There was a time when Black-owned bookstores were like a lodestone to the movement, particularly in the halcyon sixties. The spirit of those days is given a fresh summary in Katie Mitchell\u2019s \u201cProse to the People: A Celebration of Black Bookstores\u201d (Clarkson Potter, 2025), with a foreword by Nikki Giovanni. I was asked to recount my long history with such stores, my \u201cbookbeat,\u201d and invariably Sister\u2019s Uptown was profiled.\u00a0<\/p>\n
On Friday, July 25, Janifer Wilson and her daughter, Kori, will be hosting a fundraiser at the store, a vibrant cultural center, to help stave off a possible closing. For more than a quarter century, the store, located at 1942 Amsterdam Ave., has been unstinting in providing the community with a place to enjoy a wide array of books as well as discussions by authors and activists.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I have, on a number of occasions, not only hosted events there but sat in the audience to experience the wisdom of a coterie of renowned speakers. On one memorable appearance, I shared the podium with Cinque Brath with the publication of essays by his father, Elombe. It was an unforgettable moment, and I am sure that regulars at the bookstore will have a similar experience at this event, which will be from 6 to 10 pm. Bring your checkbooks and check out the variety of books, best sellers, and classics alike.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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