May at BLK + BRWN.

A newsletter for your spirit — with new reads, real talk, and ways to plug in.

YOUR LOCAL BOOK PUSHER
May 04, 2025 • Est Reading Time: 2 minutes

Happy Sunday Friends.

a HUGEEEEE thank you is in order. Indie Bookstore Day is a very important and special day for us booksellers, and to see you all stop by and participate — whether that was bringing a book to swap, buying new books in-store or online, or just sharing about our bookstore to your communities— it really has filled me a deep sense of gratitude for the ecosystem behind this bookstore.

Between you all clearing the shelves on IBD, us hosting a book fair for one of our favorite local KC schools, and a vacation we needed some time off to reset the bookstore. So we will be back open on Thursday this week.

💛Need some new books? Don’t forget to use your Subscriber Discount!

Remember: 15% off. Use code SUB15.

➡ Shop Now

📚 What’s coming up at the Bookstore

SUNDAY, MAY 11 • 3 -5 PM We’re honoring the mamas, aunties, grandmothers, and chosen mothers who raised us up and held us down. Join us for an afternoon of storytelling, poetry, and love featuring food, vibes, and reflections on the legacy of Black motherhood. We need to sell at least 20 tickets by May 9! Grab yours now and tell your folks to do the same — this one’s too beautiful to miss.

SUNDAY, JUNE 22 • 12 - 4 PM This isn’t just a party — it’s a celebration of Black liberation, community, storytelling, and all the good energy we’ve built together over the years. You can expect to see: 20+ Black/Brown local vendors to support, music, dancing, food trucks + sweet treats, books, storytelling, + community.

Here’s how you can get involved this year:
🔗 Be a Vendor — We’re calling all creatives, makers, and entrepreneurs!
🔗 Sponsor the Event — Help us keep this free + donate 100 books to local schools!
🔗 Volunteer with Us — Support with joy, presence, and people power.

📖 Currently Reading:

💖 Plus Size Player
Spicy, confident, and joyful. We love a curvy girl romance. If you enjoyed Curvy Girl Summer this one is a must!

💜 In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens
While on vacation last week, I finally started reading Alice Walker’s In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens — and her essay on finding Zora Neale Hurston’s grave nearly took me out. It was this mix of deep reverence, grief, and defiance that reminded me of why we do what we do here. Honoring Black literary lineage isn’t a trend — it’s a responsibility, and a love language.

Want to buddy read either of these? Hit our DM on IG or reply and let’s chat.

📚 What’s the Bookclub reading?

Next Book Club Pick:

Sky Full of Elephants by Cebo Campbell - (The Black Feminist Bookclub, May 22)
What happens when all the white people vanish? In this sharp, imaginative debut, a Black father and daughter reunite in a transformed America, traveling through a new world that forces them to confront identity, healing, and the meaning of belonging. Lyrical, layered, and bold—this one’s sure to spark deep conversation.

📚 This Week’s Book Picks

If you enjoyed SINNERS… you’ll love these!