Being an antiracist reader means not only educating ourselves, but also paying attention to the institutions we support financially. We put together a list of Black-owned independent bookstores, thanks in part to this Twitter thread, AfroTech’s list of 10 Black-owned online bookstores to support while at home, and AALBC’s list of Black-owned bookstores.
If you’re looking for antiracist audiobooks to further educate yourself, your family, or your community, check out our antiracism playlists.
Note: Stores listed with Libro.fm Storefronts below are Libro.fm partner stores—meaning that when you purchase audiobooks from their Libro.fm Storefront, it directly supports their bookstore.
Bookstores: Want to become a Libro.fm partner store? Email bookstores@libro.fm and we’ll take care of the rest.
UNITED STATES
Arkansas
Pyramid Art Books & Custom Framing
Little Rock, AR
California
Ashay By the Bay
Vallejo, CA
Carol’s Books
Sacramento, CA
The Collective Oakland
Oakland, CA
Libro.fm Storefront
D3 Comic Book Spot
Richmond, CA
Eso Won Bookstore
Los Angeles, CA
Libro.fm Storefront
Legendary Coffee and Books
Stockton, CA
Malik Books
Los Angeles, CA
Libro.fm Storefront
Marcus Books
Oakland, CA
The Multicultural Children’s Bookstore
Richmond, CA
Old Capitol Books
Monterey, CA
Reparations Club
Los Angeles, CA
Shades of Afrika
Long Beach, CA
Underground Books
Sacramento, CA
Word of Life Christian Bookstores
Los Angeles, CA
Colorado
Shop at Matter
Denver, CO
Connecticut
Burgundy Books
Old Saybrook, CT
Key Bookstore
Hartford, CT
Libro.fm Storefront
People Get Ready
New Haven, CT
Libro.fm Storefront
Delaware
MeJah Books Inc.
Claymont, DE
District of Columbia
Charnice Milton Community Bookstore
Washington, DC
Loyalty Books
Washington, DC
Libro.fm Storefront
Mahogany Books
Washington, DC
Libro.fm Storefront
Sankofa Video, Books, & Cafe
Washington, DC
Libro.fm Storefront
Solid State Books
Washington, DC
Libro.fm Storefront
Florida
Cultured Books
St. Petersburg, FL
Libro.fm Storefront
DARE Books
Longwood, FL
Eden Books
Chiefland, FL
Libro.fm Storefront
Essence of Knowledge – Urban Book Store
Cocoa, FL
Pyramid Books
Boynton Beach, FL
Libro.fm Storefront
Georgia
All Things Inspiration Giftique
Mableton, GA
Libro.fm Storefront
Black Dot Cultural Center and Bookstore
Lithonia, GA
Book Boutique
Atlanta, GA
Brave + Kind Bookshop
Decatur, GA
Libro.fm Storefront
Covenant Christian Bookstore
Lilburn, GA
For Keeps Bookstore
Atlanta, GA
Good Books
Atlanta, GA
The Listening Tree
Decatur, GA
Medu Bookstore
Atlanta, GA
Nubian Bookstore
Morrow, GA
Scribes & Vibes
Conyers, GA
Libro.fm Storefront
44th and 3rd Bookseller
Atlanta, GA
Libro.fm Storefront
Illinois
Afriware Books
Maywood, IL
Libro.fm Storefront
Da Book Joint
Chicago, IL
Libro.fm Storefront
Frontline Bookstore
Chicago, IL
Lushena Bookstore
Chicago, IL
Semicolon Bookstore
Chicago, IL
Libro.fm Storefront
Indiana
Beyond Barcodes
Kokomo, IN
Libro.fm Storefront
Brainlair Books
South Bend, IN
Libro.fm Storefront
Kansas
Aya Coffee + Books
Kansas City, KS
Libro.fm Storefront
Bliss Books & Wine
Kansas City, KS
Libro.fm Storefront
Kentucky
Akoma Books
Evansville, IN
Wild Fig Coffee & Books
Lexington, KY
Louisiana
Community Book Center
New Orleans, LA
Maryland
Everyone’s Place Bookstore
Baltimore, MD
Red Emma’s
Baltimore, MD
Libro.fm Storefront
Vision Christian Bookstore
Clinton, MD
Wisdom Book Center
Gwynn Oak, MD
Massachusetts
Frugal Bookstore
Roxbury, MA
Olive Tree Books N Voices
Springfield, MA
Susie’s Stories
Rockport, MA
Michigan
Blackstone Bookstore and Cultural Center
Ypsilanti, MI
Libro.fm Storefront
Brown Sugar & Spice Books
Romulus, MI
Detroit Book City
Detroit, MI
