Official Launch: National Association of Black Bookstores Announces Groundbreaking Milestone in Literary Advocacy

Published August 7, 2025 · The Digital Desk at America Publishers

On August 6, 2025, a powerful new chapter in American literary advocacy began with the official launch of the National Association of Black Bookstores (NAB2). Created to amplify Black voices, support independent Black-owned bookstores, and safeguard the cultural legacy of Black literature, NAB2 represents a unifying force in the book industry. According to the official press release shared on PR Newswire, the launch signals a nationwide call to preserve and empower Black-owned literary spaces.

Led by former Sacramento mayor and NBA star Kevin Johnson, the association is more than a tribute, it’s a movement. NAB2 seeks to ensure that Black bookstores not only survive but thrive, providing access to stories that shape identity, empower communities, and preserve history.

With over 100 bookstores nationwide as its foundation, NAB2’s launch marks a historic step forward in literary justice.

Background & Founding

The National Association of Black Bookstores (NAB2) was born from a deeply personal and powerful legacy. Its founder, Kevin Johnson, a former NBA All-Star and the first African American mayor of Sacramento, established the association in honor of his mother, “Mother Rose”, a beloved educator and owner of Sacramento’s Underground Books. Her passion for literature and community upliftment laid the foundation for what would become a national movement.

More than just a tribute, NAB2 emerged as a member-based nonprofit organization, designed to unify and support the 100+ Black-owned bookstores across the United States. For decades, these bookstores have served as cultural sanctuaries, preserving history, educating youth, and giving voice to Black authors often overlooked by mainstream outlets.

With its official launch, NAB2 brings a long-overdue infrastructure to a community that has always led with resilience, culture, and purpose, turning scattered brilliance into collective power.

Mission & Priorities

At its core, the National Association of Black Bookstores (NAB2) exists to empower, preserve, and elevate. The organization’s mission is threefold:

• Advance literacy in Black communities
• Support Black-owned bookstores and booksellers
• Protect the cultural legacy of Black literature

Rather than existing as a symbolic gesture, NAB2 operates as a strategic, action-oriented network. Its leadership has identified five critical priorities:

1. Sustainability – Building financial and operational resilience for Black bookstores
2. Representation – Elevating visibility of Black authors and booksellers
3. Economies of Scale – Providing access to shared resources and tools
4. Advocacy – Championing policy and educational reforms that support literacy
5. Historical Education – Preserving and amplifying the contributions of Black writers and intellectuals

This isn’t just about saving bookstores, it’s about preserving freedom of thought, identity, and narrative. Through NAB2, a powerful cultural movement now has the infrastructure to thrive.

Leadership & Board

The strength of NAB2 lies in its leadership, a diverse board composed of both legendary and emerging voices in Black bookselling. These are not just bookstore owners; they are cultural gatekeepers, community builders, and legacy protectors.

The board includes long-standing institutions such as:

• Marcus Books (San Francisco, CA) – The oldest Black-owned bookstore in the U.S.
• Hakim’s Bookstore (Philadelphia, PA) – A civil rights-era staple
• Marshall’s Music and Bookstore (Dayton, OH) – A generational landmark
• Source Booksellers (Detroit, MI) – Known for its nonfiction curation and educational outreach

They’re joined by a dynamic mix of newer voices, including:

• Onikah Asamoa‑Caesar, Founder, Fulton Street Books & Coffee (Tulsa, OK)
• Dara Landry, Owner, Class Bookstore (Houston, TX)
• Jordan Harris, Owner, Alkebu-Lan Images (Nashville, TN)
• Lucille O’Neal, author and cultural advocate

This blend of tradition and innovation allows NAB2 to act as both historian and futurist, preserving what came before while strategizing for what lies ahead.

Their united front sends a powerful message: Black bookstores are not relics, they are resilient, relevant, and ready to lead.

Membership & Activities

NAB2 isn’t just a name, it’s a working network, built to empower its members with tangible tools, opportunities, and nationwide reach. Open to all Black-owned bookstores, the organization offers tiered membership plans ranging from $100 to $500, tailored to fit varying business sizes and capacities.

Members gain access to:

• Regional and national events
• Professional development sessions
• Collaborative marketing and advocacy campaigns
• A national directory and support hub for Black bookstores

NAB2 representatives will also staff tables at key literary gatherings this fall, including the Sacramento Black Book Fair and Black Lit Weekend in New York, furthering their mission to connect, mobilize, and amplify. These appearances are part of a broader strategy that includes a series of regional conferences, virtual meetups, and cross-promotional initiatives designed to strengthen community ties.

More than a directory or a logo, NAB2 is a living system, where bookstores can exchange resources, ideas, and strategies to not only survive but scale.

Whether you’re a newly opened pop-up or a historic landmark store, NAB2 is inviting Black booksellers into a collective future, where no voice stands alone.

Context & Reception

The launch of NAB2 arrives at a time of renewed urgency for equity in the literary world. While organizations like the American Booksellers Association (ABA) have long supported independent bookstores, NAB2 fills a unique and necessary space: one built by and for Black booksellers, grounded in shared cultural experience and community needs.

Notably, NAB2 does not aim to compete with the ABA, but rather to complement and collaborate. In fact, ABA CEO Allison Hill welcomed the launch, expressing enthusiasm for potential partnerships that could strengthen the entire indie bookstore ecosystem.

Meanwhile, other organizations such as the Black Bookstore Collective have chosen to remain separate, reflecting the diverse range of strategies within the broader advocacy landscape. Still, NAB2’s creation signals a growing momentum, one where collaboration, visibility, and infrastructure are no longer optional, but essential.

Industry reception has been overwhelmingly positive. From media coverage to community excitement, it’s clear that NAB2 is more than a milestone, it’s a movement with staying power, responding to a long-standing need with clarity and conviction.

Conclusion & Outlook

The launch of the National Association of Black Bookstores (NAB2) is more than a headline; it’s a pivotal step in redefining what literary leadership looks like in America. It offers structure to legacy. It turns passion into policy. And most importantly, it transforms independent bookstores into a unified cultural force.

As the association moves forward with regional conferences, national partnerships, and educational outreach, it carries with it the stories of generations, stories that have often been sidelined, yet never silenced.

The road ahead will involve challenges: securing funding, growing membership, and navigating the shifting landscape of publishing. But NAB2 enters that space with what matters most: a vision rooted in community, culture, and continuity.

For readers, writers, and booksellers alike, this is more than just the beginning of a nonprofit, it’s the beginning of a new era in literary advocacy.

From one storefront to an entire national network, NAB2 is writing a future where Black stories are preserved, Black businesses are empowered, and Black voices are heard, loud and clear.

For more information about NAB2 or to become a member, visit their official website at https://www.nab2.org/