A fundraiser has been launched in a bid to save New Beacon Books – Britain’s first Black bookshop and publishing house.
Since being established in Finsbury Park, north London in 1966, New Beacon Books has played a crucial role in the development of the Black education movement and the Black supplementary school movement. It is also one of the current voices calling for the decolonisation of the curriculum.
New Beacon Books is now the only remaining independent black publishing and bookselling entity in the UK.
However, due to the coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns, the organisation has seen “a marked decrease in footfall and consequent income”, causing a financial strain on the store. As a result, they will be closing the physical store and moving solely online.
A fundraiser on Crowdfunder has now been launched in an attempt to prevent the store from closing, and assist in the development of New Beacon Books in the future.
In a statement, New Beacon Books said it will utilise the funds donated to meet the “immediate needs” of the organisation. It also said it is open to “the possibility of acquiring alternative premises, large enough to accommodate publishing, bookselling, writers in residence, public programmes and community events consonant with the aims and mission of New Beacon Books.”
Speaking on the prospect of closing the store, Prof John – an award-winning Grenadian writer – said: “[New Beacon Books] remains a huge part of the history of the adaptation of British society to its historical black presence. Save and develop it for coming generations.”
For more information on New Beacon Books and to support the fundraiser, click here.