The People’s Bookstore, a new pop-up bookselling venture focused on BIPOC authors, is set to have its first event at Beautywood Books in North Little Rock on Saturday from 12-5 p.m.

“This will be our community introduction to The People’s Bookstore, a radical bookstore and community space dedicated to uplifting BIPOC voices through literature, storytelling and organizing,” one of the founders, Shandrea Murphy-Washington, said.

The operation is run by mother and daughter duo Murphy-Washington and Little Rock Central High School freshman Breya Jackson. Murphy-Washington said that Jackson was a large inspiration for the project, as she has encouraged her daughter throughout the years to know her culture and history through literature, and she hopes to inspire her daughter to go after her dreams by leading by example. 

Books for sale will showcase the history of oppression and colonialism faced by Black and Indigenous communities and other people of color. Titles about political and community organizing and radical fiction that imagines a better world for marginalized communities will also be available.

“I feel that the times that we are living in require a radical reimagining of what’s possible when we collectively decide to fight back against oppressive systems and institutions that were built to disrupt and fracture our communities,” Murphy-Washington said. “I often feel that as a society, we have become too comfortable relying on systems that prove time and time again that they aren’t broken, but were created to function without us. It’s time for us to rely on one another, and what better way to do that than by using the methods of those who came before us and found ways to survive and thrive without the assistance of their oppressors.”

Murphy-Washington said that she hopes the pop-up will be not just a chance to sell books, but also the first of many ways to connect with the local community to create social change within and beyond Central Arkansas.

She said she is interested in talking to attendees about literature that has changed people’s lives, as well as connecting with them about what kind of community events and spaces they would like to see locally.

“I want to get to know the people who are already doing the work of building systems with, not for the community,” Murphy-Washington said.

Murphy-Washington has been an avid reader for years, and began collecting books in 2016 after graduating from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She has experience working with organizations that have fought against book bans in schools and libraries and she began wondering what she could do to help fill in the gap. She said that her book collection grew so large that she decided to open her own bookstore.

“Because Black and Indigenous communities were not only feeling the brunt of the attacks on culturally diverse literature, but have also historically had to fight for access to knowledge, I wanted to center literature that spoke to that struggle. I wanted to focus not only on the trials our communities have to overcome, but the triumphs and innovation that are born out of our resistance,” Murphy-Washington said.

Murphy-Washington frequents Beautywood Books, a used bookstore that doubles as a progressive and artistic community gathering space, and one of the owners offered their support to start the bookstore in the space.

Murphy-Washington said the project’s implementation has been in the works since the end of June, but she has dreamt of it for much longer. She said the name, The People’s Bookstore, is indicative of the solidarity between historically marginalized communities that have been underrepresented in literature and physical spaces.

She said her goal is to do monthly pop-ups throughout Central Arkansas until opening a permanent space. She wants to help combat indifference and nihilism.

“My hope is that this pop-up lights a fire in the apathetic and those who believe that no one is coming to save us,” Murphy-Washington said. “I’m hoping that they show up not just to meet me, but to engage with other like-minded individuals who can expand their perspectives.”