Prose to the People

A Celebration of Black Bookstores

By: Katie Mitchell, Nikki Giovanni - introduction

Narrated by: Katie Mitchell, Adenrele Ojo, Cary Hite, Tashi Thomas, Landon Woodson

An homage to Black bookstores, featuring a selection of shops around the country alongside essays that celebrate the history, community, activism, and culture these spaces embody, with an original foreword by Nikki Giovanni.

Black literature is perhaps the most powerful, polarizing force in the modern American zeitgeist. Today—as Black novels draw authoritarian ire, as Black memoirs shape public debates, as Black polemics inspire protest petitions—it’s more important than ever to highlight the places that center these stories: Black bookstores.

Traversing teeming metropolises and tiny towns, Prose to the People explores a these spaces, chronicling these Black bookstore's past and present lives. Combining narrative prose, one-on-one interviews, original essays, and specially curated poetry, Prose to the People is a listener's road trip companion to the world of Black books.

Thoughtfully curated by writer and Black bookstore owner Katie Mitchell, Prose to the People is a must-have addition to the shelves of anyone who loves book culture and Black history. Though not a definitive guide, this dynamic book centers profiles of over fifty Black bookstores from the Northeast to the mid-Atlantic, the South, and the West Coast.

Interspersed throughout are essays, poems, and interviews by New York Times bestsellers Kiese Laymon, Rio Cortez, Pearl Cleage, and many more journalists, activists, authors, academics, and poets that offer deeper perspectives on these bookstores' role throughout the diaspora. Complete with a foreword by world-renowned poet and activist Nikki Giovanni, Prose to the People is a beautiful tribute to these vital pillars of the Black community.

Critic reviews

“Black bookstores get due deference for being centers of history, community, activism and culture in this collection with an original foreword by Nikki Giovanni.”—Ebony

“A historical guidebook and cultural anthology told through a resplendent tapestry of images, artifacts, poetry, interviews and essays showcasing the resilience of the Black community through the lens of one of its most enduring institutions.”—The New York Times

“Prose to the People is so visually dazzling that it’s tempting just to gaze at it, but dig into the book’s written content and you’ll find a revelatory survey of a literary arena that’s complex and consequential.”—The Washington Post

“At a time when our stories are being challenged, banned and erased, Prose to the People isn’t just a love letter to Black bookstores—it’s a reminder of why they matter now more than ever. These spaces aren’t just about books; they’re about resistance, remembrance and making sure our voices are heard, no matter who tries to silence them.”—Essence

“Through vivid photography, interviews, and essays, this work—part-travelogue and part-manifesto—helps us fall in love with the places that have centered Black literature as a form of resistance.”—Elle

“Groundbreaking.”—The Bitter Southerner

“Presented in a visually dynamic, scrapbook-style format, the coffee table book supplements Mitchell’s experiential narratives and Q&As with booksellers with new and vintage photos, old documents, advertisements and flyers, plus poems and essays from other contributors.”—The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

“Prose to the People is an important addition to any library, but especially for book collectors interested in Black culture and the power and influence of independent bookstores.”—BookPage