Bookshop of the Month: Busboys and Poets Books | And Other Stories
Busboys and Poets is not Black-owned; it was founded by Andy Shallal, an Iraqi-American artist and activist. While it heavily promotes Black literature, culture, and artists, the business is considered minority-owned, not Black-owned. There has been public controversy regarding its marketing and identification as a Black-owned business.
The owner/creator is Iraqi - Andy Shallal. I don’t see other owners listed. The Connecticut Avenue location is hella YT, like the neighborhood it’s located in (North of the VAN NESS metro station), just south of MD state line. Black is black, IMO that doesn’t include POC. 🤷🏾♀️
Only 306 Black-owned book stories. It feels like there should be sooo much more, smh but we know why. Most of the time the funding and general support to keep these spaces around just isnt there — beyond those genuinely interested. I guess have more travelling to do! Thanks for covering this story.
I would love to find a black book store near me. I’m sure there are many but I will take responsibility…. I never thought to seek one out. Amazon has been my way of getting books or Spotify for my audiobooks. We need to start a movement to buy more books from black authors and black books stores 💕
No movement necessary. Just refuse to use Amazon. Even an online black owned bookstore is better. Boycott Amazon forever. Anything they have can be purchased elsewhere.
Thank you for this. My fondest memories are of chilling in and buying up books from Black owned bookstores. Now that I'm in the OC, it feels like a distant memory.
Thanks for sharing BUT as a people must STOP patronizing our own businesses as soon as some celebrity is paid to endorse another revenue grabber from our community.
Ex: Oprah’s book club endorsed by Amazon is essentially redirecting our money from our neighborhood to Amazon who puts nothing back in the community after draining the resources ( sales in bookstore, coffee shop, dining after bookstore purchase ) an author comes to community bookstore - a street festival created - money stays in community
I wonder why Busboys is on the list? To my knowledge they're not Black owned, although for some reason people often think they are.
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Bookshop of the Month: Busboys and Poets Books | And Other Stories
Busboys and Poets is not Black-owned; it was founded by Andy Shallal, an Iraqi-American artist and activist. While it heavily promotes Black literature, culture, and artists, the business is considered minority-owned, not Black-owned. There has been public controversy regarding its marketing and identification as a Black-owned business.
The owner/creator is Iraqi - Andy Shallal. I don’t see other owners listed. The Connecticut Avenue location is hella YT, like the neighborhood it’s located in (North of the VAN NESS metro station), just south of MD state line. Black is black, IMO that doesn’t include POC. 🤷🏾♀️
Part of the global majority.
Last I heard it was multiple owners and one was Black… not sure of the validity of that tbh
I don't see that on their website, but that's definitely a possibility. Hopefully the organization that maintains the list validated the info.
Whenever I travel I try to visit a Black bookstore! This just made my job so much easier!
Only 306 Black-owned book stories. It feels like there should be sooo much more, smh but we know why. Most of the time the funding and general support to keep these spaces around just isnt there — beyond those genuinely interested. I guess have more travelling to do! Thanks for covering this story.
I'm grateful for this!
Know I was meant to read this today as I’m searching for books to read on vacation. 🙌🏻🙌🏻 got R Eric Thomas’s essay collections. 🤤🤗
I would love to find a black book store near me. I’m sure there are many but I will take responsibility…. I never thought to seek one out. Amazon has been my way of getting books or Spotify for my audiobooks. We need to start a movement to buy more books from black authors and black books stores 💕
No movement necessary. Just refuse to use Amazon. Even an online black owned bookstore is better. Boycott Amazon forever. Anything they have can be purchased elsewhere.
What online stores do you shop on?
I use my library A LOT.
thanks for sharing!
Oh THAT Kevin Johnson!
Thank you for this. My fondest memories are of chilling in and buying up books from Black owned bookstores. Now that I'm in the OC, it feels like a distant memory.
Thanks for sharing BUT as a people must STOP patronizing our own businesses as soon as some celebrity is paid to endorse another revenue grabber from our community.
Ex: Oprah’s book club endorsed by Amazon is essentially redirecting our money from our neighborhood to Amazon who puts nothing back in the community after draining the resources ( sales in bookstore, coffee shop, dining after bookstore purchase ) an author comes to community bookstore - a street festival created - money stays in community
No one is forced to buy from Amazon even if they sponsor a book club.
:- We must continue to patronize with our own bookstore/businesses
This is a wonderful history. Thank you!
This is wonderful