The ABA's new pre-conference program strives to make the industry more inclusive for booksellers, publishers, and authors of color
In response to concerns raised by BIPOC booksellers at Winter Institute 2024 that so-called traditional bookselling models center white business strategies, the ABA is launching Ignite, a free pre-conference program, this year. Ignite is designed to connect booksellers and bookstore owners of color with BIPOC authors and editors for conversations about entrepreneurship and equity in a diverse industry landscape.
Slated for Saturday, February 22, Ignite aims to be accessible for authors, editors, and sales reps who might not otherwise attend the conference. ABA CEO Allison Hill told PW that more than 125 booksellers have registered for Ignite, and about 40 authors, editors, and publishers will meet them there.
Kicking off the program will be a welcome from Hill and executive officers Ray Daniels, P.K. Sindwani, and Joy Dallanegra-Sanger, followed by an event with publishing reps introducing forthcoming titles by authors and illustrators of color.
A pair of one-hour plenary discussions follow. "Shelf Life: Empowering BIPOC Booksellers in White-Dominated Spaces" will focus on the experience of working in white-owned stores and within a predominantly white industry, and will share best practices for thriving; DEI consultants K.J. Williams and A.J. Williams of Risewithus will facilitate. "Mission, Community, Entrepreneurship, " led by Jamie Lujan of Saluzo Business Solutions, Danny Martinez of Apex Business Consulting, and branding strategist Olivia Omega, will address obstacles and opportunities for BIPOC retailers.
An authors and editors reception will conclude the program, followed by affinity group meetings of AAPI, Latinx, Hispanic, Black, and Indigenous booksellers.
Hill says the program is based on ABA member feedback, debriefings after WI2024, and ABA staffers' research on successful methods for transforming predominantly white institutions. The idea for a pre-con came from David Landry, co-owner of Class Bookstore in Houston and a member of ABA's DEI council. Landry's "great suggestions sparked excitement," Hill says. "We wanted the initiative to be the beginning of something bigger for the industry, which led to the name Ignite."
Requests from BIPOC booksellers -- being in community with other booksellers; meeting editors and authors of color; and hearing more about books by authors of color -- are all part of the design, Hill says, and the education sessions are informed by a survey of Ignite registrants. "We tried to create two sessions that would speak to as many of the requests as possible. We've had a tremendous response from both booksellers and publishers about Ignite and its lineup. Ignite has already started up some important industry conversations that we hope will lead to greater industrywide support of BIPOC booksellers and BIPOC-owned bookstores."
The Ignite pre-conference is not the only ABA offering for booksellers of color. The organization added an identity search to Indiebound.org to facilitate visibility for historically marginalized stores. It began distributing anonymous surveys after its advisory council and DEI council meetings to ensure that bookseller members can share feedback. It polled Black bookstore owners who haven't attended institutes to identify and address obstacles to attending. It hosted two Black bookseller forums last year, in addition to two regular BIPOC bookseller forums, where participants spoke with ABA's executive leadership. ABA is also researching the financial and logistical viability of moving future Winter Institute conferences out of February, to help stores prioritize Black History Month.