You can find out a lot about a city through its bookstores. Here are four Black-owned bookstores for all the bookworms in Chocolate City.

Mahogany Books   

Established as an online store in 2007, Mahogany is owned by a husband and wife duo, Derrick and Ramunda Young. The store, named after their daughter, opened its first physical location in 2017 at Anacostia Arts Center and a second location on Juneteenth at the National Harbor in 2021. 

Loyalty Bookstore

Loyalty Bookstore was founded by Hannah Oliver Depp who has spent her entire career working to diversify the book industry and serve those of the Black Diaspora and queerness. Loyalty offers a very intersectional selection of books. They also use their space to host events centering Black and POC voices, staying true to the bookstore’s initial mission. 

Solid State Books

Solid State Books is co-owned by Scott Abel and Jake Cumsky-Whitlock. Established in 2017, the bookstore has general interest books as well as those focused on blackness. 

Your Community Bookstore Inc.

Community Bookstore Inc. is owned by a man who goes by the name of Montu. You can find him next to Chipotle on Georgia Avenue on most weekdays from around 10:30 am to 6:00 pm where he sells books from various Black authors. He enjoys working face to face with students hence no website or employees. Montu believes that with knowledge, one cannot be enslaved. 

Hopefully, these recommendations take you on a journey throughout D.C. and leave you with access to some great reads.