Bookstores, Authors, and More Promote Antiracism Titles for #ReadIndieForward

Bookstores and industry professionals have continued to post to social media to promote #ReadIndieForward, a pay-it-forward campaign that encourages readers to support indie bookstores by gifting books to friends and family.

Promotional posts for the campaign are rolling in, with bookstores and readers posting about books related to the current antiracism movement and in support of Black authors. Here are some recent posts in the hashtag:

• Garden District Book Shop in New Orleans, Louisiana, recommended readers check out Jesmyn Ward’s Sing, Unburied, Sing. The store wrote in a post on Instagram, “If you haven’t read this National Book Award winning novel by Tulane University professor Jesmyn Ward, there is no better time than now. Have you already read Sing, Unburied, Sing? Maybe you know someone who should, Sing, Unburied, Sing would be a great book to send to a friend as part of #readindieforward”
• Michael Leali of Sourcebooks posted to Twitter: “My heart is sick. Our country is sick. White people, we need to do more to combat racism. #MeandWhiteSupremacy by #LaylaSaad had been a tremendous force in my life as I practice my anti-racism work. From now on, I’m only sending this book for #ReadIndieForward.”
• Author Kelly Simmons posted to Twitter: “Book hugs are helpful right now. Lots of people asking for book suggestions to aid their understanding. I’m sending Born a Crime by Trevor Noah to someone not on Twitter, who I know will #ReadIndieForward.”
• The Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association posted to Twitter: “Want ideas for books to give for #ReadIndieForward? Our Face Outs are a great way to browse favorites from booksellers around the region,” which included The Secret Garden of George Washington Carver written by Gene Barretta, illustrated by Frank Morrison.

Booksellers and publishers can join the campaign by visiting readindieforward.com, which features downloadable social media assets they can personalize with their logo, as well as ads to promote #ReadIndieForward to their communities, staff, authors, and readers across Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.