Black-owned bookstores have been at the forefront of countless political, community, cultural, and literacy movements throughout our country’s history. From the first recorded Black-owned bookstore in America, opened in 1834, to the hundreds that have opened and closed their doors in the nearly 200 years since, these spaces haven’t just been places to pick up popular titles, they’ve been cornerstones of activism, resistance, and education.
Char Adams is a journalist and celebrated storyteller whose writing on race and identity has appeared in The New York Times, The New Republic, Oprah Daily, Vice, Teen Vogue, Bustle, and more. Her latest work, Black-Owned, dives deep into the living history of Black bookstores and celebrates the many vibrant and dedicated individuals who have led the way for the Black bookstores of today.
Considering the impact Black bookstores have had on every generation of Americans since the early 1800s, it’s surprising that Adams’s book is the first of its kind. No other author or reporter has taken on the massive and exciting project of gathering what is known about the history of these independent shops into one cohesive volume.
The book itself is meticulously researched and filled with stories written with an almost cinematic flair. Opening Black-Owned felt like stepping into a museum of stories, each one sparking a new flame of curiosity about the people, places, and events that shaped them. Each chapter could have been its own 300-page book, and I would have devoured every one without hesitation.
Black-Owned doesn’t stop at bookstores; Adams also explores the roles of Black distributors, publishing houses, editors, and authors who played major parts in the success, growth, and celebration of Black books.
While reading Black-Owned, I gained a deeper understanding of the forces that shaped history yet received little recognition or reward. The book opened my eyes to the profound impact Black bookstores have had on the indie bookstore culture we love so much. Independent bookstores as we know them today wouldn’t exist without the Black-owned bookstores that paved the way through their commitment to creating sanctuaries, organizing spaces, and lifelines for their communities.
Adams beautifully illustrates how Black bookstores function as true third spaces and how they have consistently centered and amplified Black voices, even when doing so wasn’t popular or profitable.
If you love books, bookstores, and community, you’ll want to pick up Black-Owned as soon as possible. Purchase your copy from Bookshop Benicia or Marcus Books (a long-beloved Black-owned bookstore in Oakland), or place a hold through the Benicia Public Library.
Need more reading recommendations for Black History Month (and beyond)?
You can find a list of the most recommended books from Black bookstore owners at the back of Black-Owned, or explore the titles below for some of my favorite books I read in 2025.
Science-Fiction/Fantasy:
Historical Fiction:
Literary Fiction:
Nonfiction:
Booktails Cocktail of the Month
The Harlem Renaissance
Recipe by Dominique Fluker
Ingredients:
- 2oz Cognac
- 1/4oz Simple Syrup
- ½ Cold Filtered Water
- 2 dashes of Orange Bitters
- 2 dashes Angostura Bitters
- Sprig of fresh mint
- Lime wedge
Preparation:
Stir cognac, simple syrup, filtered water, and bitters into a Yarai mixing glass and strain into a chilled rocks glass with no ice. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint to represent the cultural and artistic flowering that occurred during this time and a lime wedge.
