A Black-owned bookstore dedicated to underrepresented voices recently reopened in a larger space in Tulsa, Oklahoma‘s historic Greenwood District.
According to Tulsa World, Fulton Street Books & Coffee held a ribbon-cutting grand opening on Friday to celebrate the new location next door to the Greenwood Rising museum.
Onikah Asamoa-Caesar, Fulton Street Books & Coffee founder and owner, said the location is more than just a place to read books. It’s where community members can go and see themselves represented in literature on the shelves.
“I am overwhelmed with gratitude to be here today,” Asamoa-Caesar told Tulsa World. “This grand opening is not just about a new location; it’s about celebrating the resilience of our community and continuing to stand firm in our commitment to increasing representation on the shelves.”
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She continued, “I think in this time, when we look at book bans and censorship and so much of what is going on across the country, I am here today even more convicted in our mission, even more steadfast in providing space where Black, brown, indigenous and queer voices are represented on the shelves.”
Rose Washington-Jones, CEO of the Tulsa Economic Development Corp., praised Asamoa-Caesar for her vision and years of hard work bringing the bookstore to the community.
“Onikah had a vision to bring this business to life,” Washington-Jones said, per Tulsa World. “She took a few years to put her plan together. She listened to the feedback multiple people, coaches, mentors provided to her. She did her own research, exploring what other shops are doing. This is the product of a lot of hard work.”
During the grand opening, Asamoa-Caesar thanked everyone who came out to celebrate the new location.
“To all of you, it is such a pleasure and an honor that you be here with me this morning to open up this space,” she said. “I am so grateful to all of the people who allowed us to be here.”
