Marcus Books facts for kids
Marcus Books is the oldest bookstore in the United States that specializes in books about African-American literature, history, and culture. It has been a special place in the San Francisco Bay Area for many years. The store is still owned by the same family who started it. It is seen as an important community spot for African-American culture and for people who love books.
Contents
History of Marcus Books
How Marcus Books Started
Julian Richardson was born in Alabama in 1916. Raye Richardson was born around 1921. They met when they were students at Tuskegee University. Julian studied printing there. Both Julian and Raye wanted to help their community.
In 1946, Julian and Raye moved to San Francisco. Julian worked as a printer and later opened his own printing company called Success Printing. Raye loved books about African-Americans. They had many books at home and often lent them to friends. Because of this, Julian decided to open a bookstore in the back of his print shop. Raye explained that there was a "great need" for books about Black people.
Their daughter, Blanche Richardson, said that her parents loved reading Black books. These books were hard to find back then. They believed that for the Black community to grow, it needed its own bookstore. This store would be a place to find information about themselves.
The first store was in the Western Addition neighborhood of San Francisco. This area had become a lively center for African-American culture after World War II. Many Black families moved there. The area was even called "Harlem of the West" because of its famous jazz clubs.
Renaming the Store and Challenges
The bookstore was later renamed Marcus Books. This name honored Marcus Garvey, an important leader. The Richardsons were inspired after reading a book about Garvey's ideas. Also, both Julian's and Raye's fathers had followed Garvey's teachings.
Over the years, the store had to move several times. This was because the neighborhood was being rebuilt. In 1981, Marcus Books moved to 1712 Fillmore Street. It stayed in a beautiful old Victorian building for more than 30 years. This spot used to be a famous jazz club called Jimbo's Bop City. Many jazz legends like Miles Davis played there.
The store became a vital community space. However, the owners faced unfair treatment and a lack of support. They experienced prejudice because they were a Black-owned business. In the 1960s and 1970s, some Black bookstores were even watched by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). This was a difficult time for them.
Marcus Books in the Later Years
In 1976, Marcus Books opened a second store in Oakland. This was because many Black families moved to the East Bay area. Raye Richardson earned her doctorate in literature. She also became the head of the Black Studies department at San Francisco State University.
Julian Richardson passed away in 2000. Raye continued to run the store by herself. Later, the Johnson family took over the ownership of the store.
Financial Struggles and a New Home
In the early 2000s, Marcus Books faced money problems. Big bookstores like Barnes & Noble and online sellers like Amazon caused their sales to drop. A major challenge came in 2006 when the Johnsons took out a large loan. The payments for the building became very high.
The community tried to help save the store. There was a big outcry in the Bay Area. However, the efforts were not enough. The building was sold. In April 2014, the bookstore had to leave its historic Fillmore Street location. London Breed, who later became the Mayor of San Francisco, said she wished she could have bought it herself. She had visited the bookstore often as a child.
In 2016, there was good news! Marcus Books announced it would return to San Francisco. It found a new home at the African American Art & Culture Complex (AAACC). This new space is smaller, but it means the store is part of a larger cultural community. The AAACC also hosts other African-American groups and has a theater.
In total, the store has moved seven times in San Francisco and twice in Oakland.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Marcus Books had to close temporarily. They started an online fundraiser, and the community quickly helped them reach their goal. This showed how much people cared about the store.
Marcus Books' Role in the Community
Since it started, Marcus Books has sold many different kinds of books. These include children's books, educational books, and books about African-American culture. They also reprinted books that were no longer available. For example, they reprinted The Philosophy and Opinions of Marcus Garvey.
The bookstore was also a meeting place for activists. People would gather there before and after protests during the Civil Rights Movement.
Many famous African-American figures have visited the store or held readings there. These include:
- Malcolm X
- Toni Morrison
- Maya Angelou
- Oprah Winfrey
- Muhammad Ali
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- And many more!
In 2010, the bookstore had about 6,000 books in stock. It continues to be a vital source of knowledge and a gathering place for the community.
