Sunday Forum

As we mark Black History Month this forum which takes place at 10.00 am in the St. Hilda’s Room will focus on the importance of black owned bookstores.  Why are black owned book stores important? As one writer has so aptly noted because they are “beacons of  diversity inclusivity.” Most importantly they “act as educators, shedding light on Black history, culture, and experiences to all members of the community who want to be more informed and a better ally to their brethren.” In an time of books being banned and debate about what an accurate understanding of the history of America looks like black bookstores offer resources that “counteract the erasure of Black contributions to society and promote a more accurate understanding of world history and the Black experience.”  Featured speakers are Karin Smith and Derek Tompkins, the owners and operators of a Black owned bookstore in Bridgeport known as “Kindred Thoughts.”