The UK’s first specialist black bookshop, New Beacon Books in Finsbury Park, north London, has announced it will close its physical outlet after more than 55 years due to financial pressures exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic and competition from online retailers. The store will move to online-only operations.
Founded in 1966 by activist John La Rose and his partner Sarah White, New Beacon Books was a pioneering space for black writers and publishers. It played a key role in the Black Education Movement and the Black Supplementary School Movement, and recently contributed to calls for the decolonisation of the curriculum.
Prof Augustine John, chair of the Communities Empowerment Network, called the closure a significant loss, stating: “New Beacon Books is the only remaining independent black publishing and bookselling entity in the UK… It remains a huge part of the history of the adaptation of British society to its historical black presence.”
The announcement has sparked dismay on social media, with actor Adjoa Andoh tweeting her sadness, and calls for crowdfunding campaigns to save the shop. The actor and poet Francesca Gilbert hinted at an upcoming update on potential rescue efforts.
Michael La Rose, the shop’s director and son of founder John La Rose, previously noted that the Black Lives Matter movement had increased demand for black literature, but stressed the need for a “sustained movement” to ensure the longevity of specialist black bookshops.
