Black-Owned Businesses Archives | Books for Black Kids https://booksforblackkids.com/category/black-owned-businesses/ Representation in Literature Thu, 13 Mar 2025 07:25:58 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 https://booksforblackkids.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/cropped-Screenshot-2024-07-22-204808-32x32.png Black-Owned Businesses Archives | Books for Black Kids https://booksforblackkids.com/category/black-owned-businesses/ 32 32 15 Black-Owned Book Subscription Boxes for Children and Adults https://booksforblackkids.com/15-black-owned-book-subscription-boxes-for-children-and-adults/ Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:17:25 +0000 https://booksforblackkids.com/?p=5971 In an age of book bans and DEI erasure, embracing diverse literature and Black-owned businesses becomes even more important. The […]

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Photo credit: satisfiction.co

In an age of book bans and DEI erasure, embracing diverse literature and Black-owned businesses becomes even more important.

The following Black-owned book subscription boxes help us to do exactly that.

These subscriptions not only foster literacy but also promote self-care, cultural pride, and immersive reading experiences for all. Many of the boxes also come with an assortment of treats, most of which are from BIPOC-owned companies. Some of the subscription boxes promote literacy and community care by donating a portion of their proceeds to schools, community organizations, and Black youth.

Whether you’re an avid reader, searching for a gift, or looking to introduce the children in your life to diverse stories, these book subscription boxes offer a meaningful way to engage with literature.

Interested in books for children, (young) adults, parents, or educators with Black protagonists and Black authors? Check out the Books for Black Kids book directory! Over 2,500 listings and counting!

Satisfiction

Photo credit: satisfiction.co

Satisfiction combines self-care products with science fiction and fantasy books. All bimonthly boxes feature limited-edition books by authors of color, with bookplates, bound author letters, interior formatting, dust jackets, and more. The Original Box comes with a series of self-care products, such as body butters, scrubs, serums, candles, sheet masks, wood wick candles, and bath soak items. Customers can also opt to receive just the book. Click here for more information.

Literally Black

Literally Black’s book subscription boxes connect customers with Black-owned businesses across the country. Each bi-monthly box includes a featured book, 4–5 products from Black-owned businesses, and Literally Black exclusive products. Members get first access to the curated book boxes. Find out more here.

Imagine Me Stories

Based in the United Kingdom, Imagine Me Stories offers subscription boxes with “quality black children’s literature and empowering black history activities.” Subscriptions are available for tiny conquerors (age 0–3), early achievers (age 4–8), big dreamers (age 9–12), and family combos for families with multiple children. Customers can receive one, three, or five books every month. Imagine Me Stories ships to the U.K. and the U.S. Click here for more information.

The Chaptr

The Chaptr combines a Black-owned book subscription box with a virtual book club. Recipients receive the same book and curated items to improve the reading experience. Using The Chaptr app, readers can discuss the book throughout the month, ultimately ending with a virtual book club meeting. Occasionally the authors themselves join the meeting. Learn more about the system here.

Kindred Stories

Based in Houston, Texas, Kindred Stories offers eight subscription boxes for children and adults: adult fiction, adult speculative fiction, adult romance, adult nonfiction, young adult, middle grade, picture books, and board books. Visit the site to learn more.

ReadHer

ReadHer focuses on Black indie romance books in its bi-monthly subscription boxes. Packages contain curated treats, such as snacks, shirts, mugs, tote bags, and more. Click here for more information.

BlackLIT

BlackLIT represents resilience in the Black-owned bookstore world. After closing its Dallas-area location due to local racism and harassment, the company is determined to continue its mission and re-open its doors. Despite all of this, BlackLIT is still offering several Afrocentric subscription boxes: kids, non-fiction, fiction, men, believers (faith/religion), and a mini box with fewer items. The boxes consist of books, t-shirts, and 3–5 products from Black-owned businesses. Learn more about the boxes here.

Beauty and a Book Box

Beauty and a Book box provides quarterly subscription boxes for tweens, teens, and adults. Packages contain books and self-care products, such as cosmetics, skincare, hair care and fragrance. A portion of the proceeds are donated to classrooms around the world. Learn more about the subscription here.

Cover Snob

Cover Snob focuses on romance novels written by authors of color. The books come with custom-designed edges and are shipped bi-monthly. In addition to the U.S., Cover Snob also ships to Canada and Europe. Visit the site to learn more.

Hues Book Box

Black-owned book subscription box from Hues Book Box with 3 books and 2 products/candles.

Photo credit: huesbookbox.com

Hues Book Box offers quarterly book subscription boxes focused on people of color. Recipients can choose one, two, or three different books, as well as 3–10 copies of the same book to be shared with a group. The packages also include items from BIPOC-owned businesses, such as stickers, bookmarks, and candles. Read more about the box here.

Kenola’s Bookbag

This subscription box focuses on Black authors and Black-owned businesses. The bi-monthly boxes include a book, a customized bag, and 2–3 products from Black-owned businesses. Kenola’s Bookbag also donates part of its proceeds to local organizations to promote social impact. Click here to learn more about the company.

Black Authors Matter Book Box

Sponsored by the National Black Book Festival, the Black Authors Matter Book Box is curated for children and approved by book industry professionals. Customers choose which books to receive. After the first month, which includes three books and a t-shirt, the boxes will consist of two paperback children’s books OR one hardcover children’s book or jigsaw puzzle. Bonus items are sent out at certain milestones. Learn more about the box here.

Woke Babies

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Based in the United Kingdom, Woke Babies creates book subscription boxes filled with Black authors and fun activities. Discovery Boxes are available for children aged 7 and under, and book-only boxes are for children up to the age of 12. Discovery Boxes also include games, positive affirmation cards, and wordless books to encourage creativity. Both options offer family bundles for households with more than one child. Read more about the company here.

