Business & Tech

Community to Decide the Importance, Future of True South Bookstore

The store's future hangs in the balance as Monroe Brown, the store's owner, was hospitalized last weekend following a stroke

In just five short years, Monroe Brown, Jr., owner of True South Bookstore, has turned his business into a mini-institution in Bedford-Stuyvesant. 

If you haven’t yet patronized the small bookstore, located at 492 Nostrand Avenue between Hancock and Halsey avenues, then surely at some point you’ve seen it!

Scribbled atop the store’s exterior are the words in all caps: "DO THE READING." The store is chocked full of books and information on ancient African history, African-American history, and black culture and empowerment.

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And during the winter and summer months, it was hardly an uncommon occurrence to find preeminent African history scholars, such as Dr. Runoko Rashidi, Dr. Molefi Asante, Dr. France Cress Welsing, Luis Reyes Rivera or the late Brooklyn activist and educator Jitu Weusi holding a book reading or panel discussion at the store.

Unfortunately, last Saturday, July 13, the store’s owner, Monroe Brown, 71, suffered a stroke that has left him in critical condition. Now, while Brown is recovering in the hospital, his 36-year-old son, Ajamu Brown, is trying to pull together the pieces of the business and make a decision about the store's future.

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“So at this point, I’m just basically trying to hold it down for my father while he’s in the hospital,” said the junior Brown. “I don’t believe the business was profitable. I know for sure that my father was financing this business for a while from his own personal money, because he felt the resources and the space was so important to the community.”

So on Wednesday, July 24, from 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m., the young Brown has planned a community fundraiser at the store to try to keep its doors open—at least for now…

“The original intent of the fundraiser was to see if we could get August rent together while my father is still in the hospital,” said Brown. “But it’s also going to be a time to get the community’s input on what it wants to do with the space moving forward.

“We’re asking friends and supporters to stop by, purchase a book, make a donation, and the funds raised will go to help pay for whatever bills are associated with his business.

“Again, this is an important opportunity to have a real dialogue in our community about how we stay connected to something valuable like this, in terms of our history and our culture, given the changes in the neighborhood... How exactly do we preserve resources like these and keep them going, if that is what the community really wants...”

The young Brown is particularly concerned, because the store’s lease is up in October, at which point, the store’s landlord has expressed he plans to increase the rent to market rate, which is significantly higher than what it is currently.

“Not [having this store] in the community is a loss to a lot of folks,” said Brown. “So this is something we need to think about and talk about seriously.”

What: Book sale and potluck fundraiser for True South Bookstore

When: Wednesday July 24, 2013, 7:00 p.m. -10:00 p.m.

Where: 492 Nostrand Ave Brooklyn, NY

Why: To honor True South Bookstore and determine its future

Cash only. For more info call (339) 221.2224 or email: ajamu100@gmail.com


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