COCO & ELSIE JEan books
I honor the women that raised me, and my family. My grandmothers have both transitioned, but what a life to know they loved me and cared for me and fought for me.
Coco, my maternal grandmother was a Firestarter! She sent me to NYC with two round trip tickets just in case I changed my mind and wanted to move back to California. She also was the reason I am so intentional about administration, property for the people, and legacy.
Elsie Jean, my paternal grandmother, was a spitfire. She read voraciously. She believed in romance amidst chaos, food for all the family, and suffering no fools. She is the reason I work with chosen family, why my table has a seat for whomever toils the literary soil with me.
– Mahogany L. Browne
OUR mission
Creating a bookstore named after Black matriarchs is my attempt to heal our collective mother wound. Come inside the house, make sure the screen door is closed. These books are carefully curated and tell a story that allows our guests to see what moves, inspires, enrages, and delights us! Stories are water. They have the ability to grow anything it touches.
Representation and Visibility: Naming a bookstore after Black matriarchs can help elevate and honor the contributions of Black women in literature and society. Historically, Black women's voices and perspectives have been marginalized and underrepresented. By giving them a dedicated space, their works and experiences can receive the recognition they deserve.
Amplifying Black Women's Literature: A bookstore named after Black matriarchs can specialize in promoting and selling literature written by Black women. This focus can help elevate their voices, stories, and ideas, making them more accessible to a wider audience. It can also create a platform for emerging Black women writers and support their literary careers.
Community Empowerment: Bookstores often serve as community hubs, fostering connection and engagement. A store named after Black matriarchs can become a gathering place for people to engage in discussions, book clubs, author events, and workshops centered around Black women's literature and issues. It can provide a safe and supportive environment for fostering dialogue and learning.
Education and Empathy: Literature has the power to educate and foster empathy. By highlighting the experiences, challenges, and triumphs of Black women through the bookstore's collection, readers from all backgrounds can gain a deeper understanding of the intersectional struggles faced by Black women. This increased awareness can contribute to building a more compassionate and inclusive society.
Challenging Stereotypes and Bias: Naming a bookstore after Black matriarchs can challenge societal stereotypes and biases that have long misrepresented or marginalized Black women. By actively countering these narratives and providing a platform for diverse voices and stories, the bookstore can contribute to breaking down stereotypes and promoting a more accurate and nuanced understanding of Black women's experiences.
A bookstore named after Black matriarchs serve as a celebration of Black women's contributions to literature and society, a catalyst for social change, and a symbol of inclusivity, diversity, and empowerment.
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SHOP OUR COLLECTION
With each book highlighted by our amazing curatorial guests, Coco & Elsie Jean book kin will find their thirst will be piqued as they return to our home, for fresh water. Coco & Elsie Jean (www.candejbooks.com) is a landing space for the thinkers, dreamers, students of life, and freedom fighters. We are here to assure our stories remain available and celebrated. Guest curators include: Hanif Abdurraqib, Rachel Cargle, Saretta Morgan, & more. Browse & Dream. Shop & Believe. These books allow us to pour into ourselves.