Keep it Lit! Help Support Marcus Books!

Marcus Books just launched a crowdfunding blitz (found here: http://bit.ly/keepitlit) to raise $1,000,000 dollars to keep Marcus Books in the Jimbo’s Bop City building for generations to come! Here is their message to you:

A Message from Karen, Greg, and Tamiko Johnson (Marcus Books Proprietors)

Marcus Books opened its doors 54 years ago on Fillmore Street in San Francisco’s historic jazz district. It’s the oldest black book store in the country. It has been located in the historic Jimbo’s Bop City building since 1981. A family owned business, Marcus Books is more than just a book store. It is a gathering place. It is a center for Black culture. But more importantly, Marcus Books is a community. Over the years, it has hosted authors such as Rosa Parks, Toni Morrison, Harry Belafonte, Maya Angelou, Oprah Winfrey, Amiri Baraka, Bill Cosby, Iyanla Vanzant, and many many more.

The Bop City building was once home to the one of the most innovative Jazz clubs in the country and now Marcus Books is threatened with the prospect of moving out. The Marcus Books community is waging a campaign to ensure that this does not happen, and you can help. The building was sold last year and the new owners are offering the store an opportunity to buy the historic landmark site. So far, we’ve raised more than half of our full 2.6 million dollar goal, but we need you to get us to the finish.

Forward this link far and wide — to your friends, throughout your networks, and to the media: http://bit.ly/keepitlit

Here is a sample FB post: Marcus Books, the oldest black book store in the country, is located in the historic Jimbo’s Bop City building in San Francisco (once one of the most innovative jazz clubs in the country). Donate to keep Marcus Books in the Jimbo’s Bop City building! Keep it Lit! http://bit.ly/keepitlit

And a sample tweet: Keep it Lit! Support Marcus Books in SF! http://bit.ly/keepitlit. Nation’s oldest black book store needs your help.

Thank you for your support!

Sincerely,
Karen, Greg, and Tamiko Johnson (Marcus Books Proprietors)