MahoganyBooks
 | |
| Company type | Independent bookstore |
|---|---|
| Industry | Bookselling |
| Genre | Works by African diaspora |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Founder |
|
Area served | Washington metropolitan area |
| Website | www |
MahoganyBooks is an independent bookstore specializing in works by the African diaspora. It was established as an online store in 2007 by Derrick and Ramunda Young. They opened a physical location at the Anacostia Arts Center in 2017 and a second location in National Harbor, Maryland opened on Juneteenth in 2021.[1]
History
MahoganyBooks is a Black-owned company cofounded by Derrick and Ramunda Young.[2] It was established in 2007 as an online bookstore operating out of the Youngs' one-bedroom apartment in Alexandria, Virginia.[2][3] In November 2017, they opened a 500 square feet location at the Anacostia Arts Center.[2] The bookshop is named after their daughter.[4][5] The Youngs opened MahoganyBooks as "a protest movement" aimed at empowering the Black community.[6] The store specializes in works by the African diaspora.[7] MahoganyBooks is the first D.C. bookshop to open east of the Anacostia River since the Pyramid Books chain closed in the mid-1990s.[8][9] The logo is a silhouette of a girl with Afro puffs reading a book.[9]
In 2020, MahoganyBooks won a $5,000 "Resilient Together" grant from Cities of Service, the District of Columbia Office of Planning, and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation. The funds supported a yearlong series, Black Books Matter: From the Writer's Perspective which featured writings by Ward 8 residents.[5] On January 26, 2021, former U.S. president Barack Obama joined the MahoganyBook book club's Black History Month virtual kickoff meeting.[10]
In 2021, a second location opened on Juneteenth in National Harbor, Maryland.[1][11]
References
- ^ a b Clabaugh, Jeff (2021-02-12). "MahoganyBooks will open 2nd location at National Harbor". WTOP. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
- ^ a b c Vinopal, Courtney (2017-12-20). "Anacostia's First New Bookstore in 20 Years Hopes to Reflect the Diversity of Its Community". Washingtonian. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
- ^ Green, Alex (November 13, 2017). "MahoganyBooks to Open in Washington D.C." Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
- ^ Overstreet, Jennifer (July 21, 2020). "How MahoganyBooks adapted to the pandemic and racial justice movement". National Retail Federation. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
- ^ a b Beckham, Aja (January 25, 2020). "MahoganyBooks Is Accepting Submissions For A New Content Series Reflecting On 2020". DCist. Archived from the original on 2021-02-06. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
- ^ Song, Jean (June 25, 2020). "Bookstore owners urge readers to go "beyond the book" as anti-racist titles fly off shelves". CBS News. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
- ^ Weir, Keziah (May 24, 2018). "This Trailblazing Black-Owned Bookstore Is Starting Conversations in D.C." Vanity Fair. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
- ^ Randall, Kayla (2018-03-21). "MahoganyBooks, Anacostia's First New Bookstore in More Than 20 Years, Celebrates a New Chapter". Washington City Paper. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
- ^ a b Swalec, Andrea (February 10, 2018). "Black Bookstore Opens in Southeast DC 'Book Desert'". NBC4 Washington. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
- ^ Volou, Khalida; Leshan, Bruce (February 2, 2021). "Former President Barack Obama surprises members of local DC book club". WUSA9. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
- ^ Henry, John (February 11, 2021). "Popular black-owned bookstore plans to open second DMV location". WUSA9. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
External links
- 2017 establishments in Washington, D.C.
- Culture of Washington, D.C.
- Independent bookstores of the United States
- Retail companies established in 2007
- Anacostia
- American companies established in 2007
- African-American history of Washington, D.C.
- Black-owned companies of the United States
- Book selling websites
- Online retailers of the United States