Black Pearl Books

Black Pearl Books Black Pearl Books is an Austin-based indie bookstore promoting--diversity, inclusion, equality, and community--through literature.

Thank you Torch Literary Arts for partnering with us to host LaToya Watkins . We were honored to be the first reading at...
08/26/2026

Thank you Torch Literary Arts for partnering with us to host LaToya Watkins . We were honored to be the first reading at The Torch Center. We have a few signed copies left of “The Book of Chuck” - order online!!

Join us for a 1-night only performance and reading of excerpts from Frederick Douglass’ What to the Slave Is the Fourth ...
08/18/2026

Join us for a 1-night only performance and reading of excerpts from Frederick Douglass’ What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?, a speech delivered by the abolitionist in 1852 criticizing the hypocrisy of celebrating the Fourth of July while enslaving millions of people. It became one of Douglass’s most famous speeches — reproving the gap between America’s founding principles and the institution of slavery.

08/16/2026

📖: Black Pearl Books

Saturday, September 26th, 3pm-5pm. Dolph Lundgren Book Signing! Advance Book Purchase required to attend. Link in bio…
08/03/2026

Saturday, September 26th, 3pm-5pm. Dolph Lundgren Book Signing! Advance Book Purchase required to attend. Link in bio…

07/23/2026

Latoya Watkins in conversation with Amanda Johnston of Torch Literary Arts, Tuesday, August 25th. Join us as we explore family bonds, generational trauma, and how we’re shaped by the people we love and those who loved us.

Southern literary fiction, set across Texas and spanning four generations, The Book of Chuck is an investigation into birthright and belonging.

07/11/2026

Have you ever… jumped out of a plane 14,000 feet above ground, free falling for 60 seconds, before parachuting through cumulus clouds? These three have!!





Work hard. Play hard.
07/09/2026

Work hard. Play hard.

Mark your calendar for Saturday, September 12! Austin Poet Laureate, Zell Miller III, along with friends will do a free...
07/03/2026

Mark your calendar for Saturday, September 12! Austin Poet Laureate, Zell Miller III, along with friends will do a free public reading of excerpts from The Meaning of July 4th for the Negro by Frederick Douglass.

For some, America 250 is a celebration of the ideals expressed in the American Revolution and the Declaration of Independence—liberty, self-government, and civic participation. For others, the anniversary prompts a more complicated reflection.

Commemorating 250 years of the nation should involve examining who was excluded from those ideals at various points in history, including enslaved people, Indigenous nations, women, and other marginalized groups. Understanding the country’s shortcomings is part of understanding its history.

Excerpts from “The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro” by Frederick Douglass
“What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? I answer; a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim.

The rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity, and independence, bequeathed by your fathers, is shared by you, not by me. The sunlight that brought life and healing to you, has brought stripes and death to me. This Fourth [of] July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn. To drag a man in fetters into the grand illuminated temple of liberty, and call upon him to join you in joyous anthems, were inhuman mockery and sacrilegious irony.”

Douglass’ words still resonate today. Join us September 12th for a live reading, book giveaway, and post-performance discussion.

07/01/2026

So many GREAT memories from our time on Burnet Rd. We truly appreciate everyone that stopped by during the past few weeks. Our hearts are open and we are filled with gratitude for every story and affirmation shared, all the well wishes and prayers, as well as the laughs and tears.

We’re taking some time this Summer for travel, family time, and college drop off. 😭😃🥺🥳🙃yes, mixed emotions about that!! But keep on the lookout for a few exciting Fall events.

🫶🏽

An exciting new chapter is on the horizon for Black Pearl Books!! But... in order for another door to open, one door has...
05/21/2026

An exciting new chapter is on the horizon for Black Pearl Books!!

But... in order for another door to open, one door has to first close. Soo... we will be closing our storefront at the end of June as we work towards future plans.

But...! We aren’t going away. We are still in business and you WILL continue to see us in the community. In fact, we have author events scheduled this Fall that you won’t want to miss!

We know you have lots of questions. We do too! LOL!! While we don’t know what the next version of Black Pearl Books will look like, we are walking in obedience and know it’ll be exactly what it’s supposed to be.

As we prepare to close our iconic red door, we are filled with gratitude for every customer, conversation, and memory made in this house. It’s been a place of connection, community, and shared moments. Ohh..if these walls could talk.😊

If you were to write your life as a book, some chapters would be a continuation of the previous chapter, and some chapters would be the beginning of a new life experience. We are entering a new life experience (empty nester here we come) and we are reassessing the balance required to maintain the quality of life we desire in this next stage.

So, while we are turning the page to begin a new chapter, we’re excited for what’s next and deeply thankful you’ve been a part of our journey thus far.

New opportunities are still taking shape, and we trust God to lead us where He wants us to go.
As we follow His plan, we’re excited for what’s ahead. We hope you will stay connected and continue this journey with us, because there’s more to come!

Although our storefront is closing you can still shop online during this transition. The LAST DAY TO SHOP IN STORE is Saturday, June 20th. This is also Black Pearl Books Day as proclaimed by the City of Austin, and we invite you to come celebrate with us and honor the memories, relationships, and impact we’ve built together. (more info coming soon).

We will be closed a few days over the next month (see last slide for date closures) because, well, graduation and new college student orientation are happening.

Oh! And if you are wondering about Micah… (continued in comments)

Address

Austin, TX

Opening Hours

Tuesday 11am - 6pm
Wednesday 11am - 6pm
Thursday 11am - 6pm
Friday 11am - 6pm
Saturday 11am - 6pm

Telephone

+15129029717

Website

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