What’s really unique about Sister’s Uptown is the multitude of events they host on a monthly/weekly basis. They range in a variety of occasions from a Black Empowerment Book Club to a Sisterhood Empowerment Meditation Circle. These types of events are truly what makes this bookstore a community resource center known for it’s exchange of information and ideas. Let’s take a look at some of these events and what they have to offer.

Wilson’s Black Empowerment Book Club does a bit more than just the average book club. Their goal is to focus on the psychological, economic, political, educational and sociological empowerment of black people. They’ve held over 72 events already and have over 450 members (Meetup). Every last Tuesday of the month she has another event called, Going Sound Introspective Cultivating Wellness Through Waves of Blissful Tones in which they listen to soothing sounds while they relax and re tune their mind and bodies. Opposite to this event, every first Tuesday of the month they have their African Folk Heritage Circle, Inc. event in which folks come and tell tales/stories and there are often featured guest artists. Wilson’s other events like her Drumming Circle and Meditation Circle are often also on Tuesdays and sometimes other days of the week depending on the schedule for the month. She’s hosted some really creative events in the past that include: a writing salon, Color & Movement: In Relief, exhibition display for Alfred Weeks, and an inter-generational art workshop.

When asked if she had any funny or interesting stories about her bookstore, she replied with a smile and the words, “too many to name.” Luckily Wilson was able to tell us one of her funniest and most interesting stories about when the popular activist/writer, Sister Souljah came and did a book signing in her store. Sister Souljah is very well known for her bestselling book, The Coldest Winter Ever, and upon arriving back to the US from China she called Wilson and asked if she could do a book signing in the bookstore since she was having a new book coming out shortly. Wilson was in disbelief due to how renowned she was and even questioned if she was actually her, so she went through the normal procedure with her on the phone explaining to email the store and send a copy of the book over. When Wilson received the email it stated that, “this is the Sister Souljah” with her available dates, and at that point she realized this was no joke. When she finally arrived for the signing, due to her large following the bookstore was beyond packed. Wilson noted that its maximum capacity is 150 people but the event drew an even larger crowd of over 300 people! It made her extremely happy to see people being satisfied with books and what people are writing and doing in today’s day and age.

-Pictures taken from Sister’s Uptown Facebook Page