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@semicolonchi

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Reading is a REVOLUTIONARY act 📖💪🏾
Brick and mortar CLOSED until 2027 #SemicolonChi

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Your next read can support a Black-owned bookstore, too.

Across the Midwest, Black-owned bookstores are making room for banned books, Black children’s literature, radical imagination, local authors and the kinds of stories that don’t always get the biggest display table.

We pulled a few places to start, but this list is nowhere near finished.

📍What’s your favorite Black-owned bookstore in the Midwest? Drop the name + city so somebody else can find their next read there.

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The city is full of events for you and your family this weekend. Here are a few of my faves.

Take your kids to @wnba Live so they can experience some of the magic of All Star Weekend

Our fav @semicolonchi is doing a one day book giveaway at @herbanproduce. Pull up and help your kids hit their summer reading goal.

K-Pop performance , Dragon Dance, Fish Ball Eating contest and more at the Chinatown Summer Fair

Add some whimsy in your weekend by visiting @faithinplace Double Dutch Fest at Rainbow Beach!

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There’s nothing like the Midwest. The culture, the warmth, the creativity, the joy…we got it all here. Swipe through to find out more reasons why we love the Midwest. #MidwestLeak #FavoriteThings

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Last week, we turned the page together.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for The Reading Room: A 90’s Literary Mixer featuring Karyn Parsons. It was a wonderful evening of literature, conversation, music, and community celebrating the release of Blue Beach.

Special thanks to Karyn Parsons, Semicolon Bookstore, Memoir Fragrances, DJ Jay Illa, and our media sponsor, YM Media Works, for making the evening so memorable.

If you haven’t picked up your copy of Blue Beach yet, there’s still time to support the book.

Thank you for being part of another unforgettable evening at Recycled Modern.

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READ THE ROOM

Chicago’s coolest book club welcomes Karyn Parsons, beloved actor from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, in celebration of her newest young adult novel, Blue Beach.

Join us for a book signing, conversation, cocktails, and community, with Sounds by Chicago favorite JayiLLA.

June 16 | 6–9 PM
Recycled Modern
RSVP Link in Bio.
In collaboration with Memoir Fragrances and Semicolon.
Culture. Cocktails. Conversation. Community.

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BMR Family, let’s put our money where our mouth is: back into our community.

With the closing of our last Black-owned bowling alley, we feel that it is our duty to highlight the importance of supporting our Black-owned businesses. Now, we know you’re all quick to show up for a “Blackout day” or the minute something happens on social. Our businesses can’t live off trends, but they can survive through consistent support.

We are challenging all of you to drop the mainstream shopping habits and add some Black businesses into your routine. We’ve highlighted some of our favorites in this post, but we know there are plenty more.

Tag your favorite Black-owned business, org, service, or entrepreneur in the comments! We got us!🖤💪🏾

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Building a well-read community means supporting the spaces that keep our stories alive.

Here’s a non-exhaustive list of minority and women owned bookstores across the U.S.

SAVE this for your next purchase.
Comment “ADD MY CITY” and I’ll build a part 2.
TAG your favorite minority-owned bookstore below. 🤍

Let’s make this list grow!!

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Celebrate Black History Month with the Guild Literary Complex. @semicolonchi, founded by DL Moore (@danni.aint.write), is a Black woman-owned bookstore and nonprofit that was “created as a safe space for readers who enjoy stories by and about minority authors.”

Amplify literacy in Chicago and support Black innovative futures by visiting Semicolon Books, located in Chicago’s West Town neighborhood. 📍While they sometimes change or have multiple locations, you can check out all updates on their page.

#BlackHistoryMonth #BlackFuturesMonth #BlackFutures #BlackLiteracy #ChicagoLit

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Awhile back, I had a passionate response to an online friend who buys books from Amazon because it's affordable and quick. I'll spare you the details about my issues w/that giant, but instead, I want to highlight the significance of having local independent (BIPOC-owned) bookstores. They hold space for community events, movement work, families, and support for local writers and artists. They often go out of their way to pay their staff a living wage and provide an inclusive working environment, unlike Amazon.

Besides libraries, local independent bookstores are important pillars of any community. Liberation work happens when it's in places of knowledge, access, and community-building.

Visit your local independent bookstore, support Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs, and check out bookshop.org , which provides online purchasing for indie bookstores.
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Here are the Black-owned bookstores in Chicago.
1. @semicolonchi
2. @undergroundbooks
3. @callandresponsechi
4. @dabookjoint
5. @burstintobooks

#Blackowned #SupportIndieBookstores #localbookstores #Blackhistorymonth #Blackownedbookstores

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Show some love for these incredible Black-owned businesses making a real impact in our hometown of Chicago. #blackhistorymonth2026

📚 Semicolon Bookstore: Chicago’s largest Black woman-owned bookstore, Semicolon celebrates literature and artwork from female, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ creatives. With the help of donations, Semicolon has raised over $175,000 to provide books and financial aid to those in need.

🛍️ Boxville: What started as a single shipping container for bike repairs has grown into Bronzeville’s thriving container marketplace, home to 20 small BIPOC-owned businesses. From a bookstore to a bakery and wellness perfumery, Boxville is redefining how inner-city entrepreneurs thrive.

🥬 Forty Acres Fresh Market: Founded by Liz Abunaw in 2018, Forty Acres provides high-quality produce to West Side food deserts through pop-ups, daily delivery, and subscription boxes. Last September, Abunaw celebrated the opening of a brick-and-mortar retail space in the Austin neighborhood.

☕ Afro Joe’s: More than a coffee shop in Beverly, Afro Joe’s hosts book giveaways, live performances, and community events focused on literacy, maternal health, and supporting local artists. It’s a place where coffee and community meet.

Photos via chicagotribune.com and timeout.com.

#blackownedbusinesses #chicagoretail

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Happy Black History Month!

There are a million ways to celebrate Black History Month in Chicago. We rounded up a few centered on what we love most: books and movement.

Check out:
@blackgirlsreadchi
@thelydfoundation
@officialblackgirlsrun
@peace_runners773
@callandresponsechi
@burstintobooks
@dabookjoint
@semicolonchi

🔗 Head to our blog for the full list and details!

How will you celebrate Black History Month?

📸 Photo of the amazing @arionnenettles from last summer’s Running Tour of We Are The Culture ✨

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We are notttt alone 🛸✨ Hey bookworms! We know what we’re doing here is NOT new! And after launching we’ve discovered other ‘Black Girl Book Fairs’, that came before us 🫶🏾 Please check out every bookstore and business tagged! ✨ Follow them and support. Our event is virtual but in-person events lead to magical connections! Read and share more Black books!

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