Black Garnet Books was created by Saint Paul community member Dionne Sims during the summer of 2020 in direct response to state violence, as well as the purposeful and unconscious exclusion of Black people from the literature community. The brick-and-mortar store opened its doors in 2022 to address racial inequality within the publishing and literary industries, both nationally and within the state of Minnesota. In an effort to address these inequalities, we’ve curated our shelves to focus on literature by authors and illustrators of color, ensuring that any purchase made at our store directly supports the continued telling of our stories. All books and merchandise are sold at fair prices that honor the craft and energy required to create art and sustain our community and industry.