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By: Cheryl Smith
December 13, 2006
Black Images Book Bazaar had a
humble beginning and the year 2006 will end with this
haven for Black book authors and book clubs closing
its doors forever.
Co-owners Emma Rodgers and Ashira Tosihwe aren't sad.
They say they've had a good run. In fact, they were
about to celebrate a significant milestone in 2007,
but decided against prolonging the inevitable.
"We started in 1977 and were trying to make it to
30 years but we couldn't quite do it," said Ms. Rodgers,
adding that they had been in their home in Wynne-
wood Shopping Center for two decades after operating
as a home-based business. "We have been in this shopping
center full- time since 86, but we were here part-time
before that."
And while some businesses close quietly, drifting
into oblivion, Black Images Book Bazaar is planning
to go out in style, looking to a future that will
still include hosting authors and showcasing book
events.
"We will be doing book events, and continue with corporate
sales," said Ms. Rodgers. "We are going to host authors
at different venues."
The time has come to say farewell to Black Images
as it prepares to close at year's end. Supporters
will be saying farewell to an era that saw the likes
of Dr. Maya Angelou, Patti LaBelle, Iman, Tavis Smiley,
Steadman Graham, Sister Souljah, Mrs. Rosa Parks,
Ellis Cose, Victoria Christopher Murray, Dexter King,
Karen E. Quinones Miller, Susan Taylor, Dewayne Wickham,
Michael Eric Dyson, Nikki Giovanni and hundreds of
other national and international authors booking Black
Images for tour dates.
"When I came to Dallas, I always enjoyed going to
Black Images," said author George Curry, who is also
the editor-in-chief of the National Newspapers Publishers
Association's Newswire Service. "This is a tremendous
loss, not simply as a business but as a valued and
needed institution. Our failure to keep Black Images
reflects badly on us as a community."
Black Images will also be missed by an equally impressive
list of local authors who built a following, with
many holding their first book signings there.
"The closing of Black Images Book Bazaar will be felt
by African-American writers and readers around the
world," said best-selling author Francis Ray.
"Black Images was one- stop shopping for books by,
about and for the African-American community. Emma,
Ashira and the wonderful staff worked tirelessly to
show the rich heritage of our people and leave a legacy
behind.
"Black Images took pride in helping self-published
authors as well as mainstream writers long before
it was chic to do so. The written word was more than
a business it was a cherished endea-vor. The store
closing will leave a void in the literary world."
The Rev. Sheron C. Patterson, also known as the "Love
Doctor" agrees.
"It is a literary tragedy to lose Black Images. Emma
and Ashira are my personal sheroes!"
Ms. Ray and Rev. Patterson are just two of the local
authors, including Victor McGlothin, Anna Larence,
Dr. Brenda Wall and most recently Vincent Hall, who
held booksignings at Black Images.
Essence best-selling author ReShonda Tate-Billingsley
is not pleased at all about the news.
"This is a sad day in the literary world," she said.
"Like so many aspiring authors, Ms. Emma (Rodgers)
was one of the few people who took me under her wing
and said, 'Baby, this is what you need to do.' She
gave me everything from motivation, to advice, to
helping me navigate the literary road map. It is so
sad to see her close her doors.
"As my career advanced and I started getting requests
to come do book signings from places like WalMart
and Kroger, I always told my publicist, no matter
where else I go, I need to make sure Black Images
is on the list. Ms. Emma supported me whether I sold
10 books or 10,000."
Ms. Tate-Billingsley continued, "We live in an age
of convenience. We can run in WalMart, get our oil
changed, shop for groceries, get our nails done and
pick up the latest Black novel, but at what cost?
The dollar I saved on that book could've helped a
Black bookstore stay on its feet. I wish more of us
realized the true price we're paying...the loss of
treasures like Black Images."
Another local author, who has since gone National,
is Michael Baisden. A former television talk show
host and now the legendary "Bad Boy of Radio," heard
local-ly on 94.5 K-Soul, Mr. Baisden is hosting "No
Book Left Behind," 9am until 9pm on December 20.
Ms. Rodgers says monies raised from the event, which
is being promoted across the coun-try, will help pay
off some of the debt the store incurred as it tried
to stay open despite a dwindling customer base over
the years.
Once one of the largest and most celebrated bookstores
in the country, the store suffered just as many others
did in the late 90s and the turn of the century when
larger bookstore chains and the Internet became major
providers.
"Independent bookstores catch hell trying to compete
with amazon.com and the megabookstores like Barnes
and Noble or Borders," said Dr. Julianne Malveaux,
who emphasized she is "saddened, but not surprised,
to learn" of the closing."The store has been a refuge,
a community center, a gathering place, a safe haven.
They offer books, but more importantly, the owners
offer energy, knowledge and goodwill.
"They will be missed, phenomenally missed. But they
leave a powerful and profound legacy. Authors, readers,
and the community will all miss them!"
Black Images was a place to pick up African artifacts,
tapes, sorority and fraternity paraphernalia, magazines,
greeting cards, and intellectual discussions. It was
also the location to pick up many of the Black newspapers,
flyers promoting events and other community publications.
But the closing will not just affect the industry
locally, said one author.
"Emma Rodgers has a deep and abiding love for Black
literature and for Black authors," said Blair S. Walker,
author of six Black-themed books. "I can say without
hyperbole that her decision to close Black Images
leaves a huge void, not just in Dallas, but nationwide."
Over the years several book clubs and local radio
stations have been involved in efforts to promote
Black Images. Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley
Price occasionally hosted his show, Talk Back," on
KKDA-AM, interviewing book authors and discussing
issues affecting the community, at the store.
Also an early customer of the bookstore, Mr. Price
remembers "starting in the garage, moving to Westmoreland
and then ending up at Wynnewood."
"It's the end of an era," he said, adding that he
is not surprised that the store is closing, especially
when you consider "there's a direct correlation between
educa-tion and literacy rate in America."
Referring to a recent study by Central Connecticut
State Univer-sity that in a look at literacy among
major cities, ranks Dallas 49 and Fort Worth 46, Mr.
Price said many people are not reading to learn or
even just for pleasure.
According to the Texas Speech Language Hearing Association,
1997 literacy statistics in Texas showed an alarming:
28% of adults lacked basic reading and writing skills;
3.3 million people were considered to be functionally
illiterate; and Texas ranked 47th in literacy among
the states.
Mr. Price says those numbers are worse today. "Unless
we are willing to go into a studio and release to
a DVD, our (authors) chances for success are limited."
Most recently, two shows on KKDA-"Speak Out with Judge
Maryellen Hicks" and "Reporters Roundtable"-- have
broadcast monthly from the store.
"It's important that we do everything we can to help
support Black businesses," Ms. Hicks told her listeners.
"Black Images has done so much for the community and
for book authors. We need to support Black Images."
The doors will officially close on December 31 and
while bittersweet, many will also view it as a celebration
of sorts-of nearly 30 years of service.
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