Harlem’s Paper Radicals: The Legacy of the African National Memorial and Liberation Bookstores


Harlem’s Paper Radicals: The Legacy of the African National Memorial and Liberation Bookstores



​In Harlem, long before the glass-faced condos and high-end retail chains arrived, the neighborhood’s true power was found in its "paper radicals." For decades, two specific institutions—the African National Memorial Bookstore and the Liberation Bookstore—served as the intellectual lungs of the community. These were not mere commercial enterprises; they were liberated zones where Black history was preserved and the seeds of the Civil Rights and Black Power movements were sown.

​The House of Common Sense: Lewis Michaux’s Fortress

​Founded in 1932 by Lewis Michaux, the African National Memorial Bookstore was famously nicknamed the "House of Common Sense and the Home of Proper Propaganda." Michaux, a former deacon and the brother of a famous preacher, decided that his "gospel" would be found in books rather than the pulpit.

​The Mission and Atmosphere

Michaux was a staunch Pan-Africanist and a follower of Marcus Garvey. He famously adorned his storefront with a sign that read: "The path to freedom is through the book." At a time when mainstream libraries often neglected Black history, Michaux curated a collection that eventually grew to over 200,000 volumes.

​The Malcolm X Connection

The bookstore was the unofficial headquarters for Malcolm X. Outside its doors at 7th Avenue and 125th Street, Malcolm would stand on a custom-built ladder or a "stepladder pulpit" to address the crowds. Michaux didn't just sell books; he provided the platform—literally and figuratively—for the most radical voices of the era.

​A Library for the People

Michaux was known for his "open-door" policy. If a young person was hungry for knowledge but didn't have the money, he often let them read in the store for hours. He championed authors like:

  • ​J.A. Rogers: Specifically World's Great Men of Color.
  • ​Langston Hughes: Who was a frequent visitor.
  • ​W.E.B. Du Bois: Whose scholarly works were staples of the inventory.

​The store was eventually demolished in 1974 to make way for the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building—a move many saw as a symbolic strike against Harlem’s grassroots intellectual independence.

​The Front Lines: Una Mulzac and the Liberation Bookstore

​If Michaux’s store was the "University of the Stepladder," Liberation Bookstore was the neighborhood’s tactical center. Opened in 1967 by Una Mulzac at the corner of Lenox Avenue and 131st Street, it focused on the burgeoning Black Power movement and global anti-colonial struggles.

​The Woman Behind the Counter

Una Mulzac was a veteran of political struggle. Having survived a bombing in Guyana intended to silence her activism, she brought a fearless energy to Harlem. Her store was more than a shop; it was a sanctuary where "the brothers and sisters" could find literature that wasn't available anywhere else in the city.

​The Inventory of Resistance

Mulzac specialized in the "underground" and the international. While she carried the giants of literature, her store was the go-to source for:

  • ​Revolutionary Pamphlets: Works by the Black Panther Party, the Young Lords, and liberation movements in Angola and Mozambique.

  • ​Frantz Fanon: The Wretched of the Earth was a consistent bestseller.
  • ​Angela Davis and Assata Shakur: Mulzac was a fierce supporter of Black women in the struggle, ensuring their autobiographies and political tracts were front and center.
  • ​Poetry as Protest: She championed the works of Nikki Giovanni and Amiri Baraka (LeRoi Jones).

​Legacy vs. Gentrification

​Today, the landscape of Harlem has shifted. While newer bookstores have moved into the area, they often lack the organic, community-born lineage of Michaux’s and Mulzac’s establishments. The African National Memorial and Liberation Bookstores were not "projects" brought into the neighborhood; they were the neighborhood’s response to a world that tried to erase Black history.

​These stores proved that in Harlem, a bookstore was never just a place to buy a product—it was a place to find one’s self.

​

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

From Harlem to Dakar to St. Louis: The WikiExplorers go to the St Louis Jazz Festival

Image
WikiExplorers go to Senegal, a children’s story for ages 10–12, to learn about their shared history in music.  From Harlem to Dakar to St. Louis: The WikiExplorers Travel to Senegal   Ten WikiExplorers sat in a circle on the classroom floor in Harlem, laptops open, backpacks half-zipped, and ready to fly across the Atlantic Ocean to Dakar, Senegal.  “Dakar is right here,” said Amina, pointing at the map on her screen. “And St. Louis is way up north,” Malik added. “It used to be the capital of Senegal!” They were traveling to Senegal to attend a jazz festival in St. Louis, a city known for its music, rivers, and beautiful old buildings. Their assignment was special: learn about the shared history of African and African American music, find knowledge gaps on Wikipedia, and help fill them—with words, photos, and interviews. None of the children had ever been to Africa before. But Africa didn’t feel far away. Research Before the Journey Before the trip, the WikiExplorers met ...
Read more

Edgar Cayce’s prophecy and African Americans

  Edgar Cayce, sometimes called the “Sleeping Prophet,” gave thousands of psychic readings in the early 20th century. Much of his work focused on health, spirituality, and esoteric subjects like Atlantis, but in his life readings he also spoke about the destiny and role of various groups of people in history—including African Americans. Cayce’s prophecy and his views as they relate to African American history: 1. Spiritual Destiny of African Americans Cayce suggested that African Americans carried a deep spiritual mission. He often spoke of “souls” incarnating in different races and regions to fulfill certain purposes. About Black people in America, he indicated that they held a role in bringing balance, humility, and spiritual renewal to a world overly focused on materialism. He stated that African Americans would play a key role in the spiritual awakening of America . He connected their history of suffering and resilience with a kind of spiritual refinement—what he descri...
Read more

What's missing in New York City’s current political conversation.

What's  missing in New York City’s current political conversation and race for mayor While much of the world — from Singapore, South Korea, and Finland to parts of Africa and the Middle East — is pivoting toward innovation-driven economies, many of New York’s current political candidates (including Zohran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo, and Curtis Sliwa) are speaking in reactive, not visionary, economic terms. New York City Needs an Innovation Vision The Global Shift Across the globe, cities and nations are redefining what drives their economies. They’re no longer relying on industrial output or traditional services but are building innovation-driven economies — ecosystems that combine research, technology, creativity, and entrepreneurship to generate new industries and sustainable prosperity. Singapore has invested in innovation districts and research hubs linking academia with industry. Finland transformed its post-industrial economy through design, technology, and education. China and In...
Read more