In the golden year 1959, a visionary created a valuable resource for 'Black community building' and knowledge growth. Dawud Hakim founded Hakim's Bookstore & Gift Shop in West Philadelphia, PA. The store is the oldest Black-owned bookstore on the East Coast.

Books weren't the only attraction in the early days. This residence of reading was a place for people to gather and brainstorm about ways to move the community into a positive self-sufficient future.

Fast-forward to 2025. Hakim's survives under the leadership of Dawud Hakim's daughter Yvonne Blake.  

For over sixty years, Hakim's in-store theme has specialized in African American history.

In an effort to boost Black commerce, Philadelphia radio station WURD in association with their 'Wake up with WURD' morning host Solomon Jones, implemented a "Black Cash Mob" event at Hakim's on Saturday, March 22, 2025.

The standing room only crowd not only enjoyed the commerce of stuffing their shopping bags to burst with books, but they experienced a two-hour live broadcast on WURD at the bookstore led by host Michael Coard.

Among the books I picked up was Beyond Category, The Life and Genius of Duke Ellington by John Edward Hasse with foreword by Wynton Marsalis.

Roots

Hakim's has an inspiring bookmark for your manuscripts with the catch phrase "Leaders are Readers."

There's a historic landmark plaque in front of the bookstore that was dedicated in 2023. In part the plaque says: "A civil rights and Black activism gathering space in the 1960s. It was surveilled by the FBI along with other Black bookstores."

I'm at the "Black cash mob" event outside of Hakim's in this photo taken by Kwasa Mathis of WURD.

Kingsley at Hakim's, located at 210 South 52nd Street, Philadelphia, PA.

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