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Black Images celebrates African-American heritage
By Lakiesha Carr
Associate In & Around Dallas Editor
A cool Dallas day with dark clouds hovering above and a light mist falling makes for a perfect day for snuggling up with a good book. Especially for those who still consider cracking open a book an act of pleasure rather than pain. On such days making the trip to Black Images Book Bazaar is well worth leaving the warmth of home.
Black Images is the oldest African-American bookstore in Texas. Co-owners Emma Rodgers and Ashira Tosihwe founded the business over 20 years ago. What started as a home-based mail order business has blossomed into a successful full-time retail store. They now enjoy an exceptional reputation nationwide.
When you enter the doors you immediately know-as clichˇeacute; as it sounds-you have found a new place to call home.
The sweet scent of burning incense and soulful harmonies gently hit you. Several walls are adorned with African art, and the bookshelves stretch to the top of the ceiling.
The store's Web site (www.blackimages.com) boasts of carrying books of all genres that relate to the African Diasporic experience, including such subjects as: history, biographies, folk-tales, health, food, decorations, children's books and religion. The selection also includes many literary classics.
The store prides itself on providing an outlet for the less known and emerging author's to get his or her work publicized. The store is heavily populated with what Rodgers calls "back-list" and "mid-list" books. These are books that may have been out for five or more years, but never made the top 100 in book reviews or sales.
Rodgers said many of these books are the staples of people's home libraries, although the mainstream public may not be familiar with them. For example, Rodgers considers Toni Morrison's work this way, by Rodgers, due to the complex nature of her writing style. Rodgers said the majority of readers prefer quick and easy when reading literature.
For those who sometimes tire of the more grandiose bookstores, tailored with mini-cafes, Black Images is quite refreshing.
Scattered boxes around the store may have to be maneuvered, but the lack of complete organization only gives character to an otherwise cozy environment.
The store carries a multitude of gifts, vitamins and African American Greek-lettered ornaments. There are also many book clubs to join that the store organizes and hosts on a weekly basis.
As Rodgers said, Black Images is not only beneficial to the African-American community, but also serves as a resource for anyone desiring to educate themselves or become well-read individuals.
Black Images can be contacted at (214) 943-0142. Store hours are Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday 1p.m. to 6 p.m.
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DC Photo by Tim Jester
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