A List of Black-Owned Book Distributors and Wholesalers

These the business represent the premier, Black-owned, book distributors in the country. AALBC buys books, for resale, from the businesses below and endorses them without reservation.

They will have titles, including many AALBC bestselling books, that are simply unavailable from any other distributors. Working behind the scenes, with little fanfare, these businesses are crucial to the “Black Book Ecosystem” and are responsible for ensuring important Black books are available for sale, not just here on AALBC.com, but to booksellers around the world.

Black-Owned Book Distributors:



Africa World Press & The Red Sea Press (AWP & RSP)

Kassahun Checole
africaworldpressbooks.com
kchecole@awprsp.com
609-695-3200

In been in business since 1983, Africa World Press & The Red Sea Press is dedicated to the publication and distribution of books on the African World. In a period in which the publishing industry, in the United States, is undergoing dramatic changes, these two publishing houses are fulfilling a great demand for “non-mainstream” academic texts, poetry, short stories and children’s books.

Africa World Press is a “Top 100 Selling Publisher Imprints” on AALBC, with 5 Bestselling books including the classic, Stolen Legacy: Greek Philosophy Is Stolen Egyptian Philosophy by George G. M. James.

Africa World Press & The Red Sea Press is also the exclusive distributor of my book, Voices of the Harlem Renaissance: Originally Published as The New Negro an Interpretation.


Afrikan World Books

Nati Kamu-Nataki
(Afrikan World Books does not have a website)
410-383-2006

Afrikan World Books distributes Black books around the world. Readers who attend the African-American Children’s Book Fair may have seen “Brother Nati” in action as Afrikan World Books is the book supplier for the annual fair.


Black Books Wholesale

blackbookswholesale.com
bbwlogics@gmail.com

Black Books Wholesale is the largest online distributor of African American books and things. Publishers and authors are invited to add their content for distribution through a Black-owned and operated distributor.


Lushena Books, Inc.

Luther Warner
www.lushenabooksinc.com
773-783-8320

Lushena Books distributes all genres of books. In addition to books, they also distribute a variety of other African-American merchandize, including figurines, sorority/fraternity products, journals, puzzles, and more. During the holiday season Lushena Books distributes Kuumba collectibles card, Kwanzaa sets, and calendars.

  • Lushena Book is a wholesale/distributor to bookstores and corporate America
  • Lushena Books offers drop shipment to both bookstores and online stores
  • Lushena Books will wholesale your books to Ingram
  • Visit Lushena Books’ website view their wide collection


Urban Ministries, Inc. (UMI)

C. Jeffrey Wright, Chief Executive Officer
blackbookswholesale.com
support@urbanministries.com
(800) 860-8642

UMI is the largest independent African American Christian media firm. The company serves thousands of churches and consumers with curriculum, magazines, books, and digital products. Founded in 1970 in Chicago by Dr. Melvin Banks, Sr., UMI has been a leader in innovative resources for the educational needs of African American and African church leaders and consumers.



The following distributors are not Black-owned, but they are also of a source of books for AALBC:

Bookazine
https://www.bookazine.com
inquire@bookazine.com
(800) 221-8112

Bookazine is a full-service wholesaler offering a wide-ranging and deep inventory of new releases and best selling backlist, with expertise in children’s titles, small press and regional titles, LGBT books, and pop culture titles—including graphic novels and manga. We supply books to thousands of bookstores and libraries throughout the U.S. and around the world. We enjoy positive business relationships with more than 25,000 publishers worldwide, and are uniquely positioned just minutes from Manhattan.


Ingram Content Group
https://www.ingramcontent.com
customerservice@ingramcontent.com
(615) 793-5000

Ingram Content Group provides virtually every service in the publishing industry. With warehouses all over the United States, Ingram Content Group is the largest book distributor/wholesaler in the country.


IPG
https://www.ipgbook.com
marketing@ipgbook.com
(312) 337-0747

Established in 1971, Independent Publishers Group was the first organization specifically created for the purpose of marketing titles from independent presses to the book trade.



Note:
While it is common for the terms “Distributors” and “Wholesalers” to be used interchangeably, there is a big difference between the two businesses. Both businesses enable booksellers to purchase a wide variety of books from a single source rather than establishing terms, and managing accounts, with potentially thousands of different publishers.

A true book distributor, as opposed to a wholesaler, actively engages with booksellers to help market and promote books on behalf of the publisher — in much the same way a bookseller hand sells a book to a reader. The distributor understands the bookstores they sell to and helps them secure the books that would do well in their stores. Africa World Press & The Red Sea Press, listed above provides distribution services. Learn More ▶




Last Updated: Thursday, November 10, 2022