The Book Itch: Freedom, Truth & Harlem’s Greatest Bookstore by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
Activity Guide by Kate Kwasneski, Intern, Grinnell College Museum of Art
The Book Itch tells the story of a very special bookstore in Harlem, the National Memorial African Bookstore. This store was run by a man named Lewis Micheaux, who collected books about Black and African history. Micheaux thought that learning about Black history in the U.S. was essential to the fight for equal rights for Black people.
Lewis Micheaux had to overcome obstacles put in his way by people who thought a Black man could not open a successful bookstore. He was denied a loan, so he had to earn all the money to open the store himself. He did not have a lot of education, but he knew how important it was to read and learn, so he worked hard to make his bookstore a reality.
In one of the images from the story, which you see here, Christie has painted a rally stage set up outside the bookstore. Here, members of the Civil Rights movement would share knowledge about Black history with the patrons of the National Memorial African Bookstore as well as talking about the future of the movement.
A lot of people did not like the things that were said at these rallies, or the idea that Black people should have equal rights. That made these words dangerous, and they got Lewis Micheaux’s friends into trouble. Some of them, like Malcolm X, were even killed for speaking out about what they believed in. Micheaux believed that the danger made speaking up even more important.
Micheaux and his friends used words and knowledge to fight for what they believed in. The National Memorial African Bookstore was used in the fight against racism that is still ongoing today. Micheaux thought it was important for all people, not just Black people, to know about Black history, because understanding what happened in the past could help to build a better future.
The Book Itch is about the importance of speaking to people and sharing knowledge about history. It shows how access to knowledge can help change the world for the better, in this case by improving the fight for equal rights for Black Americans. Lewis Micheaux opened a bookstore to use his knowledge to make the world a better place.
Lewis Micheaux had an itch to collect books and share knowledge about Black history. For him, an itch was a desire so strong that he had to share with the world how important he thought it was. For this activity, create a book about your itch.
First, follow the instructions in our bookmaking activity guide and make a book. Or several books!
Fill your pages with your itch. Write down everything you think about it. Draw yourself sharing knowledge about it. Write what you would say if you had a raised platform like the one outside of Lewis Micheaux’s bookstore. Draw a bookstore full of books about your itch.
Web support:
Daniel Strong
Associate Director and Curator of Exhibitions
Grinnell College Museum of Art