The Campaign That Saved the Oldest Black Bookstore in America

An interview with one of its co-owners on the coronavirus and the importance of indie bookstores in the digital age

A photo of the outside of Marcus Books in Oakland, California. — Photo courtesy of Folasade Adesanya

One industry that has been astronomically hit by the Covid-19 pandemic is publishing. Authors have had to cancel book tours or postpone book releases, and independent bookstores across the nation have been fighting to stay open. One in particular is Marcus Books, America’s oldest Black bookstore. Started by Drs. Raye…

These Activists-in-Training Are Scouting for Social Justice

The Radical Monarchs earn their badges by fighting for people of color

The Radical Monarchs at SFFILM Festival. Photos courtesy of Anayvette Martinez

Anayvette Martinez wanted to start a different kind of girl scout troop after her then fourth-grade daughter expressed her desire to join one. What Martinez found, however, was that her daughter Lupita would have been one out of two Brown girls to join. She knew this statistic had to change.

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Oakland

The Campaign That Saved the Oldest Black Bookstore in America

An interview with one of its co-owners on the coronavirus and the importance of indie bookstores in the digital age

These Activists-in-Training Are Scouting for Social Justice

The Radical Monarchs earn their badges by fighting for people of color

ZORA