{"id":40277,"date":"2023-05-31T05:49:13","date_gmt":"2023-05-31T12:49:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/troora.com\/team\/?p=40277"},"modified":"2025-06-14T08:02:14","modified_gmt":"2025-06-14T15:02:14","slug":"a-cauldron-of-black-and-indigenous-literature","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/troora.com\/team\/a-cauldron-of-black-and-indigenous-literature\/","title":{"rendered":"A Cauldron Of Black and Indigenous Literature"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Unwrap the new year with us.<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Enjoy our premium, unique selections from TrooRa marketplace<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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A Cauldron Of Black and Indigenous Literature<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Bold Colors, Funky Prints, and Intricate Patterns are Synonymous With This Black Woman-Owned Brand<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Sistah Sci-Fi founder joyful portrait<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Sistah Scifi is the first Black-owned bookstore focused on science fiction and fantasy in the United States, as validated by the American Booksellers Association.<\/p>

\u201cThis store began as a book club and then emerged as an online bookstore,\u201d says founder Isis Asare. \u201cThe journey just unfolded, and I chose to follow the path.\u201d<\/p>

Asare officially launched Sistah Scifi on February 2, 2019, with a celebration of Jewelle Gomez\u2019s 25th Anniversary edition of The Gilda Stories. The venture describes itself as a cauldron of all things Afrofuturism; Black mysticism, science fiction noir, and traditional voodoo; casting spells to uplift literature written by Black women.<\/p>

They also focus on the works of Indigenous women authors, such as Rebecca Roanhorse, Grace Dillon, Eden Robinson, Darcie Little Badger, Cherie Dimaline, and Louise Erdrich. These women\u2019s names feature on a tee shirt proudly sold by Sistah Scifi. <\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u201cWith this shirt, we not only celebrate Indigenous female writers who create a future where all of us are included but also celebrate ourselves as readers would instantly recognize the names on the list and what they mean,\u201d says Asare.<\/p>

Sistah Scifi is also excited to sell a similar tee featuring Black women writers Octavia Butler, N.K. Jemisin, Nisi Shawl, Nnedi Okorafor, Tomi Adeyemi, and Nalo Hopkinson.<\/p>

The bookstore has been featured in Oprah Magazine, Buzzfeed, and the New York Times. In 2023, Sistah Scifi will launch a national network of Sistah Scifi Book Vending Machines, the first three in February and at least 10 by June. All Book Vending Machines will be located in Black and Native American owned coffee shops.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Woman reading book at sunset<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The first three locations will be Oaklandia Caf\u00e9 x Bakery, Mixed: Coffee and Community, and Black Coffee NW.<\/p>

The goal for the Sistah Scifi Book Vending Machine is a national rollout because Sistah Scifi is connected to a national and international community due to the power of social media.<\/p>

\u201cAs a bookstore in cyberspace, why would I limit myself to a particular geographic location within the United States?\u201d says Asare.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Marrying Work and the Dream\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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With degrees in psychology and African American studies from Stanford University, Asare lived in her parents\u2019 home country of Ghana for a while as part of the Peace Corps. Next, she earned a master\u2019s in public policy from Harvard and an MBA in International Finance from Columbia Business School.<\/p>

A serial cultural entrepreneur, she worked in finance and business development at corporations including T-Mobile, Microsoft, Shutterfly, and Brightroll and launched a film entertainment site for queer women of color called Sistah Sinema. Still, through all of these ventures, she realized she had a deep desire to run a bookstore.<\/p>

\u201cCould I marry the dream and the work experience? A chance encounter on social media answered my question,\u201d Asare says.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Afrofuturism and Self-Definition\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Afrofuturism sweatshirt model dancing joyfully<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\u201cI had just finished reading Lilith\u2019s Brood by Octavia Butler, loved it, and asked on Facebook if anyone was interested in discussing it with me,\u201d Asare remembers.<\/p>

\u201cA good friend agreed to talk about it, and then we started talking about other authors in Afrofuturism. Authors I\u2019d never heard of, which completely caught me off guard. All I could think was I\u2019d taken African American literature in college yet still missed a memo. And so, I wanted to read ALL the books and connect with people to discuss the stories,\u201d she says.<\/p>

The Smithsonian explains Afrofuturism as \u201can evolving concept expressed through a Black cultural lens that reimagines, reinterprets, and reclaims the past and present for a more empowering and inclusive tomorrow.\u201d Popular Afrofuturist authors include Nnedi Okorafor, N.K. Jemisin, Tomi Adeyemi, and Colson Whitehead.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Sistah Scifi gives shout-outs to a wide variety of new books from Afrofuturists and other BIPOC sci-fi and fantasy authors through its social media. These include Veronica G. Henry\u2019s Depression-era carnival fantasy Bacchanal, Liselle Sambury\u2019s complex horror tale Delicious Monsters, and Kosoko Jackson\u2019s suspense novel Survive the Dome.<\/p>

\u201cI know I focus on promoting Black and Indigenous science fiction and fantasy authors because, as a Black, queer woman, I found the themes of science fiction liberating in how I can define myself, especially while navigating a society focused on assimilating and adding value to mainstream\u2014often white\u2014culture,\u201d says Asare.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Woman riding tiger with spear\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Strength Through Community\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Asked if operating a bookstore is tough, Asare answers, \u201cHow do you define tough? Is there any industry where success is easy and guaranteed?\u201d<\/p>

She draws strength from the love and support of her polycule and from the many donors who have contributed to funding Sistah Scifi.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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TrooRa Magazine<\/p>\r\n

Words<\/p>\r\n

Cristina Deptula<\/p>\r\n

California, USA\r\n<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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SHOP<\/span><\/BR> \nTrooRa\nMarketplace<\/span><\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Archer Bag Copper Metallic<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Mini Trio Candle<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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$50.00 usd<\/span><\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Archer Bag Blue Steel Metallic<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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$265.00 usd<\/span><\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSHOP NOW<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Sistah Scifi is the first Black-owned bookstore focused on science fiction and fantasy in the United States, as validated by the American Booksellers Association.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":385,"featured_media":16036,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[175],"tags":[28,279,262,303,119,127],"class_list":["post-40277","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-art","tag-art","tag-black-entrepreneurs","tag-black-women","tag-culture","tag-entrepreneurs","tag-women-in-business"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/troora.com\/team\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40277","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/troora.com\/team\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/troora.com\/team\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/troora.com\/team\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/385"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/troora.com\/team\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40277"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/troora.com\/team\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40277\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40304,"href":"https:\/\/troora.com\/team\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40277\/revisions\/40304"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/troora.com\/team\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16036"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/troora.com\/team\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40277"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/troora.com\/team\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40277"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/troora.com\/team\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40277"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}