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| COURTESY SONYAH SPENCER |
| Sonyah Spencer, owner of The Urban Reader bookstore on East McCullough Drive in Charlotte, showcases Black authors and is expanding to include a wider array of literature from underrepresented groups. |
Sonyah Spencer’s intent is to bring Charlotte together, one book at a time.
Spencer, owner of The Urban Reader, a brick-and-mortar bookstore specializing in African American books and authors. She started her mission to make Black-oriented literature more accessible as a student who felt as though there was an underrepresented market she hoped to change.
“I noticed that there was a missing market of African American books. I found a wholesaler and would buy a couple books to sell for a profit,” she said.
From there, Spencer opened her first retail store in Detroit in 2005. After closing the storefront a few years later, she traveled with her books and participated in expos, pop up events, and book signings at festivals. When she settled in Charlotte, she saw the need for African American authors in the area. There was a whole market of books that mainstream stores were not selling and schools were banning.
“I was just sitting there like, ‘this is ridiculous,’ because I grew up in a military town, so most of my friends didn’t understand the real race relation issues,” she said. “And I’m like, ‘there’s more than Martin Luther King. There’s more to us than that. And so, I decided to open up a storefront.”
The Urban Reader, located on East McCullough Drive, includes an array of categories such as poetry, business, true crime, comics, and urban street literature. The store initially offered African American books but has begun to expand its inventory to include other diverse groups.
“It’s an African American bookstore, but I have ventured off into what we call Own Voices, which I picked up from another independent bookstore in Iowa,” Spencer said. “We are expanding to include AAPI, the LGBTQ community, Indian, Chinese, and Hispanic books so all cultures are inside the store now. I focus more on the children’s sections of those books, but I am trying to expand to the adults as well.”
Spencer’s determination to make everyone feel represented includes making books that have previously been prohibited in schools available.
“I do sell all banned books,” she said. “I’ve had customers come from rural school communities getting books because they have a curriculum of books that they’re allowed to have in the classrooms, but some say ‘no, we’re going to teach whatever we want to teach.’ So, I support the teachers. I give a discount to all educators and military.”
In addition to books, The Urban Reader hosts monthly events, such as “Poetry with Friends.” In January, there was a tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. One hour of the tribute was dedicated to the children in attendance with dialogue where groups and individuals could speak.
“Every month I tell people my open mic nights at the bookstore are always different,” Spencer said. “For Black History Month, I’m bringing in more self-published authors. We’re going to have book signing events and puzzle and wine nights.”
Customers must buy a 500-piece puzzle to participate in special events as can share a glass of wine and conversation with friends while they work on it. The bookstore also hosts free “mixers,” a meet and greet event where participants can pick a title from the book club.
Spencer is also passionate about helping small businesses in Charlotte as well. Along with books, customers can shop consignment from local small businesses in the area. Some of the businesses to shop from include Rumble Cards, All Very Goods, and African American Expressions.
Spencer has high hopes for the bookstore’s future. She wants to expand the storefront into an adjacent building to provide more room for customers to shop and attend events.
The storefront has served as a place for people to come together and learn about each other, whether that be through the books or conversation. Spencer wants all people to feel comfortable and welcome when they stop by.
“I want all customers to take away the experience that it’s OK to not know us as African Americans,” she said. “But it’s also OK to love one another. My whole goal for this bookstore is to rebuild the community. That was the only purpose of why I opened it up.”
