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Black Lives Matter

Use this page to find educational resources, guidance on Black-owned businesses and social justice organizations to support, featured books and essays by Black authors, and updates on Powell’s-led initiatives for antiracist action.

Featured Reading Lists

Activism

Activism

Antiracist Reading

Antiracist Reading

Celebrate Black Authors: Arts and Music

Celebrate Black Authors: Arts and Music

Celebrate Black Authors: Food and Cooking

Celebrate Black Authors:
Food and Cooking

Romance

Celebrate Black Authors:
Romance

Antiracist Reading

Celebrate Black Authors:
Sci-Fi and Fantasy

Celebrate Black Authors: celebrate-black-authors-literature

Celebrate Black Authors:
Literature

Celebrate Black Authors: Poetry

Celebrate Black Authors:
Poetry

Antiracist Reading

Celebrate Black Authors:
Young Adult

Celebrate Black Authors: Kids' Books

Celebrate Black Authors:
Kids' Books

Celebrate Black Authors: Essays and Memoirs

Celebrate Black Authors:
Essays and Memoirs

Celebrating Black Authors: LGBTQIA

Celebrate Black Authors:
LGBTQIA+

Featured Authors

Kendra James

Q&A With Kendra James

"In all seriousness, writing Admissions was easily the scariest thing I’ve done as a writer to this day. "

Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi

Interview With Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi

"How else do you handle pain except with humor?"

Kim Johnson

Kim Johnson: 8 Memoirs and Essay Collections on Black Freedom and Liberation

"In a world filled with darkness, I have always looked for the helpers. Through my work with young people and service in the community, I’m rejuvenated in my philosophy of optimism."

Tracy K. Smith

Interview With Tracy K. Smith

"I'm trying to figure out if writing poems can teach me to be more compassionate, and if writing poems can teach me to at least believe in other people and the sources of urgency that they live with."

Jesmyn Ward

Interview With Jesmyn Ward

"I don't think that the way that my characters see and experience the world should be limited by their circumstances."

Ibram X. Kendi

Q&A With Ibram X. Kendi

"For all those people who say, 'I am not racist,' what is a not-racist? There's no such thing as a not-racist; there are only racists and antiracists."

Morgan Jerkins

Morgan Jerkins: On Mourning Your Former Selves

"[M]aybe when it comes to confessing the chapters of our lives, time as we know it is disrupted. I have disturbed myself: this is how I know that I have accomplished something grand."

Feminista Jones

Feminista Jones: 21st-Century Black Women Break the Internet

"More of our voices are being heard and people are learning the undeniable truths about Black women. We know we aren’t literally magic. But it sure can seem like it."

Resources

Where to Donate

Black Lives Matter: PDX
This is the local chapter of the Official #BlackLivesMatter Organization founded by Patrisse Cullors, Opal Tometi, and Alicia Garza. #BlackLivesMatter is an online forum intended to build connections between Black people and our allies to fight anti-Black racism, to spark dialogue among Black people, and to facilitate the types of connections necessary to encourage social action and engagement.

The Black Resilience Fund
The Black Resilience Fund is an emergency fund dedicated to healing and resilience by providing immediate resources to Black Portlanders.

Don't Shoot PDX
Don’t Shoot PDX’s organizational work and activism, including direct community education workshops, support the outreach of our continued advocacy as first respondents and has helped community members contribute through direct engagement and legislative value.

The Portland NAACP
Ensuring the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and eliminating racial hatred and discrimination.

Black United Fund of Oregon
Black United Fund of Oregon’s mission is to assist in the social and economic development of Oregon’s underserved communities, and to contribute to a broader understanding of ethnic and culturally diverse groups.

Brown Hope
Brown Hope is a nonprofit and community solution for racial justice. They provide a bold vision of how to create platforms for Black, Brown, and Indigenous people to be seen, to love, and to lead.

Urban League of Portland
Empowering African Americans and others to achieve equality in education, employment, health, economic security, and quality of life.

KairosPDX
KairosPDX is a nonprofit organization focused on delivering excellent, equitable education to underserved children, their families, and their communities. Through innovative pedagogy, community collaboration, and family partnership, they are closing Portland’s persistent achievement gap in measurable, sustainable ways.

