After announcing my 15 books read for May total I promptly stopped reading lol
To be fair, the world is on fire and I just wanted to hide under the covers. But I got off my ass and tried to be productive and contribute something positive.
I had already made a point to steer more of my purchases to local, small businesses and this past week I chose two Black owned indie bookstores. I also purchased a few LGBQT+ books in honor of Pride month.
These were purchased from The Lit Bar in Bronx, NY & Semicolon Bookstore in Chicago.
And please check out Semicolon’s #ClearTheShelves GoFundMe to help provide access to books for students who can’t always afford to buy them.
Another worthy cause to donate to is the Marcus Books 60th Anniversary Fund – Marcus books is the oldest Black owned bookstore in the country. This fund helps expand infrastructure, build their online presence & mortgage on the property.
One more from my neck of the woods is L.E.M.S in Seattle, WA. They are “the last Black owned bookstore focused on the African diaspora in the PNW.” – GoFundMe and need money to survive the shutdown and revitalize the store.
Tomorrow is #BlackPublishingPower day.
I plan on buying All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson and considering a few for the second book – maybe Take a Hint Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert or Finding Joy by Adriana Herrera – both favorite authors of mine. But I’m open to recommendations.
Recommended posts:
The Book Community’s Bias over at Du Livre
Black Lives Matter (Let’s Have a Chit-Chat) on Olivia’s Catastrophe’s blog (she’s also hosting a 3K follower giveaway on her Instagram account right now!)
On HuffPo - 3 Questions that White Students Should Ask Themselves Before Checking in on Their Black Classmates written by Devon Kidd. Written with students in mind but applies to everyone who considers themselves an ally.
*Note – since drafting this post last week, I started reading again and finished 3 books. I am nothing if not contrary. Especially with myself! lol
Semicolon; is such a cool spot, thank you again for the gift card there love. <3 I've heard amazing things about Pet. I think I'm going to buy Song of Wraiths and Ruin tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteI love the website. I hope you get to go in person soon.
DeleteThis week has been a slow reading week for me so far. I agree that everything going on in the world can be distracting. I've heard the Trevor Noah book is fantastic and will have you laughing and crying!
ReplyDeleteI've been wanting to read it for years on audio but my library has never gotten it so I caved lol
DeleteThanks for sharing the bookstore links. I ordered from a black-owned bookstore in Indiana, but I haven't gotten my book yet (it's Clap When You Land). I will try and buy a couple books tomorrow by black authors. I've noticed some people are doing giveaways over on Twitter and I love that.
ReplyDeleteLauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
I loved that book (& anything Acevedo writes) so I hope you do too!
DeleteKaren @ For What It's Worth
That's nice that you have some black- owned indies near you. I'd like to find one. We seem to live in white bread- ville lol and finding any indies at all, let alone POC- owned ones, is tough. I love how people are trying to make a difference though- it gives me hope. Thanks for highlighting these.
ReplyDeleteReading is a HUGE thing out here. Lots of indie bookstores but the more I started researching when the pandemic started, I realized how much trouble they're in. I knew most small/indie businesses struggle but so many of the indie bookstore links lead to closed stores. It's really sad.
DeleteI love what I’ve seen/heard from Trevor Noah (limited, though it has been) so I definitely want to read Born a Crime.
ReplyDeleteI don't watch him as often now but I've been wanting to read this book for years. The print in the paperback is SUPER tiny though lol
DeleteKaren @ For What It's Worth
Thanks for the updates. In honor of #BlackPublishingPower week I'm running a giveaway on Twitter. But I don't know that it's getting enough viability. OH well, I'll just buy the books for myself!
ReplyDeleteI was going to do a giveaway myself but I'm spread pretty thin right now but I did purchase for myself and requested titles from the library.
DeleteI know that feeling, you've successfully got back into reading and then the world is on fire and you stop. Glad you find some small ways to help support some independent Black owned bookshops, though. I had seen about #BlackPublishingPower on twitter which was frustrating as I'd just said I could buy no more books for a while, unless they're preorders because I need something. I think I might have to purchase at least one book though because publishing needs to get the message.
ReplyDeleteCan you access your library? I think a lot of people don't have money right now (or ever lol) but it still gives the book an audience and visibility. The library still pays the author.
DeleteCan 2020 get worse? oh I am sure it can, how about WW3
ReplyDeletePlease don't ask that lol
DeleteI have been so off kilter and scattered that I have only managed to buy face masks from a Black-owned Etsy shop and contribute to a Black Progressive candidate. I had the link to an arts program for NYC inner city kids in a predominantly Black area, but I lost it and keep forgetting to go looking for it again. I need to look into some of the bookstores. I have been looking for a copy of Black Faces White Spaces for my son and I might be more likely to find a new copy from a Black-owned book store. Thanks for the extra links. 👍✨
ReplyDelete