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The Barbed Wire
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🧵After the murder of George Floyd in May 2020, at least 11 Black-owned bookstores opened in Texas — and customers who wanted to learn about race in America poured in. But keeping them open is a challenge. And it’s not just financial. By @candibolden.bsky.social — thebarbedwire.com/2026/05/28/b...

thebarbedwire.comBlack-Owned Bookstores in Texas Bring Communities Together. They’re Also Harassed and Vandalized.After George Floyd’s murder, 11 Black-owned bookstores opened their doors in Texas. But keeping them open has its myriad challenges.

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The Barbed Wire
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“We became a space for one-on-one conversations and group conversations,” said Donya Craddock, who owns The Dock Book Shop in Forth Worth with her sister. “Just to be heard.”

The Barbed Wire
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There are many still standing in 2026, said Char Adams, author of “Black-Owned: The Revolutionary Life of the Black Bookstore.” But, she added, “Today, Black-owned bookstores are still struggling.”

The Barbed Wire
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Several Black-owned bookstores in Texas have reported harassment and vandalism. In 2017, the Craddocks’ front window was broken. Some months later, a man came up to them during closing and spit on them.