LAUNCH: Prose to the People: Katie Mitchell, James Fugate & Jazzi McGilbert

WHO & WHAT: Join Rep Club for a book launch w/ Katie Mitchell, author & editor of Prose to the People: A Celebration of Black bookstores, alongside James Fugate, co-owner of L.A.'s historic Eso Won Books, and Jazzi McGilbert founder & owner of our very own Reparations Club.

WHEN: Doors at 6:30pm, event begins promptly at 7pm.

WHERE: Reparations Club, 3054 S. Victoria Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90016

HOW:

EARLY BIRD TICKET: This ticket guarantees a seat, including a discounted signed book at 15% off, available for pick up at the event.

TICKET w/ BOOK: This ticket guarantees a seat including a signed book available for pick up at the event.

FREE RSVP (No Book): This RSVP DOES NOT include a copy of the book and entry is based strictly on capacity at the door. Limited book copies may still be available for purchase in-store.

SIGNED BOOK ONLY: Can't make it IRL but still want a signed copy? Order directly from our site!

Please email us at cXVlc3Rpb25zIHwgcmVwYXJhdGlvbnMgISBjbHVi if you have any additional needs, questions, or accessibility concerns.

About Prose to the People

A stunning visual homage to Black bookstores around the country along with profiles and essays that celebrate the history, community, activism, and culture these spaces embody, featuring an original foreword by Nikki Giovanni.

Black literature is perhaps the most powerful, polarizing force in the modern American zeitgeist. Today--as Black novels draw authoritarian ire, as Black memoirs shape public debates, as Black polemics inspire protest petitions--it's more important than ever to highlight the places that center these stories: Black bookstores.

Traversing teeming metropolises and tiny towns, Prose to the People explores these spaces, chronicling the Black bookstore's past and present lives. Combining narrative prose, eye-catching photography, one-on-one interviews, original essays, and specially curated poetry, Prose to the People is a reader's road trip companion to the world of Black books.

Thoughtfully curated by writer and Black bookstore owner Katie Mitchell, Prose to the People is a must-have addition to the shelves of anyone who loves book culture and Black history. A visually rich tribute, this dynamic book centers profiles of over fifty Black bookstores from the Northeast to the mid-Atlantic, the South, and the West Coast, complete with stunning original and archival photography.

Interspersed throughout are essays, poems, and interviews by New York Times bestsellers Kiese Laymon, Rio Cortez, Pearl Cleage, and many more journalists, activists, authors, academics, and poets that offer deeper perspectives on these bookstores' role throughout the diaspora. Complete with a foreword by world-renowned poet and activist Nikki Giovanni, Prose to the People is a beautiful tribute to these vital pillars of the Black community.

Katie Mitchell is a storyteller and bookseller. Katie lives, works, and writes in Atlanta, Georgia. Her online and pop-up Black bookstore, Good Books, has been featured in The New York Times, NBC, NPR, PBS, and many other outlets. Katie is a Dorothy Porter Wesley fellow.

James Fugate is a retired book seller of nearly 42 years. Born and raised in Detroit, Fugate started at a small general bookstore, later moving into managing college bookstores. He helped start EsoWon Books, a well-known African American bookstore in Los Angeles.

Jazzi McGilbert is an entrepreneur, creative director, and founder of Reparations Club, a bookshop & literary space dedicated to amplifying underrepresented voices in her hometown, South Central Los Angeles and beyond. Jazzi cut her teeth in fashion with roles at Teen Vogue and NYLON, among others, before transitioning to pursue her vision for community building. Since opening in 2019, Rep Club has been named a favorite by the New York Times, Well Read Black Girl, hometown heroes like Issa Rae and Tyler the Creator, and most importantly, her visionary queer Black woman-owned space has won the love of authors, locals, and tourists alike. Through Rep Club, Jazzi continues to disrupt the literary status quo, creating opportunities for connection and creativity through literature and cultural stewardship.

Refund Policy Requests for refunds must be made no later than 14 calendar days prior to the event date via Eventbrite only. After this deadline, no refunds will be issued, unless the event is cancelled or rescheduled by the organizer (i.e. Rep Club). In that case, refunds will only be issued to the original purchaser via the original method of payment (i.e. Eventbrite).

Non-Refundable Items Processing fees and service charges are non-refundable, unless the event is canceled by the organizer (i.e. Rep Club).

Event Cancellation or Rescheduling

- If the event is canceled by the organizer, a full refund will be issued to all ticket holders, including any fees paid.

- If the event is rescheduled, your ticket will automatically be valid for the new date. If you are unable to attend the rescheduled date, a refund request can be made within 7 calendar days of the rescheduling notice.

Contact Us If you have any questions regarding this refund policy, please contact us at cXVlc3Rpb25zIHwgcmVwYXJhdGlvbnMgISBjbHVi.

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