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The smell of the sage and the sound of African drums filled the air at Sister Uptown Bookstore on Friday, July 25th, located at 1942 Amsterdam Avenue in Washington Heights. Members of the community came out to show support and make generous donations supporting the cause of keeping the beloved bookstore open.

The bookstore is at risk of closing after 25 years due to pandemic-related struggles, gentrification, and declining sales. Last Friday, reached out to the community and community organizations for the #SaveSisters fundraiser to celebrate the bookstore’s anniversary and rally support for its survival.

Since its opening on January 1st, 2000, Sister’s Uptown has been a community hub and resource on Black culture. For the last 25 years, it has been a place of literary nourishment and a meeting place for writers, community leaders, and Black Empowerment. The bookstore has fallen five months behind on rent and has to come to a tenuous month-to-month agreement with the building owner. The owner, Janifer Wilson, claims that the store’s financial difficulties are the result of declines in book sales since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and competition with online retailers.

In recent weeks, Sister’s Uptown has been featured in the media on CBS New York Evening News, The Amsterdam News, and PIX 11.

On Friday night, the #SaveSisters fundraiser party was high in energy. It was attended by many friends of the bookstore like Joe Rogers, Founder and Executive Director of Total Equity Now, Sally DeJesus, facilator of Poetry Speaks for Us, Rick Young, host of “What’s In Your Hand” on WHCR, and Lenny Matthews of the Lenny Matthews Show and the live ensemble The Uptown Poetry Circle’s The G.E.T. Up Ensemble.

The live instrumental band includes Drummer Mike Sanders, Violinist/Poet Ngoma Hill, Pianist Kiyoko Layne, Flutist Atiba Wislon, and Xylophonist Aquah Beale. Flutist Atiba Wislon kicks off with the first performance of the fundraiser with a ceremonial blessing by pouring water on a plant, giving blessings to the ancestors such as Malcolm X, Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou, and the recently passed Emmy-Nominated and Grammy-Winning Actor and Musician Malcolm-Jamal Warner.

“Greed is the most dangerous sin!” said Wislon. “We have to pay tribute to our ancestors who raised us. Those who came before us provide the foundation for us!” he said. Violinist/Poet Ngoma Hill shared words of encouragement with the crowd.

The G.E.T. Up Ensemble played original music for the attendees, and there was soul food, cupcakes, and refreshments for sale by local Black Chef, Chef Ashley. There was complimentary Jamaican Sorrel made by Sister Janifer. After the performance, Sister’s Uptown worker Clarence Reynolds said a few words on the meaning of the fundraiser. “For 25 years, we served the community. We are not just a bookstore, we are a safe space, we are a place where people come to have conversations, exchange ideas, play games, have emotional arts, welcome our local vendors, and just be together and be one!” said Reynolds.

After the musical part of the fundraiser, the ceremony had a moment of reflection for participants to take a moment to reflect on what Sister Uptown means to them, what literacy means to them, and what it has done for them.

The first person to take the stage was Harlem-born Award-Winning Author and Founder of Upstart Publishing, Marc Polite (IG@marcpolite). He is also a proud member of the Harlem Writers Guild. He brought a copy of his latest children’s book, “Stand on Ganymede”. He reflected on what Sister Uptown did for his literary career, “I had my first book launch at Sister’s Uptown here 12 years ago,” said Polite. He took a moment to read the first three pages of “Stand of Gaymede” to the audience.

The next person was Author Karen Taborn (IG@walkingharlem.karentaborn), who is the author of “Walking Harlem: The Cultural Capital of Black America.”. She spoke on the importance of Sister’s Uptown and the launch of her book five years ago. She held virtual book launches in 2020 with Sister’s Uptown Bookstore. She came to the event and performed her original music for the fundraiser. She donated to her electric piano keyboards. “Sisters is one of our gems in the Harlem community,” said Taborn.

The stage was taken over by another performance by Dana Gae Hanchard (IG@northstarpeace). She performed original music for the audience. Hanchard is a regular attendee of Sisters’ book launches and special events, and performs to fight to keep the Sisters’ cultural space open.

Attendees of the fundraiser also had an opportunity for professional photos with Harlem-based photographer Keith Rogers. With a backdrop and professional lighting, attendees got a chance to get photos taken with friends at the fundraisers.

Sisters Uptown is currently working on a Harlem Renaissance-themed Gala sometime in the Fall. More information will come later this Fall.

For anyone who could not attend the fundraiser or is interested in donating to the #StandwithSisters fundraiser, can make donations online at Sister Uptown Bookstore, LLC, Donation link at:

https://checkout.square.site/merchant/GS7QK4JJ7FNXP/checkout/75RKI5DD3L57SSEY27NMGZEK

After the performances, the guest DJ, DJ Michael Walker, played music into the night while people danced and laughed the night away. Sister Janifer was outside and welcomed attendees and thanked the community for coming out and supporting Sisters Uptown. She sat in the front of the store and posed for photos and said, “Here’s to the last 25 and the next 25!”