Online Black-Owned Bookstores to Add to Your Bucket List!
- Nyia Bolin
- Jul 25, 2022
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 16, 2022
In the age of online shopping and social distancing, getting your goods delivered to your front doorstep has become a pretty universal experience. While there is truly nothing quite like the smell of the pages of a paperback, the sight of vibrant book spines amongst towering shelves, and detailed graphics gracing covers, many of us have opted for adding books within our digital carts with the press of a few clicks, rather than perusing amongst aisles to find the right read. As you browse for your next adventure, I implore you to support diverse vendors for your bookish needs, such as these black-owned businesses. For those of you who’d like to support black-owned bookshops from the comfort of your home, here are some places you can shop online:
Located in the UK, Afrori Books offers an extensive collection of books organized in categories ranging from titles written by British authors to picture books for your little one. They also choose a Book of the Month to recommend in case you’re not sure what your next read is. With an impressive selection of “Books of Black Origin,” you’re sure to find something new to dive your nose into!
An online platform “dedicated to books written by, or about Black people,” this book club includes a curated collection of over 15,000 titles, as well as author profiles and book reviews. If you’re interested in getting more involved within the Black literature community, they also share a plethora of book festivals and events spanning across continents and the Black diaspora.
An independently owned bookstore that combines good reads and adult beverages, Bliss Books is a haven for book lovers and wine connoisseurs alike. In-person, this shop provides the ultimate ambiance for mental repose, however, due to COVID-19, it is currently operating virtually. As you await the reopening of their doors, you can browse through their online collection of new releases, audiobooks, used books, and more, all while sipping your own glass of wine at home. They even suggest a book and wine pairings so you can still have that cozy, boozy experience in your humble abode.
Kizzy’s online store hosts a vibrant community of African-American works and even dedicates a section solely to books about anti-racism. You can also check out their staff book picks if you’re looking for a recommendation and don’t know where to begin.
Article edited by Lindsey Huddleston.
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