Black Owned Bookstores

Malik Books is your one-stop shop for Black literature. They have a selection of books from different genres, such as kids' books, autobiographies, business and finance, poetry, history, urban and more. Several book-signing events are hosted at the location and virtually. Not only is Malik Books a Black-owned independent bookstore that has been serving the Los Angeles community since 1990, they are a big advocate for children's education and believe that “children are 100 percent our future.” As another initiative to give back to the community, Malik Books has a bookmobile that services the community as part of their commitment to have a positive impact. Malik Books is located at 3650 W. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. and in Culver City Mall in Los Angeles, California.

27th Letters Books is an independently owned bookstore in Detroit, Michigan, that strives to highlight historically underrepresented voices and narratives in all forms. What makes 27th Letter Books unique is that it is a Co-Op. They decided to be a Co-Op to give people a space where they can have self-determination in their lives, mainly around their work and creativity. 27th Letter Books hosts events regularly, such as donation-based open mic, poetry readings, storytime for children, visual arts, and a book club. Events are posted online at 27letterbooks.com. Along with featured events, aspiring artists have the opportunity to display their art in the store as well. 27th Letter Books offers a list of their best-selling books and staff-recommended reads.

Sister’s Uptown Bookstore is a Black-owned, family-operated bookstore in the center of Manhattan. Founded by Jennifer P. Wilson in early 2000, Sister’s Uptown was established with a mission to bring positive change to a struggling community. As the bookstore was part of the change, she opened Sister’s Uptown Cultural Center in 2007 to provide resources to the community. Recently, Sister's Uptown has been celebrating 15 years of community service and has become a positive staple in the community. Sister’s Uptown Bookstore carries books from various authors such as Sister Soulja, Toni Morrison, James Baldwin, and Michael Eric Dyson. It has many genres, including Black studies, novels, spirituality, memoirs, non-fiction, and more. Books can be purchased online at sistersuptownbookstore.com or in-store. Sister’s Uptown Bookstore is located at 1942 Amsterdam Ave., New York, NY.

Atlanta’s oldest African-American-owned bookstore, Medu, has been in business for over 30 years. Medu means “the power of the word,” and owner Nia Damali opened the doors to the second-largest African-American-owned bookstore in Atlanta on December 5, 1989. Medu Bookstore is located in Greenbriar Mall in Atlanta, Georgia, where readers can browse the store's extensive selection of books and attend in-store events. The bookstore hosts many events, from author events to meet and greets featuring congressmen, rappers, actors, and activists.

Along with books, there is a wide range of merchandise, such as t-shirts and mugs, available for purchase. Aspiring authors can have their books featured on the shelves at Medu by submitting an original book to the store. The process can take up to 4-6 weeks for the book to be reviewed before a decision is made. Medu Bookstore strives to be a prominent place in Atlanta by serving the community and promoting cultural awareness.