The Black Lives Matter Movement has had a major impact on bookstores owned by People of Color. It inspired numerous articles, calling attention to the diversity of the book offerings found at POC owned stores and the need for consumers to support black owned businesses. Although there are many bookstores throughout New York City, POC owned bookstores are rare. Even rarer is a POC bookstore that caters to children. Grandma’s Place, a black owned children’s bookstore specializing in diverse and multicultural books and educational toys, is a premier bookstore in Harlem.
Grandma’s Place has been around for over 20 years, long before there were any children’s bookstores in Harlem. Yet its location on 84 West 120th Street tucks it away into a block that makes it unnoticeable if you aren’t looking for it — at least it would, if the bright yellow and red storefront sign didn’t easily attract your eyes.
The owner, Dawn Martine, started the business with 25k diverse and multicultural books, gathered from her own personal collection from years of teaching in Harlem. In 1999, Ms. Martine’s bookstore offered literacy classes to community members ranging from 3 year olds to 88 year olds. In 2005 she added the educational toy component to the bookstore to attract more customers. This new addition would compose the majority of Martine’s best seller list for the next 15 years. It was only in the past few months that this began to change.
The current Black Lives Matter movement created a resurgent demand for diverse and multicultural books for children and adults alike. Opening up in early July, after the Covid-19 pandemic forced her to shut down, Ms. Martine says that her store now sells 75% books and 25% toys, a reversal from last years’ sales around this time. According to Ms. Martine, the demand for books on anti-racism, black culture and diversity are selling in all categories including, adult, young adult, and children’s fiction as well as non-fiction.
Ms. Martine states that the bookstore’s mission has remained the same, “to help children become literate and love books and succeed.” As part of her mission to help children succeed, Ms. Martine also sells Summer Bridge guidebooks for children in all grade levels. These books are one of her best seller’s as they help parents bridge the gap in their child’s education during these uncertain times as schools struggle to reopen due to the Covid-19 epidemic.
Ms. Martine is adapting to the changing times by creating programs through accessible platforms online and via podcasts. Programs such as a daily podcast where parents can call in and get help from a panel of educational experts is in the making, along with a book share that will introduce parents to 3-4 recommended books for children in various grade levels.
Grandma’s Place has survived over two decades and continues to make education a top priority. Ms. Martine holds firm that “All children have gifts…and when they don’t understand you have to help them find their gifts.” Indeed, Grandma’s Place is a rare gift to the Harlem community and now you know where to find it.
To read more WNBA-NYC articles on Black Lives Matter, click here.
To find upcoming, virtual WNBA-NYC events happening this fall, click here. Our next event, How Books Find Readers, will take place on Thursday, October 22nd.
Dr. Patricia G. Lespinasse is a writer and literary scholar. She is currently an Associate Professor of African American and African Diaspora Literature and the Director of Undergraduate Studies in the department of Africana Studies at SUNY, Binghamton University. She teaches courses in Blues Literature, Caribbean Literature, Africana Studies, and Race, Gender & American Film.
