A Black mom is set to further empower children of all ages through the power of literature and her husband and two children are right by her side.
WRAL News reports that Victoria Scott-Miller is opening the first brick-and-mortar location for her children’s bookstore, Liberation Station — making it one of the small number of Black-owned bookstores in the U.S.
Founded in 2019 alongside her husband, Duane Miller, Liberation Station will be located in downtown Raleigh, NC. Prior to the upcoming opening of the permanent location, the bookstore held pop-up events for years.
“I feel so incredibly blessed,” Scott-Miller told the outlet. “It makes me feel so full because I never envisioned getting a brick-and-mortar.”
Liberation Station provides children with a selection of books from Black and underrepresented authors, illustrators, publishers, small press, and independent and local authors. What’s more, the bookstore will combat the growing book-banning movement in schools by including the likes of James Baldwin’s “Go Tell It on the Mountain” and Toni Morrison’s “The Bluest Eye,” “Song of Solomon,” and “Beloved.”
“We’re going to carry books that are being removed from curriculums … and we’re going to say, ‘Hey, this is accessible to you,'” Scott-Miller said.
The outlet notes that Scott-Miller and her family practice due diligence as they read each book ahead of placing it in their book selection. Scott-Miller’s oldest son, Langston, will be a part of curating the Black graphic novels section.
Liberation Station’s ultimate mission is to create a safe space for children to dive into the world of books.
“We were the first Black-owned bookstore we ever set foot in,” she said, estimating there are fewer than 155 Black-owned bookstores in the country. “To know that we have carved out a space in the universe for our children to feel safe and to be able to be curious, to be joyful … it’s overwhelming to think about.”
The grand opening of Liberation Station is set for June 17, which falls on the week of Juneteenth.
