Black Books Matter
By DWIGHT HOBBES
I remember 20, 30 years ago a cheerful proprietor, Pat, owning and operating a black book shop over by the old Dome stadium in the industrial section. Not the best location for foot traffic, but the shelves held some beauties. Books by Jacob Lawrence and Gwendolyn Knight, Chester Himes, Maya Angelou who came through for a signing, and the rewarding opportunity to discover authors you hadn’t known about. And there were culturally specific knick-knacks, greeting cards, that sort of thing. It was a little treasure tucked away. One that didn’t see a lot of appreciation as a rule. Except, of course, that Angelou signing which saw a line clear down the block and, if memory serves, across the street. Eventually, Pat couldn’t keep the doors open.
Imaginably, Strive Bookstore (www.strivepublishing.com) will see much support since it’s smack dab in the middle of downtown, on Nicollet Avenue right across from Target Store and, for good measure, at a busy bus stop.
Why is this a good thing for anyone except black folk? Well, I guess others who are curious to learn can take a good look-see. But, being there is a good enough reason. It expands our access beyond, for instance, exhibits at Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Walker Arts Center and such. Especially considering you don’t need to make a special trip, just get off the bus. Or come out of Target Store.
When Pat had her shop, Twin Cities Black Lit was something of a catch-as-catch-can thing. There was revered griot and social critic Mahmoud El-Kati’s collected missives on the Papyrus Publishing, Inc. imprint and that was about it.
So, Strive Bookstore stands to benefit handsomely from the growth that has gone on over the years. Papyrus is no longer the state’s only black-owned press. Indeed, Strive has an imprint. And networking juggernaut In Black Ink is in effect, sustaining at the website, “spaces where the stories and voices of people of African heritage [are] celebrated”. In Black Ink also has an imprint boasting Towards an African Education: Selected Writings on the Education and Development of Children of African Heritage edited by El-Kati among the titles. The organization is part of the consortium Minnesota Black Publishing Arts Collaborative which is comprised of In Black Ink, Papyrus Publishing Inc., Strive Publishing, Matter of Africa America Time Corporation, Planting People Growing Justice Press, Vermillion Ink Press and Wise Ink. Thanks to this consortium, writers old and new can make it to the shelves of booksellers, libraries and, importantly, schools.
So, the situation has improved. Novels, lots of children’s books, including those by Dr. Artika Tyner and Carter G. Woodson Award winner Mélina Mangal, investment advice and more. It’s good to see something like this. Took time for the lit scene to build up and gather a head of steam.
But, yeah, Black Books Matter.
Dwight Hobbes is a long-time Twin Cities journalist and essayist.
