Liberation Station reopens after threats to force closure of black children’s bookstore in North Carolina

Liberation Station, a Black-owned children’s bookstore in North Carolina, will reopen its doors on December 29 after closing its original location in 2024.

The reopening follows widespread fundraising and local support that helped secure a new location at 430 Hill Street in Raleigh. Founded by Victoria Scott-Miller and her husband, Liberation Station first opened on Fayetteville Street in 2023. The literary haven was one of the few bookstores in the region specializing in children’s books by and about Black authors and characters. It is reported to be North Carolina’s first black-owned children’s bookstore. According to Scott-Miller, Liberation Station intended to give young readers a storyin which they could see themselves reflected.

The reopening comes after successful fundraising, including community donations and social media support. A GoFundMe campaign has raised more than $70,000, with some larger donors contributing to the campaign to help cover relocation, inventory and operational costs for the new location in Raleigh.

After less than a year, the original store closed amid a barrage of threats and intimidation directed at the owners and the space, prompting safety concerns and the decision to pause operations.

Speak with Urals, them too thanked supporters for their continued love and support as the establishment worked to relocate and rebuild.

“I’m grateful that we had the opportunity to step back, and that we had a community that loved us so much that they let us rest. They let us pause and reimagine what it could look like, not just the bookstore, but our own personal safety. And so coming back has been a resurgence,” she said.

Liberation Station’s December 29 reopening event aims to welcome families and supporters as the bookstore resumes its role as a space for children and parents to explore literature rooted in diverse experiences.

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