A book store which specialises heavily in works by black authors is facing closure because it can no longer attract enough customers to turn a profit.
New Beacon Books, a store in north London, says that its back is against the wall after 50 years in operation.
The business, which claims to be the UK’s first store focused on black literature, has cut its opening times to just 18 hours a week to save cash.
The store says it faces imminent closure unless donors give them £10,000 and free labour.
A video posted to the store’s GoFundMe page called on volunteers to repaint the premises, install new shelves, build it a website and an online sales system to help it compete.
Store manager Janice Durham called on black people in particular to visit the store and hold meetings there to defend their culture.
She said: “We can create a hub, where everybody can come in, say what they wanna do and help each other grow – because as a race of people that is what we need.”
