Central Harlem in Manhattan in New York County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Lewis Michaux
| | While We Are Still Here | |
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, July 19, 2025
1. Lewis Michaux Marker
2107 7th Ave
from 1939-74, the National Memorial African Bookstore sold titles from the Diaspora and was a hub of activism.
Erected by While We Are Still Here.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music • Civil Rights • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the While We Are Still Here series list.
Location. 40° 48.57′ N, 73° 56.867′ W. Marker is in Manhattan, New York, in New York County. It is in Central Harlem. It is at the intersection of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Boulevard and W 126th Street, on the right when traveling north on Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Boulevard. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 156 W 126th Street, New York NY 10027, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in New York City. It is also in the American Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. (within shouting distance of this marker); Nelson Mandela (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Hotel Theresa (about 400 feet away); Blumstein (about 500 feet away); GreenThumb (approx. 0.2 miles away); Clayton Williams Community Garden (approx. 0.2 miles away); Langston Hughes Playground (approx. 0.2 miles away); Joseph Daniel Wilson Memorial Garden (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manhattan.
Regarding Lewis Michaux.
this page online
Also see . . .
1. Lewis H. Michaux (Wikipedia). Excerpt:
Lewis H. Michaux (1885/1895 1976) was a Harlem bookseller and civil rights activist. Between 1932 and 1974 he owned the African National Memorial Bookstore in Harlem, New York City, one of the most prominent African-American bookstores in the country.(Submitted on July 21, 2025.)
African National Memorial Bookstore: The bookstore was founded by Michaux in 1932 on 7th Avenue and stayed there until 1968, when Michaux was forced to move the store to West 125th Street (on the corner of 7th Avenue) to give space to the State Harlem office building. The bookstore finally closed in 1974 after another row with authorities over its location.
Michaux stimulated a generation of students, intellectuals, writers and artists. He called his bookstore "House of Common Sense and the Home of Proper Propaganda". The store became an important reading room of the Civil Rights Movement. While Izzy Young's Folk Center further south in Greenwich Village became a hang-out during the folk revival of the late 1950s and early 1960s, including the rising Bob Dylan, the Memorial Bookstore up in Harlem was a rare place for black people and scholars and anyone interested in literature by, or about, African Americans, Africans, Caribbeans and South Americans. In the early 1960s folk and popular music, and the civil rights movement,were inter-related, overlapping and "inspiring the growth and creativity of each other" as historians Izzerman and Kazin write Michaux's bookstore had over 200,000 texts and was the nation's largest on its subject. Everyone, white and black, was encouraged to begin home libraries and those who were short of money were allowed to sit down and read.via Wikipedia, unknown2. Lewis Michaux
2. Lewis Michaux (While We Are Still Here). (Submitted on July 21, 2025.)
3. Harlem Black Owned Bookstore (Youtube, 3:01). Lewis Michaux Auther and Owner of The African National Memorial Bookstore in Harlem, New York City, one of the most prominent African-American bookstores in the World. (Excerpt from the "The Black Power Mixtape 1967 1975 Documentary") (Submitted on July 21, 2025.)
via NPR, unknown
3. A view of the National Memorial African Bookstore in Harlem
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, July 19, 2025
4. Lewis Michaux Marker - wide view
Photographed by Larry Gertner, August 16, 2025
5. Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. State office Building
Credits. This page was last revised on August 18, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 21, 2025, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 222 times since then and 68 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 21, 2025, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. 2, 3. submitted on August 18, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 4. submitted on July 21, 2025, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. 5. submitted on August 18, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.