Book It At The Bottom

The Bottom, a Black-owned bookstore based in Tennessee, has several subscription boxes for people of all ages. Subscription options include Book of the Month, children’s and young adult book boxes (age 0–5, 5–9, 9–12, or 12–18), combo boxes with two to four books, and “Book Fairy” boxes where customers can donate books to Black youth. Learn about the boxes here.

A Night With Bookbox

A Night with Bookbox is one the newest additions to the Black-owned book subscription space. Each box includes an autographed indie book, specifically a Black romance. The four boxes span from “book only” to “the box (full),” which include bookish items and items associated with the novel. Click here for more information.

Check out the Books for Black Kids book directory! Over 2,500 listings with a Black author and/or a Black protagonist.

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]]> 290+ Black-Owned Bookstores in the U.S. and Worldwide https://booksforblackkids.com/black-owned-bookstores-in-the-u-s-and-worldwide/ https://booksforblackkids.com/black-owned-bookstores-in-the-u-s-and-worldwide/#comments Wed, 04 Dec 2024 16:57:55 +0000 https://booksforblackkids.com/?p=5066 If you’re looking to support Black-owned businesses in your city, online, or overseas—and you like to read—you’ve come to the […]

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If you’re looking to support Black-owned businesses in your city, online, or overseas—and you like to read—you’ve come to the right place.

This is the most comprehensive list of Black-owned bookshops in the U.S. and around the world. And I stumble upon new ones every day, so some are certainly missing. Whether you’re looking for a Black-owned bookstore to enjoy in town, online, or on vacation, this list should give you some options.

List of Black-Owned Bookstores by Region

Click below to go directly to a specific section.

Finding and Verifying Independent Black Bookstores

Criteria I kept in mind while compiling this list: Is it Black-owned? Does it sell books? Is it still open?

The “still open” part was the main challenge in aggregating a list like this.

Most of these businesses are very local; since the community knows they’re there, their digital presence might not be a priority. Some don’t have updated websites or social media. Others have physically closed but are active online. You get the picture. Google helped a bit, but it was often wrong, saying that places were permanently closed that had reopened or evolved (or vice versa). As a last resort, I would check Google Reviews to try to get an idea of whether customers had visited in the past few months.

If you know of any Black-owned bookstores that are missing from this list, feel free to send an email to hello at booksforblackkids.com or tag @booksforblackkids on social media.

What Was Not Included in This List of Black-Owned Bookshops

  • Independent publishers or websites that only promoted one author. The main exception to this was Afrocentric independent publishers outside of the United States.
  • Online bookstores whose only internet presence was Bookshop.org. Those that had a social media account or separate website were added.
  • Bookstores that only sold subscription boxes. I plan on writing a “Black book businesses” post to feature those.
  • Businesses that no longer appeared to sell books.
  • Bookstores that no longer appeared to be open.
  • With one notable exception (which includes a disclaimer), businesses that were not founded by Black people.

Looking for books for children, young adults, parents, or educators with Black protagonists and Black authors? Check out the Books for Black Kids book directory! Over 2,400 listings and counting.

Black-Owned Bookstores in the United States

There are over 200 independent Black bookstores in the United States. In this list, they’re separated into stores that are solely online and those that operate at least somewhat locally, either through their own storefronts, local events, or pop-up bookstores.

Online-Only Bookstores

The bookstores on this list, to my knowledge, only operate virtually.

Stores that are based online that also hold local events, pop-ups, etc. are listed under their respective states. Same goes for bookshops that are “temporarily exclusively online” during a period of transition, either due to relocation, financial issues, harassment, or other factors.

U.S. Black-Owned Bookstores by State

Alabama

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Nebraska

Nevada

New Jersey

New York

North Carolina

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

South Carolina

Tennessee

Texas

Virginia

Washington

Washington, DC Area

Wisconsin

Black-Owned Bookstores Worldwide: North America, South America, Europe, Africa

As I speak English, Spanish, and French, countries with one of the above (or another Romance language) as an official language should have a relatively comprehensive list of stores. Countries with other languages may be lacking.

Similar to the U.S. list, several bookstores overseas have shut down or changed formats over the years. Unlike the U.S.-based list, I’ve included Afrocentric independent publishers here. As a note, the independent publishers were not included in the 290+ figure at the beginning of the article.

If you know of any missing Black-owned bookstores, feel free to send an email to hello at booksforblackkids.com or tag @booksforblackkids on social media.

Interested in books for children, young adults, parents, or educators with Black protagonists and Black authors…in multiple languages? Check out the Books for Black Kids book directory! 2,400 books and counting in over 20 language combinations.

Black-Owned Bookstores in North America

Bahamas

Bermuda

Canada

Cuba

Haiti

Jamaica

Martinique

Puerto Rico

Saint Lucia

Trinidad and Tobago

U.S. Virgin Islands

Black-Owned Bookstores in South America

Argentina

  • Malungo Libros: Traveling bookstore based in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Brazil

Colombia

  • Kutusoma: Independent publisher and literary association based in Bogotá, Colombia, with a presence in Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Panama

Uruguay

Black-Owned Bookstores in Europe

Belgium

France

Germany

All of the following are initiatives by InterKontinental (Note: Founders are neither Black nor African):

Italy

Netherlands

Portugal

  • Livraria Lulendo: Online bookstore based in Lisbon, Portugal. Holds in-person events.

Spain

Switzerland

United Kingdom

Black-Owned Bookstores in Africa

Gambia

Ghana

Kenya

Nigeria

Senegal

South Africa

Interested in books for children, young adults, parents, or educators with Black protagonists and Black authors? Check out the Books for Black Kids book directory! It’s a work in progress with over 2,400 listings and counting.

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