Iconic Denver Area Bookstore Highlights Diverse Reading Experiences
The Tattered Cover Book Store has long held iconic status in the “Mile High City” of Denver. Founded in 1971, its first store opened in the Cherry Creek North district. In 2020 in the aftermath of the George Floyd fueled racial justice protests, it became the largest Black-owned independent bookstore in the nation.
Recognizing the need to highlight diversity in the authors it featured, the Hue-Man Experience at Tattered Cover was born. In collaboration with prominent Black businesswoman, Clara Villarosa, this community initiative aims to boost learning and awareness, while providing a center-stage experience for historically marginalized writers of color.
Every second Friday of the month the Hue-Man Experience at Tattered Cover hosts an event at its new McGregor Square location.
This community movement for readers is tied to the legacy of Villarosa’s Hue-Man Experience Bookstore, a beloved Denver establishment that focused on Black readers. Hue-Man targeted the needs of Black and Brown readers, emphasizing both books and non-book gift items. In 2000, she sold the Hue-Man Denver location and moved to New York City to be closer to family. That same year, she opened the Hue-Man Bookstore and Cafe in Harlem.
Through the Hue-Man Experience at Tattered Cover and Villarosa’s advisory efforts, individuals, as well as organizations, will be provided guidance on book selections that highlight the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Says Villarosa in a statement on the Hue-Man Experience page of the Tattered Cover website:
“I’ve always had a real affinity for Tattered Cover, beginning with its previous owner, Joyce Meskis, graciously acting as my mentor when I opened my first bookstore. At this point in my life, reviving the Hue-Man brand wasn’t something I had previously imagined. However, in light of recent events, the need for this sort of inclusive curation and focus on diversity in literature is as evident as ever. My goal for this partnership with Tattered Cover is to build awareness around important issues while giving a voice to Black authors.”
In pursuing the Hue-Man shelf selection during my recent visit to Tattered Cover’s McGregor, I found four books that have been a part of my recent reading experience.
On Juneteenth by Annette Gordon-Reed
I sought out this book having become aware of my own knowledge gap regarding this profoundly important piece of history. It became the inspiration of an article that I later wrote for libertarianism.org
Wandering In Strange Lands: A Daughter of the Great Migration Reclaims Her Roots by Morgan Jerkins
This book offers a deeply moving account of what author Morgan Jerkins discovers about Black history and her family legacy during her travels in the Deep South and on the East Coast. It sparked my interest in learning more about my own southern ancestral tree.
The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
A powerful look at the 19th-century Great Migration of Black Americans from the South to various locals in the U.S. One of my top five all-time favorite books. This page-turner often moved me to tears as I was making my way through it.
The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together by Heather McGhee
In this heavily researched book, author Heather McGhee chronicles the impact that racism has had on not only Black and Brown Americans but White Americans. It is currently the featured selection for the “Black Books, Black Minds” Book Club.