#BuyBlack , Buy Bookish

This year has been rough for small businesses. Black-owned businesses have been hit especially hard.

My blog has become well known for my bookish knowledge particularly with bookish merchandise. I’m using this platform for elevate these shops and hope my fellow book lovers find new shops to support.

Shop small! If you’re buying merchandise rather than a subscription box, get your orders in ASAP. Small shops are small so they need as much time as possible to get items out in time for the Holidays.

Here are some Black-Owned companies that make book boxes or bookish items.

Guide:

$: <$20
$$: <$40
$$$: $40+

Last updated: 11/2/20

Brown Toy Box

Price: $$-$$$
Product: Monthly Kids/Tween Book Box (ages 4-5, 6-8, or 9-12) with a STEAM focus.

Call Number

Price: $$-$$$
Product: Quarterly Adult Book Box (fiction or non-fiction) featuring black literature and authors.

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#Repost @subboxbliss (@get_repost) ・・・ So excited to share this library-inspired book subscription box created by a fellow book lover and academic librarian @callnumberbox. This box celebrates contemporary black literature & authors, which aren’t as easy to find as we live in an industry that often neglects literature by BPOC. This box helps bring a light to such books and provides access for book lovers to embrace a more diverse collection. What’s also special about this box is the library theme. You get items that embrace the treasured experiences of what its like to pick a book at the library – Oh how I live that. I adore this box, especially as a woman of color who grew up in Africa and America, getting a box that embraces my blackness and my love for books is just so refreshing and uplifting!!!This box brought me so much joy to receive ✨ • Subscription Plans are quarterly for non-fiction/fiction boxes: ~ Just the book: $20/quarter ~ The book + complete library-theme related items: $35/quarter ~ Starter taster box: $18 • This quarter’s box theme: Positive affirmations for Black girls & women. I got 10 items! What’s in the box?: ✨ 1 book: Parable of The Brown Girl by @khristiadams ✨ A custom spine label ✨ A catalog card ✨ A notebook ✨ A Dope Black Girl charm ✨ A Queen Print ✨ A letter from Call Number ✨ A bibliography note ✨ bookmark ✨ PN841 sticker • I can’t wait to read the book! Full of stories and voices from perspectives of black girls – a book everyone should read. Overall this box is a must try for anyone who loves books, literature, libraries – and for anyone who want to support and learn more about black literature. It’s important to expand our learning and embrace diversity even within the books we read. Makes for such a perfect gift! *Disclaimer: This post isn’t sponsored, I received this box directly from Call Number as a gift. These are strictly my personal honest opinions. #blackliterature #blacklit #subscriptionbox #subscriptionboxes #bookstagram #blackliteraturematters #blackwomanentrepreneur #buyblack #ilovebooks #ilovelibraries #blackwomanownedbusiness

A post shared by Call Number (@callnumberbox) on Jul 13, 2020 at 3:19pm PDT

JessnBooks

Price: $
Product: Book sleeves

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⚡️✨ • Link in bio♥️ • • #booksleeves #books #bookstagram #reading #readingrush #read #challenge #readingchallenge #bookish #booklover #thereadingrush #photography #booktography #bookstagrammer #aesthetic #jkrowling #harrypotter #ravenclaw #etsy #smallbusiness #booksleeve #nicholasflamel

A post shared by Jessica♥️ (@jessnbooks) on Sep 16, 2020 at 3:25pm PDT

Just Like Me Box

Price: $$-$$$
Product: Monthly subscription box with 2-3 children’s books featuring characters of color. For ages 0-3, 4-8, & 9-12.

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“Our current landscape of children’s books is far from a reflection of the world they live in. Creating diversity in our home libraries is more important than ever!” A recent blog post from @austinmomsblog shares some home library inspiration and several resources for diversifying your kids’ bookshelves, wherever you may live. Link in our stories. #justlikemebox #diversehomelibraries #diversechildrensbooks

A post shared by Black Children's Books (@justlikemebox) on Jul 1, 2020 at 9:19am PDT

K Ligg Co

Price: $
Products: Bookmarks, stickers, prints, notebooks

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⠀ “WELL READ” Acrylic Pin & the “BRIGHT” Button are both available on Kliggco.com 🤎✨⠀ ⠀ • ⠀ •⠀ •⠀ #pinsofIG #pinsofinstagram #pinspinspins #pincollector #Pinlover #pinbackbutton #pingameproper #instapin #buyblack #buyfromablackwoman #melanated #pinsforsale #lapelpins #blackownedaccessories #blackownedbusinesses #blackgirlmagic #blackfemaleentrepreneurs #shopsmall #blacketsy

A post shared by K Ligg / BLACK ART MATTERS (@kligg.co) on Sep 27, 2020 at 1:34pm PDT

The Trini Gee

Price: $ – $$$
Products: A bit of everything: aprons, mugs, pillows, socks, etc. Not everything thing is bookish but you’ll find designs focusing on black authors.

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Discover small bags that highlight unique brown beauties—and our interests too when you shop The Trini Gee. I challenge you to favorite your favorites! #thetrinigee #blacketsychicks #blackwomanart #blackgirlsread #blackgirlsreadtoo #blackwomensupportingblackwomen #readsoullit #blackwomenempowerment #blackeducators #blackteachers #supportblack

A post shared by The Trini Gee | Small Business (@trinigeeisme) on Oct 15, 2020 at 6:14am PDT

Total Bookish Eclipse

Price: $
Product: Bookmarks

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Hello all! I've been up since 6 am working on things for Total Bookish Eclipse! I figured I should take a break and make a post on here. 😅 (Might post a behind the scenes sneak peak on my stories later depending on how things turn out heheheh) . Today I'm sharing a gorgeous photo of @livinginatale's collection of my bookmarks! I love how soft and clean her photo aesthetic is. Definitely check out her page if you haven't already! . . . #bookstagram #reader #booksofig #beautifulbooks #bookish #yainsta #booksofinstagram #youngadult #bookobsessed #bookcommunity #ilovebooks #yareader #booksbooksbooks #readingislife #readersofinstagram #bookworm #readingaddict #bookstagrammer #bookishgirl #bookster #totalbookisheclipse #bookmarks #papercut #papercutbookmarks #etsyshop #shopsmall

A post shared by Total Bookish Eclipse (@totalbookisheclipse) on Oct 19, 2020 at 11:23am PDT

Maybe supporting a black-owned bookstore is more your style? Libro.fm has a great list of black-owned bookstores. Use Libro.fm over Audible since Libro supports bookstores and Audible supports…Amazon. [Want to try a subscription? Use my affiliate link to get a free month after paying for your first month.]