20 Black-Owned Bookstores To Support This Holiday Season

Black-owned bookstores are community anchors, literary homes, and cultural classrooms. This holiday season, choose at least one of these shops to support with your book money, event tickets, or gift cards.

1. Hakim’s Bookstore (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

Hakim’s is one of the oldest Black-owned bookstores in the country and a landmark in West Philadelphia. The shelves are packed with African and African American history, politics, and classic and contemporary Black literature.

Website: https://www.hakimsbookstore.com/

2. Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee & Books (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

Uncle Bobbie’s is an independent Black-owned coffee shop and bookstore in Germantown, created to give the community access to books, good food, and safe space. Expect a sharp curation of Black authors, radical thought, children’s books, and regular events.

Website: https://www.unclebobbies.com/

3. The Black Reserve Bookstore (Lansdale, Pennsylvania)

The Black Reserve Bookstore serves the Lansdale area with a wide range of titles focused on Black history, culture, empowerment, and youth literacy. It is a go-to spot for families looking for culturally grounded books for adults, teens, and children.

Website: https://theblackreservebookstore.com/

4. Positive Vibes (Virginia Beach, Virginia)

Positive Vibes is an African-centered bookstore and cultural shop that has been serving Virginia Beach since the early nineties. They carry African and African American literature, art, and wellness products, making it a strong option for both books and gifts.

Website: https://www.positivevibesva.com/

5. House of Consciousness Bookstore (Norfolk, Virginia)

House of Consciousness is a historic Norfolk space that functions as bookstore, cultural center, ritual shop, and vegan cafe. Alongside books on African history, spirituality, and liberation, you will find crystals, herbs, and community programming.

Website: https://www.hocbookstore.com/

6. Marcus Books (Oakland, California)

Marcus Books in Oakland is widely recognized as the oldest Black-owned bookstore in the United States. Its shelves highlight Black history, radical politics, literary fiction, children’s books, and a deep catalog of classic and contemporary Black authors.

Website: https://www.marcusbooks.com/

7. Malik Books (Los Angeles, California)

Malik Books is a long-standing Black-owned bookstore in Los Angeles focused on African American literature, children’s books, calendars, and culturally-centered gifts. The store also runs a bookmobile and hosts regular book signings and community events.

Website: https://malikbooks.com/

8. Pan-African Connection Bookstore, Art Gallery and Resource Center (Dallas, Texas)

Pan-African Connection in Dallas blends bookstore, art gallery, and community resource center. The shop specializes in books on African and African diaspora history, health, liberation movements, and culture, alongside African art and handmade goods.

Website: https://panafricanconnection.com/

9. Grassrootz Bookstore (Phoenix, Arizona)

Grassrootz is an activist-owned Black bookstore, cafe, and community space located in Phoenix. They stock a wide range of books by Black authors, host events, and offer workspace, making it a hub for local organizers, students, and families.

Website: https://grassrootzbookstore.com/

10. Estelita’s Library (Seattle, Washington)

Estelita’s Library is a justice-focused community library and bookstore centering social justice, ethnic studies, and liberation movements. It operates as both a reading space and organizing hub and is currently expanding into a larger cultural and housing project in Seattle.

Website: https://estelitaslibrary.org/

11. Black Garnet Books (Saint Paul, Minnesota)

Black Garnet Books is one of Minnesota’s first Black-owned brick and mortar bookstores. The shop curates books by authors of color across genres and uses events and partnerships to build a reading culture centered on marginalized voices.

Website: https://www.blackgarnetbooks.com/

12. Semicolon Books (Chicago, Illinois)

Semicolon is Chicago’s only Black woman–founded nonprofit bookstore and gallery. The store is known for its work to close the literacy gap through initiatives like free book giveaways for local students and a strong selection of Black literature.

Website: https://www.semicolonchi.org/

13. The Underground Bookstore (Chicago, Illinois)

The Underground Bookstore has been in operation for decades in Chicago, dedicated to spreading knowledge through books by Black authors and on Black history, spirituality, and politics. It remains a trusted source for hard-to-find and classic Black texts.

Website: https://www.undergroundbookstore.com/

14. AfriWare Books (Oak Park, Illinois)

AfriWare Books is a Black-owned bookstore and resource center based in Oak Park with a strong online presence. Since the early nineties it has highlighted authors, artists, and advocates whose work centers African heritage, cultural pride, and community wellness.

Website: https://www.afriwarebooks.com/

15. Loudmouth Books (Indianapolis, Indiana)

Loudmouth Books in Indianapolis is a Black, queer-owned bookstore dedicated to books for, by, and about marginalized communities, including many titles that are frequently challenged or banned. It also occupies a building once listed in the historic Negro Motorist Green Book, adding another layer of Black history to its mission.

Website: https://loudmouthindy.com/

16. Beyond Barcodes Bookstore (Indianapolis, Indiana)

Beyond Barcodes is a Black-owned, woman-run multicultural bookstore, cafe, and language learning space. The store emphasizes inclusive, global literature and provides programming for youth and families.

Website: https://www.beyondbarcodesbooks.com/

17. Kindred Stories (Houston, Texas)

Kindred Stories is a Houston bookstore devoted to celebrating Black authors and artisans. The shop curates fiction, nonfiction, children’s books, and gift items that center Black voices and regularly hosts readings, signings, and community events.

Website: https://kindredstorieshtx.com/

18. Bliss Books and Wine (Kansas City, Missouri)

Bliss Books and Wine is a Black-owned bookstore and wine bar in Kansas City. It promotes a culture of reading and relaxation by pairing books with a welcoming space for conversation, small events, and intimate gatherings.

Website: https://blissbooksandwine.com/

19. The Lit. Bar (Bronx, New York)

The Lit. Bar is an independent bookstore and wine bar in the Bronx and the borough’s only indie bookshop. It showcases books by Black and Latinx authors, hosts lively events, and offers a space where readers can browse, sip, and connect.

Website: https://www.thelitbar.com/

20. Harambee Books & Artworks (Alexandria, Virginia)

Harambee Books & Artworks is an independent bookstore in Old Town Alexandria that serves the greater DC area. The shop offers best-selling books by and about people of African descent, exclusive artwork, apparel, and literacy-focused community programs.

Website: https://harambeebooks.org/