The National Association of Black Bookstores (NAB2), founded on Juneteenth, 2025, has announced the first National Black Bookstore Day to be celebrated on April 7.
National Black Bookstore Day is intended to “recognize, elevate, and drive support to Black-owned bookstores across the United States.” NAB2 founder Kevin Johnson, who owns Underground Books in Sacramento, CA, noted in a release that the event also honors the legacy of his late mother, Georgia “Mother Rose” Peat West, who opened Underground Books in 2003.
Participating in National Black Bookstore Day is easy:
- Consult NAB2‘s directory to locate a Black-owned bookstore near you.
- Make a purchase.
- Share on social media using #NationalBlackBookstoreDay and #NAB2.
Your support matters. Per data from the State of the Black Bookstore Report NAB2 released in February, the 306 Black-owned bookstores in the U.S. account for just 8% of all indies, and the vast majority (more than 90%) report annual revenue under $250k.
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If you’re in one of the 14 states that does not currently have a Black-owned bookstore, you can shop online from a NAB2 member store or donate directly to the organization.