Sacred Roots Doula
Sacred Roots Doulas provide mothers and families with consistent, continuous reassurance, comfort, encouragement, and respect. Our Doulas provide culturally specific care for mothers based on their circumstances and preferences.

Transgender Law Center
Transgender Law Center changes law, policy, and attitudes so that all people can live safely, authentically, and free from discrimination regardless of their gender identity or expression.

Black Trans Travel Fund
The Black Trans Travel Fund is a grassroots, mutual aid-based organization developed for the purpose of providing Black transgender women with the financial resources necessary for them to be able to self-determine and access their safest travel options.

The Okra Project
A collective that provides resources and meals to Black trans people.

LGBTQ Freedom Fund
A trans-led organization that works to change policy and law in order protect and advance the rights of transgender and gender nonconforming people.

Loveland Foundation Therapy Fund
Loveland Therapy Fund provides financial assistance to Black women and girls nationally seeking therapy.

Marsha P. Johnson Institute
Marsha P. Johnson Institute works to protect and defend the rights of Black transgender people.

Black Women's Blueprint
BWP engages in progressive research, historical documentation, policy advocacy, and organizing steeped in the struggles of Black women within their diverse communities and within dominant culture.

Color of Change
Color of Change is the nation’s largest online racial justice organization. We help people respond effectively to injustice in the world around us. As a national online force driven by 1.7 million members, we move decision-makers in corporations and government to create a more human and less hostile world for Black people in America.

My Block, My Hood, My City
My Block, My Hood, My City provides underprivileged youth with an awareness of the world and opportunities beyond their neighborhood.  We take students on explorations focused on STEM, Arts & Culture, Citizenry & Volunteerism, Health, Community Development, Culinary Arts, and Entrepreneurism.

BreakOUT!
BreakOUT! seeks to end the criminalization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth to build a safer and more just New Orleans.

Assata's Daughters
Assata’s Daughters organizes young Black people in Chicago by providing them with political education, leadership development, mentorship, and revolutionary services. Through our programs we aim to Deepen, Escalate, and Sustain the Movement for Black Liberation.

Locally Owned Black Businesses to Support

BlackPDX
Visit BlackPDX for a listing of Black-owned enterprises in the greater Portland metro area.

MercatusPDX
Mercatus has a directory of businesses that identify as Black-, African American-, or African-owned.

