How a Newark, New Jersey bookstore goes beyond books to foster community
A store can sometimes become much more than a place to shop. That's the case in Newark, New Jersey, where an independent bookstore also strives to be a neighborhood hub. This Black History Month, WNYC's Community Partnerships Desk is visiting Black-owned bookstores in the New York metro area. Masani Barnwell George, along with her husband, Dexter George and Patrice McKinney own Source of Knowledge, a bookstore located in Newark, New Jersey.
The transcript of Masani Barnwell George's story has been lightly edited for clarity.
My name is Masani Barnwell George and I'm one of the owners of Source of Knowledge bookstore located in Newark, New Jersey.
It started out as a family business in Manhattan on the streets selling books and cards, with my husband's family, that's where they began, and my husband decided to bring it over to Jersey. We've been open since 1993. Why? Because the books that we specialize in there's not many venues for them. You don't see books for children of color, and if they are displayed, it's very few, so you think there are none.
So at Source of Knowledge, our purpose is to make everyone aware and let people of color know that you are also seen on pages and our children are seen when they can get literature they can relate to, and they can see themselves. When you read a book, you want to relate to the characters and be able to fantasize and put yourself in those situations like you're watching it. And if you can't relate to the characters then you're like, ah, it's a book, it's a nice book, whatever -- next.
The importance of this bookstore in Newark is because there's always so much negative that you hear about the city over the years. It's changing and growing, but we need to see that we are a part of this world change, that we have a place to get away from all the chaos in the world, just off the street and see further. That there's more to what's going on right now. And I can drop all my baggage at the door. And I can go into another world. And this world is going to help you catapult to your next level.
You're like, yeah, it's a bookstore. But it's more than a bookstore. Because people need to be able to feel like they got a place they can gather. You don't have to just shop. You can stay, hang out, clear your head. Just come in, smell the paper and enjoy good conversations.
