Kansas Recognizes Black Bookstore Day with State Proclamation

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 bookstores and honoring those whose work has made space for Black literature, ideas, culture, and community across generations. Black Bookstore Day will be observed annually on the last Saturday in August.

Before signing the proclamation, Governor Laura Kelly asked why the recognition mattered.

Eley Kelly shared the history of Black-owned bookstores, the roles these spaces have played in their communities, and the influence of Black bookstore owners in Wichita whose work helped shape what she believed was possible when opening Left on Read.

That local history is an important part of the story. Left on Read opened in Wichita in 2024, but Black bookselling in the city did not begin there. Recognizing Black Bookstore Day creates an opportunity to honor that history alongside the bookstores continuing the work today.

Governor Kelly took time to listen and discuss the significance of the observance before signing the proclamation. Wichita City Council Member Joseph Shepard also supported the effort to secure recognition for Black Bookstore Day.

A Trip Shared with Community

Eley Kelly was joined at the Capitol by her husband, Corinthian Kelly, and members of the Left on Read community who have supported the bookstore and its work since its early days.

During the trip to Topeka, Corinthian Kelly shared a reflection on the responsibility he sees connected to the bookstore:

“We have a charge. Our bookstore is not only a store, but it’s a ministry. We gotta be reaching people, and we take that seriously.”

That responsibility is reflected in the purpose of Black Bookstore Day: to recognize the history and impact of Black-owned bookstores while encouraging people to support the bookstores doing this work today and throughout the year.

Harmony Charters and Travel provided transportation to and from Topeka for the Capitol visit.

Bringing the Recognition Home to Wichita

Kansas is one of the first places to formally recognize Black Bookstore Day, but the state proclamation is not the end of the story.

On Tuesday, August 18, Black Bookstore Day will also be officially recognized by the City of Wichita.

Then, on Saturday, August 29, the inaugural Black Bookstore Day will be celebrated alongside Left on Read’s ribbon cutting at its new Revolutsia location.

Communities elsewhere can pursue similar recognition. The Black Bookstore Day™ Proclamation Guide provides sample proclamation language, guidance for navigating local and state proclamation processes, and information about using the official observance name. (Access the full Black Bookstore Day™ Media and Celebration Kit here.)

Depending on the jurisdiction, proclamations may recognize Black Bookstore Day as an annual observance on the last Saturday in August or recognize the specific observance date for a particular year.

For 2026, that date is Saturday, August 29.

Celebrate August 29. Support Year-Round.

Learn more at blackbookstoreday.com and @blackbookstore.day.