Libro.fm Storefront
Nandi’s Knowledge Cafe
Highland Park, MI
Source Booksellers
Detroit, MI
Libro.fm Storefront
we are LIT
Grand Rapids, MI
Libro.fm Storefront
Minnesota
Babycake’s Book Stack
St Paul, MN
Mississippi
Marshall Books & Music
Jackson, MS – 601-355-5335
Missouri
EyeSeeMe African American Children’s Bookstore
Saint Louis, MO
Libro.fm Storefront
Progressive Emporium & Education Center
St. Louis, MO
Willa’s Books & Vinyl
Kansas City, MO
Nebraska
Aframerican Bookstore
Omaha, NE
New Jersey
La Unique Books
Camden, NJ
The Little Boho Bookshop
Bayonne, NJ
Libro.fm Storefront
Source of Knowledge
Newark, NJ
Libro.fm Storefront
New York
Becoming God’s Answer Bookstore
New York, NY
Blenheim Hill Books
Hobart, NY
Bronx Bound Books
Mobile Bookstore
Libro.fm Storefront
Café Con Libros
Brooklyn, NY
Libro.fm Storefront
The Lit. Bar
The Bronx, NY
Libro.fm Storefront
Sisters Uptown
New York City, NY
Zawadi Books
Buffalo, NY
North Carolina
Liberation Station
Durham, NC
Shelves Bookstore
Charlotte, NC
Libro.fm Storefront
Ohio
Black Art Plus
Columbus, OH
A Cultural Exchange
Cleveland, OH
Elizabeth’s Bookshop and Writing Centre
Akron, OH
Smith and Hannon Bookstore
Cincinnati, OH
Oklahoma
Fulton Street Books and Coffee
Tulsa, OK
Mocha Bookstore
Tulsa, OK
Libro.fm Storefront
Nappy Roots Books
Oklahoma City, OK
Pennsylvania
Amalgram
Philadelphia, PA
Baby Word Play
Philadelphia, PA
The Black Reserve Bookstore
Landsdale, PA
Books & Stuff
Philadelphia, PA
Hakim’s Bookstore
Philadelphia, PA
Harriett’s Bookshop
Philadelphia, PA
Libro.fm Storefront
The Black Reserve Bookstore
Landsville, PA
The Tiny Bookstore
Pittsburgh, PA
Libro.fm Storefront
Uncle Bobbie’s Books
Philadelphia, PA
Libro.fm Storefront
South Carolina
Turning Page Bookshop
Goose Creek, SC
Libro.fm Storefront
Tennessee
Alkebu-Lan Images Bookstore & Gift Shop
Nashville, TN
Texas
Beauty & Brains Books
Houston, TX
Libro.fm Storefront
Black Pearl Books
Austin, TX
Libro.fm Storefront
The Dock Bookshop
Fort Worth, TX
Libro.fm Storefront
Enda’s Booktique
Duncanville, TX
Libro.fm Storefront
Pan-African Connection
Dallas, TX
Libro.fm Storefront
Virginia
Books and Crannies
Martinsville, VA
Libro.fm Storefront
Harambee Books & Artworks
Alexandria, VA
Positive Vibes
Virginia Beach, VA
Washington
Estelita’s Library
Seattle, WA
Libro.fm Storefront
CANADA
A Different Booklist
Toronto, Ontario
Knowledge Bookstore
Brampton, Ontario
Librairie Racines
Montreal, Quebec
GHANA
AkooBooks
Accra, Greater Accra
Libro.fm Storefront
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS
Undercover Books and Gifts
Christiansted, Virgin Islands
Libro.fm Storefront
ONLINE
If we’re missing any black-owned bookstores or need corrections on what’s posted above, please let us know in the comments.
Claire Handscombe
Claire Handscombe is a British writer who moved to Washington, DC, in 2012, ostensibly to study for an MFA in Creative Writing, but really, let’s be honest, because of an obsession with The West Wing. She is the host of the Brit Lit Podcast, a monthly show about news and views from UK books and publishing; the author of Unscripted, a novel about a young woman with a celebrity crush and a determined plan; and the editor of Walk With Us: How The West Wing Changed Our Lives.
Black-Owned Bookstores to Support Right Now (and Always)
Please add Eden Books: https://edenbooks.org, https://libro.fm/?bookstore=edenbooks
Hi Robyn, Eden Books has been added. Thank you so much for reaching out!
Yes. Loving Me Books should be added. It is an online children’s bookstore. They accept special request of books for all ages.
http://www.lovingmebooks.com
Added! Thanks, Nicole!
