Portland's Only Black-Owned Bookstore, Third Eye Books Is A True Community Hub
By Sarah McCosham|Published October 26, 2021
×
Sarah McCosham
Author
I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books.
I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.
There’s nothing quite like an afternoon spent perusing a good bookstore. Each book offers a world of possibility, and there’s a camaraderie felt between fellow readers (and that indefinable-yet-distinct bookstore smell) that makes visiting a bookstore a soul-filling and exciting experience. In Portland, Third Eye Books is a newbie on the bibliophile block, and it fills a much-needed void in Oregon. Portland’s only Black-owned bookstore, Third Eye Books is a true community hub; a space for education, inclusion, and representation.
Third Eye Books is a charming little independent bookstore in Portland, Oregon, with a very important mission.
Inspiration struck Lewis and Hannah after Oregon's Reflections/Talking Drum Bookstore closed in 2012. This was a place where folks could go to find books that centered on African-American history and experience, urban fiction, Black children’s books, and more -- and someone needed to step up to fill this much-needed space.
So Michelle Lewis and Charles Hannah took it upon themselves to use Reflections/Talking Drum Bookstore's closure as an opportunity -- and thus, Third Eye Books was born.
As Portland's only Black-owned bookstore, Third Eye Books carries a comprehensive inventory of African and African-American books, accessories, and gifts.
After a rough two years that included a global pandemic, Third Eye Books opened its brick-and-mortar store at Portland's Southeast Division Street and 33rd Avenue over the summer.
The store carries an impressive and extensive inventory, including books by Black authors and Oregon writers, as well as nonfiction and fiction titles that speak to the current societal climate.
But it's not just books here; Third Eye Books really is a place for community. The bookshop regularly welcomes authors and hosts events that encourage folks to come and congregate.
When you visit Third Eye Books in Portland, Oregon, you're not only supporting a deserving local business, you're also participating in something much larger: a movement encouraging representation, inclusion, and social justice.
Have you visited Third Eye Books in Oregon yet? Definitely plan on checking them out — Third Eye Books is a treasure of a place that’s affecting positive change — one book at a time. Learn more at the Third Eye Books website.
If you’re into perusing independent bookstores, head to Roundabout Books in Bend, Oregon!
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
