The National Association of Black Bookstores (NAB2), a new member-based nonprofit, officially launched last week with a mission to support, unite, and promote Black-owned bookstores across the U.S. Centering literacy, cultural preservation, and community empowerment, NAB2 seeks to amplify Black voices throughout the book industry.
Founded by Kevin Johnson, former mayor of Sacramento and owner of Underground Books, the organization brings together seasoned booksellers and new store owners alike. The board features respected names in Black bookselling, including:
- Maati Primm of Marshall’s Music and Book Store (Jackson, MS)
- Yvonne Black of Hakim’s Bookstore (Philadelphia, PA)
- Onikah Asamoa-Caesar of Fulton Street Books & Coffee (Tulsa, OK)
- Dara Landry of Class Bookstore (Houston, TX)
- Jordan Harris of Alkebu-Lan Images (Nashville, TN)
- Janet Webster Jones of Source Booksellers (Detroit, MI)
- Blanche Richardson of Marcus Books (Oakland, CA)
- Troy Johnson of African American Book Lit Club (Tampa, FL)
- Lucille O’Neal, author and advocate
Memberships are offered at three tiers, ranging from $100 to $500. NAB2 will have a presence at all upcoming regional bookseller conferences this fall, where representatives will engage with independent booksellers and process new memberships.
Kevin Johnson, who founded NAB2 in honor of his late mother “Mother Rose” Peat West—founder of Underground Books—expressed his vision for the organization as a long-term support system for Black bookstores and their communities.
“My goal was to bring the experts together, couple them with significant resources, and ensure communities could reap the benefits of Black bookstores for generations to come.”
NAB2 has made clear that it is not positioned as a replacement for membership in the American Booksellers Association (ABA). In fact, the organization is exploring collaborative opportunities with ABA to further shared goals of inclusion, access, and equity within the industry.
Board members emphasized that NAB2 fills a crucial gap in industry support, especially for new and independent Black-owned bookstores. In addition to offering guidance and community-building, NAB2 aims to improve distribution access and visibility for Black authors, ensuring their titles reach the shelves of independent stores and the hands of readers.
“This is about preserving legacy, lifting each other up, and creating pathways for representation across the board,” said one board member. “We are not doing this work alone—we’re part of a larger mission rooted in literacy and liberation.”
While NAB2 has launched with broad support, its formation has also sparked conversation within the Black bookselling community. The Black Bookstore Coalition (BBC)—a grassroots group of nearly 60 Black-owned bookstores—publicly announced that it will remain independent after being approached with a merger proposal from NAB2.
In a public statement, BBC cited overlapping missions, timing concerns, and a desire to remain grassroots-led. However, BBC leadership expressed a desire for multiple efforts to coexist and thrive, noting the importance of care, transparency, and shared values in this work.
Despite the divergence in approach, both NAB2 and BBC remain focused on the same goal: creating long-term, sustainable change for Black booksellers, authors, and readers. As the publishing industry continues to evolve, these organizations represent growing momentum toward equity and inclusion—through collective voice, community trust, and cultural resilience.