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Supporting Black Voices in the Publishing Industry
Photo Credit: Jane Mount=
Smith Publicity stands firmly against racism, oppression, and violence. We acknowledge that there has been a long history of racism and inequality in this country and within the publishing industry that has and continues to cause great pain. We are committed to doing our part towards a more inclusive community that we support. We join those fighting for justice by listening, reading, donating, and taking actionable steps toward amplifying the voices of people of color.
Below we share a non-exhaustive list of important resources, including books to read, independent black-owned bookstores to support, and organizations to give to. Smith Publicity has chosen to contribute to the National Association of Black Journalists and the Center for Black Literature.
Reading Lists of Note:
- A Reading List for Understanding Racism in America– posted originally by Oprah.com
- Forgotten Civil Rights Pioneers: A Reading List– posted originally by Literary Hub
- 11 Books by Black Female Authors– posted originally by Better Homes & Gardens
- 18 Children’s Books Featuring Characters of Color– posted originally by A Cup of Jo
- 17 YA Books to Diversify Your Kids’ Bookshelves and Teach Them to Become Better Allies– posted originally by PopSugar
Independent Black-Owned Bookstores to Support:
- Ashay By the Bay(Bay Area, CA)
- Afriware Books(Maywood, IL)
- Brain Lair Books(South Bend, IN)
- Brave and Kind Books(Decatur, GA)
- Cafe Con Libros(Brooklyn, NY)
- Detroit Book City(Detroit, MI)
- Eso Won Books(Los Angeles, CA)
- Frugal Bookstore(Roxbury, MA)
- Hakim’s Bookstore(Philadelphia, PA)
- Harriett’s Bookshop(Philadelphia, PA)
- Mahogany Books (Washington, DC)
- Semicolon(Chicago, IL)
- Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee and Books(Philadelphia, PA)
Where to Donate:
- NAACP
- The Free Black Woman’s Library– accepting book donations
- George Floyd Memorial Fund
- Center for Black Literature
- Blackstone Foundation Library
- National Association of Black Journalists
- Shades Collective
As author James Baldwin once said, “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”
