» Shrine Bookstore and Cultural Center

Shrine of the Black Madonna Cultural Center & Bookstore (“The Shrine”) is one of the nation’s largest and oldest black-owned bookstores, with locations in Detroit, Atlanta and Houston. The Shrine Bookstore is a non-profit institution that opened in 1970 with the goal of showcasing the creative talents of artists & authors of African descent and empowering people through educational workshops and cultural events. In addition to containing one of the largest selections of books related to the Black experience, the Shrine is also home to the Karamu Art Gallery and the Black Holocaust Museum.

In addition to literary materials, the Shrine Bookstore also carry a wide assortment of African clothing, hand-crafted jewelry, artist prints, African-American collectibles, greeting cards, gift items and much more.

Opened in 1986, The Houston Cultural Center & Bookstore has been at the center of the African Diaspora experience in the 4th largest city in the country for over 20 years.

Black Inventor's Display
The Black Inventor's Display features replicas of the many inventions patented and produced by African-Americans. From the early 19th century through the present, African-Americans have created over 125 patented inventions, including the mailbox, toilet, the spotlight and many more.

African-American Holocaust Museum
The African Holocaust Exhibit (formerly known as the Black Holocaust Exhibit) is a collection of more than 100 primary documents, artifacts and compelling images that tell the story of the slavery and the horrors of the middle passage. The collection includes bills of sale, wills, newspaper notices for run-a-way enslaved, letters from slave traders, slave shackles and more.

Karamu Gallery
For more than 35 years, the Shrine Bookstores' Karamu Galleries have been showcasing the exquisite works of some of the world's most talented artists. They have one of the most extensive collections of authentic museum-quality art from people of color in Africa, the Caribbean, North America and South America. Karamu Art Galleries also feature art and sculptures from renowned African-American artists such as Ernie Barnes, Carl Owens, and Brenda Joysmith.