Please add Bliss Books & Wine
http://www.blissbooksandwine.com
https://libro.fm/blissbookswine
Hi La’Nae, thanks for reaching out! Bliss Books has been added.
Please add D.C.’s Sankofa Video, Books, & Café. https://www.events.sankofa.com/
Thanks for commenting! They’ve been added.
Hi can you please post Nandi’s Knowledge Cafe in Highland Park, MI?
Thanks for letting us know! They’ve been added.
Today I discovered Book N Crannies on Twitter. (@BookNCrannies) The website is: https://t.co/6rE2ODZAkk?amp=1
Thanks so much for letting us know! They’ve been added.
Elizabeth’s in Akron, OH (https://bookshop.org/shop/Elizabeths), founded by Rachel Cargle.
Thanks for commenting! They’ve been added.
For Keeps Books
Atlanta, Georgia
Thanks for letting us know! They’ve been added.
Love For Keeps!
Check out Books and Crannies – booksandcranniesva.com!
Thanks for commenting! They’ve been added.
L.E.M.S Bookstore ( https://sites.google.com/keytechlabs.org/lemsbookstore/home ) in Seattle, WA. I don’t have first-hand knowledge, but according to a news article last year ( https://crosscut.com/2019/03/will-seattle-save-was-only-black-owned-bookstore ), it is “Washington’s only Black-owned bookstore and the last bookstore in the Pacific Northwest whose primary goal is to promote the literature, culture and knowledge of the African diaspora.”
Thanks Ran! We added it.
Thank you so much for including Marshall’s Music & Book Store in Jackson, MS, the oldest continuously operated Black-owned bookstore in America. 82 years and counting! Owner operator Jone Primm does not currently have a good website, but anyone can place special orders for delivery or curbside by calling 601-355-5335. Jone has tracked down everything from THE PARKER INHERITANCE to BREAK EVERY YOKE to WITTGENSTEIN’S MISTRESS for me, and we do it all by phone. The website you list is not Marshall’s. Thank you for updating Marshall’s name, removing the website, adding the phone number, and for including Marshall’s located on Jackson’s historic Farish Street.
Hi Louisa! Thank you for bringing this to our attention. The link has been removed and the phone number added. Have a great day!
Thank you!
Undercover Books
St. Croix USVI
Thanks, Darean! Undercover Books has been added.
Please add Beauty & Brains Books to the list libro.fm/?bookstore=beautybrains
Hi Elisha, Beauty & Brains has been added. Thanks for reaching out!
I am a black writer, how do I get my books into these areas of business.
Hi Christine! You can see how Libro.fm works with authors here: https://libro.fm/authors. Thanks for reaching out!
Please add @dabookjoint in Chicago. Website under construction but will be up soon.
Hi Verlean, thanks for reaching out! Da Book Joint has been added.
One more:
Charnice Milton Community Bookstore at Busboys and Poets in Anacostia (DC)
Updated! Thank you Aleja.
Please add “People Get Ready” in New Haven, CT…. https://peoplegetreadybooks.indielite.org/
Hi Delores, People Get Ready has been added! Thanks for reaching out.
Hi there! Thanks so much for this list. I tried to change my account to be supporting Aframerican Bookstore in Omaha (yay! didn’t even know about it until now) but it’s not an option. Any ideas?
Thanks so much!
Hi! Glad you now know about Aframerican Bookstore! However, the bookstores with asterisks* are Libro.fm partner stores—so feel free to reach out to them to buy books directly from them, and ask them email hello@libro.fm to become an audiobook partner.
Ah, ok that makes a lot of sense. Thank you for the extra information.
Please add the Shop at Matter in Denver!
@shopatmatter
Shopatmatter.com
Thank you!
Updated, thank you!
Knowledge Bookstore – Toronto, Canada
https://www.knowledgebookstore.com/
Thanks for providing this list.
Apologies, it is Brampton, Ontarion, Canada
Hi Casey, thanks for commenting! We’ve updated.
Legendary Coffee + Books in Stockton, CA!
Added! Thank you, Allyson!
Please add Harriets Bookshop in Philadelphia, PA: https://www.harriettsbookshop.com
Hi Fran! Harriett’s is listed above. Thanks for commenting!
Hello,
Thanks for the information. Please add Brown Sugar and Spice in Romulus, Michigan. https://brownssbooks.com.
Thank you.
Added! Thank you, Donna!
Do you have a list in the U.K.? Can I use librofm from the U.K.? Xx
Hi, Helen! Membership is not currently available outside the US and Canada, but you can pay as you go for individual audiobooks from anywhere in the world! Find more info about how to get started here: https://blog.libro.fm/knowledge-base/general/. Thanks for commenting!
