Black-Owned provides the perfect answer to those who think that books aren’t political. Without these bookstores, generations of Black Americans wouldn’t have had a safe place to go when civil unrest reared its head, nor would they have had a communal meeting spot when it was time to protest.

Books and reading are inherently political, so it was good to learn about the politics that informed each bookstore the author profiled. It was also nice to see that the author didn’t pick one sub-genre of stores. Instead, she discussed those with Black Nationalist and Pan-African ties, among others.

I was fascinated—and at times infuriated—by this look into a portion of the Black experience that I previously knew nothing about. Books like these are powerful for people of any race and everyone should read them.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC. This review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.

Char Adams tackles a lesser-explored topic in Black-Owned. Her book considers the black-owned bookstore owner, the store, the surrounding communities, the books and their authors, and the publishing world. While the political and economic climates affected the peaks and valleys of the life of the stores, the concept of connection through books prevails.

A fascinating piece of American History paired with Adams' writing style make this an enjoyable nonfiction read. Her meticulous research, spanning almost 100 years, includes interviews, photos, and references. Additionally, she adds a resource section at the end of her book, listing black-owned stores by state and black-owned online stores.

I highly recommended this book to history buffs, entrepreneurs, booklovers, and anyone looking for an uplifting nonfiction read.

[I look forward to sharing more about this book on its publication date and appreciate ARC.]

#BlackOwned #Netgalley #nonfiction

I worked as a bookseller in a "big box" store for twelve years, in a small town that also supported multiple indie bookstores. Well, guess who's still here? Yep, the indies, thank goodness.
This was such a fascinating delve into the history of black-owned independent bookstores, beginning in the '60's and '70's, a time of civil unrest and political upheaval. Store owners usually got by by the skin of their teeth, rarely saw much of a profit, and often took personal risks to keep their stores open to people who needed a safe place to voice opinions, discuss radical literature, and feed their hope for a more just society.
Very well written, diligently researched, and full of great photos.
I've already emailed my local bookstore and encouraged them to put it on their shopping list.