to me in bridging that gap.”Īt the same time, when Deidre arrived at Edelweiss, she teamed up with Linda to lead an effort to center booksellers of color within the company’s commitment to promoting equity in the book industry. “Not being able to see booksellers in person made it difficult to communicate that we care and are dedicated to the work of serving bookstores. She found that the long and isolating pandemic years had separated Edelweiss and booksellers from one another, and she was looking to strengthen those connections. Moreover, our mission is to use our collective institution to provide a deep love of self and a unbreakable love and connection with our Mother Africa.The idea for the bookstore tour grew in part from Deidre’s experience starting as Edelweiss Retail Success Manager during Fall 2021.Restoring the positive ideas and images of our historical greatness to instill confidence and guide our youth and families on a path of values and principles, that will reflect the dignity and their ancestors. Providing activities and resources that dispel the long term propaganda that we have no history and that we have lost our culture.We have a huge focus on being advocates for the comprehensive health and wellness of folks in our community through films, gardening and urban farming, cooking demos, offering free fruit and vegetables, enhancing children’s health and so much more. ![]() ![]() We also provide programs on the role of women in our history, past and present.We offer community meeting space for organizations, grassroots and family gathering for discussions and workshops that showcase the positive work being done, aimed at healing the traumatic issues impacting our community.We support the mediums of poetry, language, all genres of art, hip-hop, visual arts, STEM development (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).We provide and create educational programs and content that inspire and provides a transformation in the physical, mental and spiritual well-being of the African diaspora community.To remind the world that Black history did not start in slavery, but in Africa. The Pan-African Connection Way Culturally Rich and Historically Relevant Our Vision:Ĭonnecting African people scattered globally with our great history, culture and collective strength, uniting Africa and African Peoples, and the upliftment of humanity worldwide.
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