The next time you need a new book, consider skipping the algorithm and stepping into a space built on intention. With growing calls to boycott Amazon and its subsidiaries—including Kindle and Audible—many readers are turning to independent bookstores that do more than just sell books. For those who want their dollars to make a difference, shopping at Black-owned bookstores is an intentional act of resistance and restoration. According to the African American Literature Book Club , there are currently over 165 Black-owned bookstores across the U.S.—a number that has grown from just 54 in 2014, following decades of decline during the rise of big-box retailers and e-commerce platforms like Amazon. And while it’s easy to click “Buy Now,” supporting a Black-owned bookstore means investing in spaces that center Black voices, histories, and futures. These stores are more than retail hubs. They’re meeting places. They’re freedom schools. They’re community centers masked as shelves and...