21st century Black booksellers generation brings activism and business together in a way that skirts the debates of their predecessors; to them, the work is all of a piece.
Building on the legacy of Black-owned bookstores, Charis Books, Red Emma’s, and other booksellers serve as intellectual and cultural hubs during rising authoritarianism. Under Trump’s authoritarian regime, radical bookstores continue to be attacked.
Workers at the beloved D.C. bookstore formed the union in January; the city’s first unionized bookstore. The bargaining agreement took less than a year, which came as a surprise to many given that most unions don’t sign a contract that quickly.
Kitchen Arts & Letters has hung on during the pandemic, and co-owner Matt Sartwell is ready for an exciting next chapter.
Spread the word