MeJah Books in Wilmington, DE. https://mejahbooks.com/
Added, with Claymont as the city (as per their website). Thank you, Ellen!
Forgive if I’m repeating someone, but I just discovered African American Literature Book Club, an on-line ordering site, if you don’t have one of these stores close by. http://www.aalbc.com
Thanks, Becky! AALBS is listed under the “Online” heading!
Becky Thank you so much! AALBC has maintained a list like this for over 20 years: https://aalbc.com/bookstores/list.php It is great to see others doing the same thing to promote our business.
Amazon (sorry to bring them up) won’t even so much a add a hyperlink to their own affiliates sites! This is why I boycott Amazon and have partnered with Libro.fm for audiobook sales on AALBC
Please add Liberation Station in Durham, North Carolina!
https://www.liberationstationbookstore.com/
Added! Thank you, Mariel!
Maybe I’m missing reading it wrong, but I don’t understand the statement regarding Libro.fm storefront purchases directly supporting the bookstore. Don’t all purchases directly support the bookstore?
Hi, Tracy! Proceeds for all print purchases made directly through the bookstores (linked) do support the bookstores. For listeners looking to purchase audiobooks, selecting the libro.fm storefront for the bookstore in question shares proceeds with the bookstore as well! You can find more info here: https://blog.libro.fm/knowledge-base/general/
Hi is there a way we can support multiple businesses at once with our purchases on libro? I know there is an option to divide it among all the bookstores, but is there a way to choose like 3 or 4? I’d like to give it to multiple black owned and/or queer owned bookshops.
Hi, Laura! Unfortunately not, but you can support multiple stores by making audiobook purchases via different bookstores’ storefronts. You can switch the bookstore you support at any time at https://libro.fm/indies. A workaround is to occasionally switch the bookstore you support with your membership, or to temporarily switch your bookstore to make an a-la-carte or gift membership purchase.
Please add Reparations Club – they are Black-owned and curated, and have a robust offering of books by Black authors and POC. https://rep.club/
Added! Thanks, Nicole!
Harambee Books – Alexandria VA – https://harambeebooks.org/shop
Dare Books – Longwood FL – https://darebooks.com/
Black Dot Cultural Center – Lithonia GA – https://www.blackdotcc.com/
The Listening Tree – Decatur GA – https://listeningtreebooks.com/
Nubian Books – Morrow GA – https://www.facebook.com/Nubian-Bookstore-110668169013960/
Olive Tree Books N Voices – Springfield MA – olivetreebooksonline.com/
Everyone’s Place – Baltimore MD – https://www.facebook.com/everyonesplacebookstore/
Wisdom Book Center – Gwynn Oak MD – https://wisdombookcenter.com/
We Are LIT – Grand Rapids MI – https://wearelitgr.com/
La Unique African American Books & Cultural Center – Camden NJ – http://www.launiquebooks.net/
Books & Stuff – Philadelphia PA – https://www.booksandstuff.info/
Enda’s Booktique – Duncanville TX – https://endasbooktique.com/
Positive Vibes – Virginia Beach VA – https://www.positivevibesva.com/
MVP! Thanks so much for all of these, Erika! They’ve been added!
Hi there! Thank you so much for this list. I’m curious if there’s a way to show which of the libro.fm partner stores have the most (and least) support on your platform? Maybe a graph at the end, or maybe a “# of supporters” after the name perhaps? (in a way that wasn’t dishonoring of course) Since there are none I’m familiar with firsthand on this list, I’d really like to support one that has less support, and therefore is potentially in greater need. Thank you for the consideration!
Hi Leah! Thanks for reaching out and for your support of Black-owned bookstores. Unfortunately, we can’t share the number of customers each store has through Libro.fm. However, we can share that Beyond Barcodes, Harriett’s Bookshop, and Pyramid Books have all become Libro.fm partner bookstores fairly recently. We hope this helps and thanks again!
I’m not 100% sure LEMS bookstore in Seattle is still open. Their number has been disconnected, and I cannot find a new number or store hours at this time.
Hi Tammy, thank you for bringing this to our attention! They have been removed from the list. We appreciate you reaching out.
Can you add SistahScifi http://www.sistahscifi.com in Seattle, WA
Hi Nikki, thank you for commenting! Sistah Scifi has been added to the list.
Please add Good Books Atlanta (online only): https://www.goodbooksatl.com/ Thanks!
Hi Veronica! Good Books Atlanta has been added. Thank you for reaching out!