The Disappearing Bookstore: A WikiExplorers Mystery at the Schomburg!


The Disappearing Bookstore: A WikiExplorers Mystery at the Schomburg


​Characters:

  • ​Ms. Rivers: The enthusiastic WikiExplorers troop leader.
  • ​Mya: A kind and knowledgeable archivist at the Schomburg Center.
  • ​WikiExplorers: Ten bright-eyed African and African American boys and girls (ages 8-12), including:
    • ​Jamal: The aspiring journalist.
    • ​Chloe: The keen-eyed history detective.
    • ​Marcus: The energetic team leader.
    • ​** Imani:** The thoughtful questioner.

​(The scene opens in a quiet research room at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Ten eager WikiExplorers, with notebooks and pencils ready, are gathered around a long table. Ms. Rivers stands at the head, a large printout of the "African National Memorial Bookstore" article on the table.)

​Ms. Rivers: Good morning, WikiExplorers! Happy Black History Month! Today, we’re embarking on a very special mission: to uncover a lost piece of Harlem’s history. Has anyone ever heard of the African National Memorial Bookstore?

​(A few blank stares, then Jamal raises his hand.)

​Jamal: I think my grandma mentioned it once! She said it was where Malcolm X used to speak.

​Chloe: Yeah, and it had a super long name, right? "House of Common Sense and the Home of Proper Propaganda."

​Ms. Rivers: Excellent! You've both got pieces of the puzzle. Today, our mission is to understand how such an important place, a true cornerstone of Black intellectual life in Harlem, disappeared. It was replaced by this building, the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building.

​(Ms. Rivers points to a photo of the imposing state office building.)

​Marcus: But why? Why would they replace a bookstore with an office building? That doesn't make any sense!

​Imani: Yeah, why not just build it somewhere else? There are other empty spots, right?

​Ms. Rivers: Exactly, Imani, that’s the big question! And it’s a question of political struggle. Our goal today is to find information in these amazing Schomburg archives that we can add to Wikipedia, so that everyone knows the true story. We’re going to be history detectives.

​(Just then, Mya, a warm smile on her face, approaches the table with a cart laden with archival boxes and old newspapers.)

​Mya: Hello, WikiExplorers! I’m Mya, one of the archivists here at the Schomburg. Ms. Rivers told me about your important mission. I’ve brought some materials that might help you start your investigation into what happened to Mr. Michaux’s bookstore.

​Chloe: Ooh, old newspapers! This is like real detective work!

​Ms. Rivers: Thank you, Mya! Alright, Team, we’re going to divide into three "Scout Teams" to track down different parts of this story.

​Team 1: The "Forced Move" of 1968

​(Ms. Rivers addresses Marcus, Jamal, and two other explorers.)

​Ms. Rivers: Marcus, Jamal, your team will focus on the actual forced move. Look through these boxes of news clippings and photos from the late 1960s. We need to find evidence of the conflict: Did people protest? What did the state say to justify taking the land?

​Marcus: (Rifling through a box of folders) Look! Here’s a headline: "Harlem Bookstore Fights State Land Grab!"

​Jamal: (Pointing to a photo of a crowd holding signs) And here are people protesting outside the bookstore! This is what Ms. Rivers was talking about. We need to add this to the article!

​Team 2: The Players: Power vs. The People

​(Ms. Rivers turns to Chloe, Imani, and two others.)

​Ms. Rivers: Chloe, Imani, your team is identifying the players. Who were the big names pushing for the State Office Building? And, importantly, who stood with Lewis Michaux? Look for names of politicians, community leaders, and even ordinary citizens who spoke out.

​Chloe: (Scanning a document) It says here Governor Nelson Rockefeller was really determined to build a state presence in Harlem. He called it "urban renewal."

​Imani: But here’s a petition signed by community groups, saying they wanted to keep the bookstore! It lists names like the "Harlem Coalition for Justice." This shows people fought back!

​Team 3: The "Why There?" Question

​(Ms. Rivers directs the remaining four explorers to another set of materials.)

​Ms. Rivers: And for our third team, we’re digging into the "Why there?" question. Why that specific spot? Was there another option? Look for maps, architectural plans, or proposals for a "Harlem Cultural Center."

​WikiExplorer 1: I found an old blueprint! It shows the bookstore right where the new building was planned. It’s like they just drew right over it.

Wiki​Explorer 2: And here’s an article talking about how the community had their own idea for a "Harlem Cultural Center" on that land, but it got rejected. That's not fair!

​(As the explorers pore over the documents, Ms. Rivers walks between the teams, offering guidance and encouragement. Mya observes with a gentle smile, occasionally pointing to a relevant document.)

​Ms. Rivers: Remember, WikiExplorers, every piece of information you find, every newspaper clipping, every photo, tells a part of this important story. When we add this to Wikipedia, we're not just writing facts; we're ensuring that future generations know about Lewis Michaux's fight and the community's struggle to protect its history.

​Jamal: (Holding up a faded photo of Lewis Michaux) He looks like a superhero! He fought for knowledge.

​Imani: And we're fighting for his story to be told.

​Mya: (Nodding thoughtfully) Exactly, Imani. That's the power of archives and the power of what you're doing. You're giving voice to the past, making sure that what happened here, the good and the difficult, is never forgotten. You are truly bringing Black History to life this month.

​(The room filled with joy and accomplishments, and the shared purpose of young WikiExplorers unearthing Harlem's vibrant, resilient history.)

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