National Black Association Of Black Bookstores Launches To Assist Black Bookstores

On a sweltering August afternoon, a new chapter in the world of Black bookselling quietly but powerfully began. On August 6, the National Association of Black Bookstores—known as NAB2—was officially launched. The announcement, though practical in nature, carried the weight of history, culture, and memory. For those who have long fought to keep Black bookstores alive, it was not just about forming another nonprofit organization. It was about creating an institution rooted in legacy and designed for the future.

The man behind this new effort is Kevin Johnson, a name familiar to sports fans and civic leaders alike. A former NBA All-Star point guard turned two-term mayor of Sacramento, Johnson has reinvented himself several times over. Yet his newest role, that of advocate and organizer for independent Black bookstores, may be the one that brings him closest to home.

For Johnson, the launch of NAB2 is personal. His inspiration came from his mother, “Mother Rose” Peat West, who founded Underground Books in Sacramento, a store that quickly became a cultural anchor in the community. When she passed away in December 2024, Johnson knew he wanted to honor her in a way that would extend her vision beyond a single storefront.

“Mother Rose loved books, but more than that, she loved what they meant for our community,” Johnson said in a recent interview with Publishers Weekly. “She wanted Black bookstores to thrive, to be gathering spaces, to be resources. NAB2 is about carrying that torch and making sure it burns brighter for generations to come.”

Johnson has no illusions about the challenges. The number of Black-owned bookstores has dwindled over the years, even as demand for diverse voices has grown. Many stores struggle with access to funding, distribution challenges, and the simple reality of trying to stay afloat in a marketplace dominated by giants. His hope is that NAB2 will become a unifying force that brings resources, expertise, and visibility where it is most needed.

His vision is ambitious. “We’re not just talking about keeping the doors open,” Johnson explained. “We’re talking about building something that lasts. Bringing experts together, connecting them with significant resources, and creating a foundation so Black bookstores aren’t just surviving—but thriving.”

The idea is not to compete with existing organizations like the American Booksellers Association (ABA), even though the ABA has faced criticism for falling short in its support of Black-owned bookstores. Instead, Johnson insists that NAB2 will work in partnership. Collaboration, not competition, is the watchword.

That spirit of collaboration is reflected in NAB2’s diverse and far-reaching board of directors. The names read like a map of Black bookselling history. From Mississippi to California, from Detroit to Philadelphia, members bring decades of experience to the table. Among them is Maati Primm of Marshall’s Music and Bookstore in Jackson, Mississippi, a business that has been open since 1938. Also serving is Yvonne Black of Hakim’s Bookstore in Philadelphia, which has been a community mainstay since 1959.

These veteran institutions are balanced by younger voices representing the next wave of booksellers. Onikah Asamoa-Caesar, founder of Fulton Street Books & Coffee in Tulsa, and Dara Landry of Houston’s Class Bookstore—both of which opened in 2020—illustrate how NAB2 is weaving together history and innovation. Their perspectives, grounded in contemporary entrepreneurship and community engagement, bring a fresh energy to the table.

The list of board members continues to impress. Jordan Harris of Alkebu-Lan Images in Nashville, Janet Webster Jones of Source Booksellers in Detroit, Blanche Richardson of Marcus Books in Oakland—widely considered the oldest Black-owned bookstore in the nation—and Troy Johnson of the African American Literature Book Club in Tampa round out the roster. Each one brings not only expertise but also a deep sense of mission.

Adding to the mix is Lucille O’Neal, herself an author and philanthropist, but known to many as the mother of basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal. Her involvement underscores how NAB2 seeks to build bridges beyond the bookselling community, drawing in cultural figures who understand the larger significance of preserving and amplifying Black stories.

Board members are already thinking big. Jones and Landry, in particular, have talked about NAB2 as more than a professional network. They envision it as a vehicle to create an entire supply chain—one that nurtures Black authors, supports independent publishers, and ensures that books reach the shelves of Black-owned bookstores across the country.

“An effort like this is about more than advocacy,” said Jones. “It’s about partnership, about building infrastructure. There are resources waiting to be used, and NAB2 can help connect new and existing bookstores to them. We don’t even know yet all the ways this organization can help, but the possibilities are tremendous.”

But not everyone in the Black bookselling community has embraced Johnson’s vision. Ahead of NAB2’s announcement, the Black Bookstore Coalition, led by Ramunda Lark Young of Washington D.C.’s Mahogany Books, released a public statement making clear they would not be joining.

In her letter, Young wrote that while her coalition respected Johnson’s effort, they had voted to remain independent. Concerns ranged from overlapping missions and the timing of his request, to questions about Johnson’s public record as a former politician. The coalition, she emphasized, wanted to ensure its own values and trust within the community guided its path forward.

“After thoughtful discussion and a leadership vote, we’ve decided not to align with NAB2 and will continue our work independently,” Young explained. The decision underscored the reality that in movements rooted in community, trust is as vital as strategy.

Still, Young’s letter was not a rebuke of the NAB2 initiative. Instead, it pointed to the need for multiple efforts to coexist. “We believe there’s room for multiple efforts to thrive,” she wrote, noting that groups like the ABA’s DEI Committee and regional bookselling associations also play a crucial role. In her view, diversity in organizational leadership mirrors the diversity in literature itself—strength lies in multiplicity.

Her statement concluded with a reminder of the values that must guide this work: care, community trust, shared vision, and collective responsibility. It was, in many ways, an echo of Johnson’s own rhetoric, even if the two leaders currently stand on parallel tracks rather than walking in lockstep.

For observers, the simultaneous birth of NAB2 and the continuation of other efforts raises a larger point: Black bookstores have always been about more than selling books. They are cultural sanctuaries, political hubs, and places of affirmation. Whether through NAB2, the Black Bookstore Coalition, or other groups, the shared mission remains the same—ensuring that these spaces endure.

The story of NAB2 is still being written. Its launch represents hope, ambition, and continuity, but also the complexity of leadership and the delicate balance of collaboration in communities where history weighs heavily. What happens next will depend on how these organizations navigate their differences while working toward common goals.

For now, Johnson’s tribute to his mother, and the energy of NAB2’s founding, have injected fresh momentum into the conversation. The question is not whether Black bookstores matter—they always have. The question is how best to support them so that future generations can walk into these spaces, find themselves on the shelves, and know that their stories belong.