Black-owned children’s bookstore Liberation Station Bookstore recently announced that they’ll be shutting down their store due to violent threats.
In an Instagram post posted on April 1, owner Victoria Scott-Miller announced that, while their online store will remain open, their physical store will close down because of death threats and hate mail aimed at them.
The bookstore owner also recounted a call she had received detailing the exact outfit of her son that he was wearing at the store while he was there by himself.
Less than a year after opening, Liberation Station Bookstore — NC's 1st Black-owned children's bookstore — is having to MOVE OUT of downtown Raleigh after the owner says they've received "numerous threats." pic.twitter.com/Wxv0afiZFu
— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) April 3, 2024
Upon informing the landlord, Scott-Miller said she wasn’t given protection.
“When we explained our concerns about the threats we’d been receiving, instead of offering assistance, we were informed that our unit would be showcased to potential new tenants leading to our potential departure,” said the bookstore owner.“This response unfortunately echoes the encounters we’ve faced since we embarked on this journey, one that has exacerbated since being downtown.”
The store will now remain open until tomorrow, April 13, after which they’ll close permanently.
Until their next move, Scott-Miller announced that any books that aren’t sold will be donated to reading nonprofits.
Located in Raleigh, North Carolina, Liberation Station Bookstore opened up their doors in 2023 to a group of 4,000 attendees.
Considered to be the first of its kind in the area, the store made a name for itself for its extensive inventory dedicated to Black children’s book authors and other underrepresented children’s book writers.
“Our family of four embarked on this journey not only to serve our community but also to prepare our children for the world they will one day inherit,” said Scott-Miller. “Throughout this time, we have witnessed the guiding hand of God over our work and our family, and we are continually humbled by the blessings that have graced us.”
Scott-Miller’s experience is consistent with a broader issue that Black business owners are facing.
Although the number of Black-owned businesses is on the rise, Black owners across the U.S. still face a variety of challenges, including discrimination, according to a report by Intuit QuickBooks.
Released in 2023, the report found that, out of 2,000 individuals, approximately 79% of Black business owners said that they were faced with some form of racism from people such as customers.
I wanted to visit this bookstore when I was in NC last week, but I didn't make the time. #LiberationStationBookstore is geing threatened by those fkng racist knuckledraggers and will be moving for their safety.
— Tonya A ???????? CheckYourVoterReg (@TonyaA6) April 6, 2024
We can support them with online purchases.????https://t.co/yLOR53bKLt pic.twitter.com/W8PSmqnKk1
Nearly 48% also said that they were victims of racism at least once in the span of a year. Meanwhile, approximately 19% said that they were racially discriminated against in the last month.
“In addition to the pressures of running a business, Black business owners must navigate racism and biases that threaten their success,” said the researchers in their report. “Despite facing these challenges, Black business owners remain optimistic about their future, future generations, and the potential for successful Black businesses to strengthen Black communities.”
