On July 31, Black Bookstore Day founder Dr. Latasha N. Eley Kelly traveled to the Kansas State Capitol in Topeka for the signing of a proclamation recognizing Saturday, August 29, 2026, as Black Bookstore Day in Kansas. The proclamation marks an important milestone ahead of the inaugural Black Bookstore Day celebration. Founded by Eley Kelly in 2025, Black Bookstore Day is an annual observance recognizing the history, cultural significance, and continued impact of Black-owned

Black Bookstore Day will be recognized in Wichita, Kansas. On August 18, 2026, the Wichita City Council will issue a proclamation recognizing the last Saturday of every August as Black Bookstore Day in Wichita. The first observance will take place on August 29, 2026. Wichita is home to Left on Read, Wichita’s independent Black-owned bookstore and currently the only Black-owned bookstore in Kansas. Left on Read was founded to amplify representation, cultivate perspective, and