Opening of Black English Bookstore in Tampa Honors Black History and Literature

Tampa’s Lone Black City Council Member Opens Bookstore Centering Banned Books and Black History

TAMPA — In a city where the relationship between students and books, parents and libraries, and teachers and the texts they teach is in flux, Gwen Henderson, Tampa’s lone Black City Council member, opened a bookstore earlier this month. Black English Bookstore, located at 401 E. Oak Ave., aims to be a sanctuary for banned books and a celebration of Black literature and history.

Henderson, a 59-year-old public school teacher, was inspired to open the bookstore long before the recent reevaluation of Black history in Florida schools. Her great-great-grandfather, Sam Hightower, was born into slavery and never learned to read or write. In his honor, she vowed to become a bookseller.

The bookstore’s location, just north of the interstate that once divided Tampa’s Black community, holds historical significance. The area, once known as The Scrub, was home to thriving businesses, barber shops, theaters, and music halls that drew legendary performers like Ray Charles and Ella Fitzgerald. However, urban renewal projects and racism led to the destruction of this vibrant community.

Henderson’s bookstore is a tribute to the resilience and cultural richness of Tampa’s Black community. Named after a quote from James Baldwin, Black English Bookstore aims to showcase the diversity and depth of Black authors beyond just one shelf in a store.

The bookstore’s grand opening drew a diverse crowd of students, friends, neighbors, and community members eager to support Henderson’s vision. Among them was Troy Johnson, a Tampa resident who tracks Black-owned bookstores across the country and recognizes the importance of spaces like Black English Bookstore.

As the doors swung open on the first Saturday in December, Henderson greeted visitors with open arms, inviting them to explore the shelves filled with books that reflect their stories and experiences. The bookstore is more than just a place to buy books—it’s a gathering space for discussions, camaraderie, and a celebration of Black culture and history.

Henderson’s bookstore is a beacon of hope and empowerment in a city grappling with its complex past and uncertain future. By centering banned books and Black history, she hopes to create a space where all members of the community can see themselves reflected and celebrated.