Enduring Racism: A Reflection

nFebruary was a tough month for us, with an unprecedented number of racist incidents in the shop—more than we've ever had in any single month. (I’ll need another blog to say why I think this is happening.) Usually, we just deal with these "opinionaters" and get on with our day, but this week was different.

A man came into the shop, being outright rude, racist, and insulting to one of my staff members. He then went on Google and left a review accusing us of being racist. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the first time such an incident has happened. But on that Saturday morning, when I saw the review, I broke down and cried. Again, not the first time, but this time, I decided to share my feelings with others. Why? Because it's utterly exhausting to pretend these incidents don't impact us, that they don't wear us down.

I do not believe that if we were a bookshop run by men that we would not see this many attacks, but we are a women run business. Black women face relentless racism daily. Black women are five times more likely to die during childbirth compared to white women? Our housing situations aren't any better; we're more likely to live in poorer conditions and face higher eviction rates. And if that wasn't enough, we constantly deal with racial abuse that threatens our wellbeing.

This reality isn't just a minor inconvenience; it's a chronic, systemic issue affecting every aspect of our lives. Sharing my pain was an act of vulnerability, an acknowledgment that we can't endure this silently anymore. It’s a call for empathy, understanding, and most importantly, change. Why can’t I just go to work and sell books to people who love books?

With International Women's Day approaching, I dream of a day when we will celebrate all women equally, without Black women being hidden or marginalized. I want to remind us all that Black women are soft, and these attacks hurt us deeply. But our strength is not in our ability to ignore these things, but in our resilience to keep rising from the ashes, often with the help of other Black women who pull us up and cheer us on. We rise, shake off the dust, and fight another day. We are made of flesh; we are tender and delicate, and those who attack us should understand that it hurts.

The problem is when it doesn’t affect you, it can be easy to ignore statistics and consider all of this to be “interesting anecdotes” But if we want to see change, we cannot ignore the statistics and the voices of those affected.  Let’s work towards a future where no one must face such indignities, and everyone can live with the dignity and respect they deserve.

By educating ourselves and others, we can create a more inclusive and just society. Let’s continue to support each other and stand together in solidarity against racism and discrimination.

I should tell you that after my tears and my share, my community stepped up and poured positive reviews to counteract the negative one. It was an uplifting and beautiful time and a timely reminder of what and who Afrori Books exists for.

A reminder that we are not alone in this struggle.

So, keep on. Stand firm, listen well and help be the change. Because we all have a part to play if we are going to see an end to this inequality.

So, as we think about celebrating women, lets ensure that we are making space to celebrate all women, because we are only free when we are all free.

Something for your reading list.  

·        Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo - This Booker Prize-winning novel explores the lives of twelve characters, mostly women of colour, navigating the world with resilience and strength.

·        The Good Immigrant edited by Nikesh Shukla - A collection of essays by various writers of colour, sharing their experiences of living in the UK and confronting stereotypes and prejudice.

 Sl  GIRL : On Black Womanhood and Belonging by Kenya Hunt. A collection of original essays on what it means to be black, a woman, a mother and a global citizen in today’s ever-changing world. 
 Slay In Your Lane: The Black Girl Bible by Yomi Adegoke and Elizabeth Uviebinené - A guide for Black women to thrive in all areas of their lives, offering advice and inspiration from successful Black women.