Community Seeks to Save Black Images Book Bazaar

May 18, 2004

In April, Emma Rodgers and Ashira Tosihwe, owners of Black Images Book Bazaar in Dallas, announced that the bookstore would close in 2005. However, now Black Images is the focus of a widespread effort to keep its doors open, and Rodgers and Tosihwe are reconsidering their plans. Rodgers had cited high rents and the economy as among the reasons the store would not renew its lease, but the pair intentionally announced their plans well in advance. "We wanted people to know now," she said, to give the public a chance to rally in the store's defense.

Rodgers and Tosihwe founded the business in 1977, when neither could readily find books with positive images of African Americans for their children. And over the following 27 years the store developed a following that now is not letting it go easily.

When the community heard the news of the closing there was a collective uproar, and Rodgers heard countless appeals of "Please, please tell me it's not true." Response has been "really amazing," she said. "They've claimed Black Images like it's theirs."

The announcement galvanized the store's clientele -- many organizations and individuals approached Rodgers to offer whatever help they could to save the oldest black bookstore in Texas. One organization, Ebony Dimensions, a literary review club, will be holding a "book-a-thon," where authors including the events' primary organizer Cheryl Robinson (When I Get Free and Memories of Yesterday), Michael Everhart (From the Inside Out), and Victor McGlothin (What's a Woman to Do?) will read and encourage the audience to buy books. Organizers of the event told Rodgers they were working toward ensuring Black Images would have its largest sales day ever. "In the past we've had a $15,000 day," said Rodgers, "so I'm looking forward to that. And so are our creditors." Customers have signed pledge sheets to buy one book a month. Another customer offered to pay any legal fees Black Images might incur. Author Tavis Smiley proposed headlining a fundraiser in the fall.

Now Rodgers is examining the store's options and looking for a different location with the intention of possibly buying. She told BTW that the bookstore is in a "period of assessment. We don't know what we're going to do."

One of the possibilities being considered by Rodgers and Tosihwe is to seek nonprofit status for the store. They are also expanding their notion of how the bookstore could best serve the public. "Now that we're in a more optimistic period, I'm having a much larger vision for the community. I'd like for Black Images to be a cultural center," Rodgers explained.

At the moment, however, Rodgers is just thrilled to see the outpouring of determined support. "What's really amazing is how people are using their time and resources to help us. People whom I don't normally see every day … People are really working hard." --Karen Schechner

Topics: About Bookstores, Specialty Bookselling, African American, News - Bookselling,