Alkebu-Lan Images is one of the oldest Black-owned bookstores in the country.
What is the origin story of the store, and how has its mission evolved across generations of readers and community members?

In the early 1980s, my father was a Ph.D. student at Vanderbilt studying psychology. By providing literature centered on Black people, he saw the bookstore as an extension of his training—a way to advance the needs of Black communities and offer readers the opportunity to see themselves reflected in the titles and authors he carried. For him, running the store functioned as a kind of clinical practice rooted in cultural care.

At that time in Nashville, there was no bookstore offering Black authors, Black scholarship, or even culturally affirming products like shea butter. My father’s intention was to build a space designed specifically with Black people and Black needs in mind. He was also teaching at Tennessee State University and running a small business selling apparel, incense, and books. The building—which originally operated as an auto body shop—became available, and he took a leap of faith to purchase it. Over the years, our product mix evolved as my father traveled the country selling books and cultural goods. Today, Alkebu-Lan Images has fully become the bookstore he imagined—and we are continuing that work and doing well.

Your bookstore has served as more than a retail space — it has been a cultural hub and gathering place.
What role has Alkebu-Lan played in community organizing, cultural education, or intergenerational connection over the years?

Over the decades, our space has doubled as a meeting hub for conversations tied to community needs and cultural education. My father launched a lecture series in partnership with Fisk University, bringing in speakers and authors from across the country. This work cemented our role within Nashville’s historic Jefferson Street ecosystem—surrounded by Tennessee State, Fisk University, Meharry Medical College, and Citizens Bank, the oldest Black-owned bank in the country. This neighborhood is Nashville’s Black Wall Street.

We’ve hosted major figures over the years, including Rosa Parks—people lined up for blocks to meet her—as well as Joy DeGruy, Michelle Alexander, and Frances Cress Welsing. Our history is deeply tied to the intellectual and cultural life of our community.

As the publishing world changes, so do the challenges and opportunities for independent Black booksellers.
What do you see as the biggest obstacles today — and what keeps you hopeful?

One of the biggest challenges is that many classic nonfiction works by Black authors are slowly falling out of print. Many were published by houses that no longer exist, and the authors themselves may be aging or unable to finance reprints. Preserving access to these foundational texts is essential. I believe Black bookstores can work together to leverage our collective power to reestablish printing and ensure these important works remain available. This challenge is also an opportunity—one that could strengthen our shared influence and cultural impact.

You chose to serve on the inaugural Board of NAB².
What motivated you to join, and what impact do you hope NAB² will have on the sustainability and visibility of Black bookstores nationwide?

Growing up in the bookstore made it clear to me how vital spaces like ours are to the Black community. I joined the NAB² Board to help stabilize, strengthen, and increase the number of Black bookstores across the country. With coordination, communication, and collective economics, Black bookstores can operate as institutions that sustain, empower, and support Black America.