Roots Bookstore and Market: A Miami Hub for Black Literature, Community, and Legacy on Juneteenth 2025

Roots Bookstore and Market in Miami continues to serve as a vital cultural hub for the Black community, building on a legacy that began with the founding of the Roots Collective in 2015 by Daniel Agnew, Philip Agnew, Isaiah Thomas, and James Mungin II.

The bookstore opened on Juneteenth in 2025, fulfilling a dream Daniel Agnew had envisioned before his passing in 2023. Located on 15th Avenue in Liberty City, the space features books donated by community members, artwork from local artists, and serves as a gathering place for readings, book clubs, music events, and youth engagement.

Isaiah Thomas, co-founder and business partner of Daniel Agnew, reflected on the store’s significance: “If Daniel ‘Danny’ Agnew could walk in today, his business partner Isaiah Thomas knows exactly what he’d say: ‘We did it.’” The store is described as more than a retail space—it is a realization of a vision first imagined in 2017 when the duo launched the original Roots Black House on Northwest 7th Avenue.

Philip Agnew, brother of Daniel Agnew and founder of Dream Defenders in 2012 and Black Men Build in 2020, spoke about the founding vision: “His goal was to unite the Black community in Miami, to bring together the different parts to uplift economically. He believed the most important thing was to unite under the goal of providing business, opportunity, and connection in the city.” He added that their father’s influence as a “bookman” in Chicago inspired their commitment to literature and community.

Roots Bookstore and Market is recognized as one of 13 Black-owned bookstores in Florida. This role is particularly significant given that over 9,000 books have been banned in public schools across the state since 2021, with proposed legislation aiming to strengthen those bans. Spaces like Roots are essential for preserving and sharing Black stories in communities that actively seek them out.

The store also reflects a broader resurgence of Black-owned bookstores nationwide. Philip Agnew noted: “Having this space feels good to us. There’s a renaissance of Black bookstores happening now, and we’re a part of that network that has existed for over 100 years.” This sentiment aligns with national trends highlighted in EBONY Magazine, which has covered the growing impact of Black-owned bookstores in redefining the reading experience for younger generations.

Beyond its role as a bookstore, Roots functions as a grassroots space featuring local authors and hosting events such as children’s readings, book clubs, and music gatherings. Community members like a young man named Junior regularly visit to help welcome guests and assist with homework, reinforcing the store’s role as a third space rooted in care and reciprocity.

Philip Agnew emphasized the emotional resonance of the space: “I feel the most purposeful when I’m doing that work. I feel the most aligned with my purpose.” He also shared that young people frequently express how reading certain books transformed their lives, and he hopes his upcoming collaborative poetry book with Brandon Vega, P.S. Eye Value You, will have a similar impact on readers across the country.

In a digital age where information is instantly accessible, Roots offers something distinct: the tactile experience of holding books, the presence of community, and the shared experience of storytelling. As Philip Agnew stated, “It’s an experience that grounds readers in something real and shared.”

In observance of Independent Bookstore Day on April 25, 2025, Roots Bookstore and Market is highlighted alongside other Black-owned bookstores across the country that are redefining the reading experience, including Get Lit Books and Things in Moreno Valley, California. GrassRootz Bookstore and Juice Bar in Phoenix; Source of Knowledge in Newark, New Jersey; Liz’s Book Bar in Brooklyn, New York; and Gulf Coast Cosmos Comics in Houston, Texas.