Nappy Roots Books, up until a few months ago, was the only black-owned bookstore in Oklahoma City (Belle Books, Boutique & More opened in September). This place was stretched pretty thin in terms of resources. In addition to being a bookstore, Nappy Roots Books is also an art gallery and meeting space for activist events.
The pandemic did halt any indoor events for the store, so they simply moved things to the parking lot. In last October alone, they hosted an African American Storytelling festival, a discussion panel of Indigenous women, and a free hip hop concert to promote voter registration.
Unfortunately, the pandemic did force the store to close down in February and re-open last June. Since then sales, definitely haven't been where the store needed, to the point where co-owner Camille Landry paid the store's rent out of her own pocket.
But once the first day of Black History Month rolled around, Landry encountered a genuine miracle.
The organization worked with Nappy Roots Books to cover their expenses for the next several months. They also donated enough money to purchase 150 books for Nappy Roots's daycare and after school community programs. These books will also be given away during the entirety of Black History Month to those who can't afford them.
The first day of Black History Month has always been a celebration for Nappy Roots Books, and True Sky stepping in to support them that day was a fantastic form of solidarity. It's important to mention that at this point, Camille Landry and her other co-owner Banbose Shando don't have salaries in order to keep the bookstore operational. Ever dollar they make is going back into supporting the local community first, and then making sure the utility bill is paid.
If you are able to donate to Nappy Roots Books, or you want to order books from them, here is the donation link and order form.
Seriously, there are so many ways to find black-owned businesses in your hometown or across the country. This site lists the numerous apps and websites for various categories of black-owned businesses, including numerous other bookstores! From the list, I would definitely recommend We Buy Black, which bills itself as the "Black Amazon". This online marketplace allows you to search for any kind of product you need and directs to the black-owned businesses who can ship them directly to you.