Black-Owned Bookstores

Third Eye Books, Accessories & Gifts – Portland, OR
Pyramid Art, Books & Custom Framing – Little Rock, AR
Grassrootz Book and Juice Bar – Phoenix, AZ
Shades of Afrika – Long Beach, CA
Eso Won Bookstore – Los Angeles, CA
Reparations Club – Los Angeles, CA
Malik Books, Gifts & Calendars – Los Angeles, CA
Marcus Books – Oakland, CA
Ashay by the Bay – Vallejo, CA
Old Capitol Books – Monterey, CA
Underground Books – Sacramento, CA
Carol's Books – Sacramento, CA
Mahogany Books – Washington, DC
Loyalty Bookstores – Washington, DC
Solid State Books – Washington, DC
MeJah Books, Inc. – Claymont, DE
Pyramid Books – Boynton Beach, FL
Dare Books – Longwood, FL
Cultured Books – St. Petersburg, FL
Best Richardson African Diaspora Literature & Culture Museum – Tampa, FL
For Keeps Books – Atlanta, GA
Good Books – Atlanta, GA
Medu Bookstore – Atlanta, GA
Onyx Bookstore – Covington, GA
The Listening Tree – Decatur, GA
Brave + Kind Bookshop – Decatur, GA
Black Dot Cultural Center – Lithonia, GA
The Book Boutique – Lithonia, GA
All Things Inspiration Giftique – Mableton, GA
Da Book Joint – Chicago, IL
Semicolon Bookstore – Chicago, IL
The Underground Bookstore – Chicago, IL
Afriware Books – Maywood, IL
Akoma Books – Evansville, IN
Beyond Barcodes Bookstore – Kokomo, IN
Brain Lair Books – South Bend, IN
Wild Fig Coffee & Books – Lexington, KY
Frugal Bookstore – Boston, MA
Susie’s Stories – Rockport, MA
Olive Tree Books-n-Voices – Springfield, MA
Source Booksellers – Detroit, MI
Detroit Book City – Detroit, MI
Black Stone Bookstore & Cultural Center – Ypsilanti, MI
Black Garnet Books – Minneapolis, MN
Aya Coffee and Books – Kansas City, MO
Willa’s Books & Vinyl – Kansas City, MO
Bliss Books & Wine – Kansas City, MO
EyeSeeMe – University City, MO
Shelves Bookstore – Charlotte, NC
Liberation Station Bookstore – Raleigh-Durham, NC
Aframerican Bookstore – Omaha, NE
The Little BOHO Bookshop – Bayonne, NJ
La Unique African American Books & Cultural Center – Camden, NJ
Source of Knowledge Bookstore – Newark, NJ
The Lit. Bar – New York, NY
Cafe con Libros – New York, NY
Sister’s Uptown Bookstore – New York, NY
Elizabeth’s Bookshop & Writing Centre – Akron, OH
Fulton Street Books & Coffee – Tulsa, OK
Mocha Books Bookstore – Tulsa, OK
The Black Reserve – Lansdale, PA
Harriett’s Bookshop – Philadelphia, PA
Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee & Books – Philadelphia, PA
Books & Stuff – Philadelphia, PA
The Tiny Bookstore – Ross Township, PA
Turning Page Bookshop – Goose Creek, SC
Black Pearl Books – Austin, TX
Pan-African Connection Bookstore, Art Gallery, and Resource Center – Dallas, TX
Enda’s Booktique – Duncanville, TX
The Dock Bookshop – Fort Worth, TX
Harambee Books and Artworks – Alexandria, TX
Urban Moon Books – Chesapeake, VA
House of Consciousness Books & More – Norfolk, VA
Books & Crannies – Martinsville, VA
Positive Vibes – Virginia Beach, VA
Niche Book Bar – Milwaukee, WI

Social Accounts We Follow

Rachel Cargle @rachel.cargle
Ericka Hart @ihartericka
Brittany Packnett Cunningham @mspackyetti
Alishia McCullough @blackandembodied
Indya Moore @indyamoore
Jacquelyn Ogorchukwu Iyamah @ogorchukwuu
Ijeoma Oluo @ijeomaoluo
Layla F. Saad @Laylafsaad
angel Kyodo williams @zenchangeangel
Raquel Willis @raquel_willis
The Conscious Kid @theconsciouskid
Feed the Mass @feedthemass
The Great Unlearn @thegreatunlearn

Powell's Commitment

Powell’s is committed to fighting for justice and the end of violence against the Black community. This is just the beginning of our commitment to this work and our goal to create lasting change. We have organized our work into three areas of focus:

Partnerships: Deepening current partnerships and pursuing new partnerships with members of the community who share our values of racial justice and are actively working to address racism.

Internal Work: Continually assessing where Powell’s needs to adjust and grow its internal practices and policies to create a racially just and responsive workplace.

Day-to-Day Work: Using our business and community platforms to educate ourselves and others, amplify the work of Black authors, and fight for racial justice.

Recent initiatives:

June 2022
• 19% of all Juneteenth sales donated to Black Resilience Fund, totaling $19,000

June 2020
• Donations to Urban League of Portland and Brown Hope
• 30% of all Juneteenth sales donated to Sacred Roots Doula, KairosPDX, Don't Shoot Portland, and Transgender Law Center

December 2020
• Partnership with KairosPDX to provide 2,500 books to K-1 students. Powell's offered publicity and promotion for the book drive and donated 1,000 books.

May 2021
• Powell's April book drive donation program turned payouts to customers into donations to local nonprofits, including Brown Hope and KairosPDX. Donation is still being tabulated.

June 2021
• Partnership with KairosPDX to provide books for KairosPDX's Learning Academy’s new literacy curriculum
• 10% of all Juneteenth sales will be donated to Black Resilience Fund

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