Barbershop Bookshelves

Barbershops have been a meeting place for Black Boys and Men for many years. Barbers tend to look like the young boys they service and often they are considered a member of the family. Any one who has found a great barber knows, you have loyalty to that barber and often continue to visit them for years. Barbershops are often featured in black media. Movies like Barbershop, which revolves around the social life in a barbershop and T.V Shows like Marvel’s Luke Cage, where the barbershop acts as a peaceful ground for everyone in the community prove them to be a significant part of the Black community.

These “meeting places” are the perfect place to meet our Black students where they are and bring the books to the boys! Black Boys Read Too has placed bookshelves of books to be used during the waits at the Barbershop. With an emphasis on books with Black protagonists, heroes and role models, our boys are able to enjoy books that they can relate to.

Books are switched out quarterly, allowing for variety. Our hope is that these books will become a bonding experience for families and create opportunity for discussion about what they are reading.

Barbershops who are interested in having a bookshelf in their business can submit a request here: Barbershop Bookshelf Interest Form

Current Bookshelf Locations:

Tyson Cuts 259 Carolina Street, Buffalo, New York

SM79 Barber Company 1569 Hertel Ave, Buffalo, New York

Fade in Full 1068 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo, New York

Ninja Stylez 1220 Main Street, Niagara Falls, New York

Signature Cutz 2312 Main Street, Buffalo, New York

The Coupe 319 Kenmore Ave, Buffalo, New York

House of Fades 805 Abbott Road, Buffalo, New York

Mighty Fine Cuts Barber Lounge 235 Niagara Street, Buffalo, New York

Barbershop Inside Princessa’s Studio & Art Gallery 1271 Hertel Ave, Buffalo, New York