17 Black-Owned Bookstores to Shop From Today and Every Day

The murder of George Floyd has left many people feeling helpless and uninformed. Some are turning to books to educate themselves on race in America, and though reading and studying are important first steps, it also matters where you shop for these resources. A billion-dollar company like Amazon does not need any more of your money. Instead, you can redirect those funds to Black-owned bookstores. What good is education if you’re withholding money from the very people you’re attempting to support?

While some of the bookstores on this list are closed due to coronavirus, they all have extensive online catalogues from which you can order, and several shops extend their reach beyond books. For example, Harriett’s Bookshop in Philadelphia has an initiative called “Essentials for Essentials” where customers can purchase books for essential workers. It’s not enough to simply read—we must pour money into these communities so more initiatives like this can be established. From Washington, D.C. to Kentucky, Black-owned bookstores are everywhere and deserve your dollar. Below, ELLE.com's list of 15 Black-owned bookstores to buy from today and always.