Char Adams

Char Adams, author and cultural writer, dives into the rich history of Black-owned bookstores in America, from the abolitionist David Ruggles to today's vibrant shops. She highlights Ruggles’s role in the Underground Railroad and how his bookstore served as a community hub. Adams discusses the impact of COINTELPRO on Black bookstores during the civil rights movement and the resurgence of these spaces in the 1990s. She reflects on the recent surge in support for Black-owned bookstores post-George Floyd and their evolving role as vital community resources.