July 28th 2023.
Taylor Thomas, a Black, non-binary book enthusiast, has always had a deep-seated passion for reading. Their love of literature began in childhood when their grandmother and high school English teacher introduced them to classics such as Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice.
However, over time these books became "incredibly boring" for Thomas, leading them to their current journey. This journey has now taken shape in the form of Archivist Books, a mobile Black-owned bookstore based in Rochester, NY. The idea stemmed from Thomas selling secondhand books with diverse characters to provide affordable reading options for people of color.
In order to make this dream a reality, Thomas quit their day job in the middle of last year and founded The Secondhand Librarian, their virtual bookstore. They also recently purchased a 1968 Globestar trailer with plans to transform it into a cozy, on-the-go bookstore to bring the novels to the people by January 2024. The trailer will be installed with shelves to transport as many books as possible, along with stools for individuals to partake in the pastime while inside.
For Thomas, being one of the 6% of Black bookstore owners makes them a part of a movement for inclusivity and change in the market. They have said, “Representation is so incredibly important because I believe that when marginalized people are behind the book-buying process, it helps to diversify the books going out into the world.”
In order to make this dream a reality, Thomas has started a GoFundMe campaign to raise $10,000 for the project. They have already raised over half of their goal and are looking forward to hitting the road. Until then, Thomas is doing pop-up events to get Rochester reading.
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