Today we’d like to introduce you to Alyssa Gant-Black.
Alyssa, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
During the summer of 2017, I befriended a group of neighborhood kids. A relationship that began after an attempt to distract them from a fight that was brewing just feet away from their curious, watchful eyes. This relationship quickly blossomed into a mentorship. We exchanged stories and I saw myself in them, youth full of possibilities, learning how to overcome the “if-only” and the “I-wish-I-had’s.” I realized that despite the ills of my community, the soil is so rich with buried treasure just aching to be brought out into the sun.
Some things you can’t unhear or unseen, like an eight-year-old girl lowering her eyes, insecurity is barreling out of her voice like boulders unhinged, and her face grimacing over her kinky, puff-ball hair. It was heartbreaking. One day, in 2018, I was at work and stumbled across a book fair. I came home with about ten copies of a Children’s book called “I Am Enough” by Grace Byers. I wrote affirming messages on the inside flap, signed my name, and gifted them to the girls in my little crew. I wanted them to see themselves in a way that highlighted their unique beauty and immeasurable value.
That moment set me on the path to YaYa Books. Since then, I’ve been daydreaming about riding through the hoods of Atlanta in a bookmobile, providing a literary escape for underserved kids to learn about the magic of who they are. That is the direction that we hope to go in the near future.
One of my favorite authors, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, spoke about the dangers of a single story. Single stories are detrimental because they are saturated in half-truths. It’s important that we use our energy and our God-given talents to take control of our own narratives.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The greatest struggle was trying not to succumb to self-sabotaging thoughts about not being good enough. I was so afraid and I almost psyched myself out of going forward a couple of times. “Are you sure you want to do this?” “Maybe you should just wait.” I didn’t, though. I jumped without a real plan, but my spirit knew that it was time, and I decided to trust it. The website officially opened for business on October 18th and every last nerve in my body was about to jump out of my skin. I was running off of zero sleep after being up all night trying to get things ready. I felt like I had been in labor, and it was such an amazing feeling to finally give birth. The noise in my head was the greatest struggle, but the vision was greater.
We’d love to hear more about the business.
Authenticity and consistency, definitely! I also have to add friendliness. I want people to have a good experience with YaYa and me, whether they purchase a book or not. The most important thing to me is that when visitors come to my Instagram page or website, they smile or feel something warm in their hearts. If my content can make someone feel good, I consider that a form of mutual aid. That’s soul care for them and me. Our tagline is, “Whatever you are waiting for, may it meet you here.” Maybe that thing is a book that represents a person in a way that nothing ever has or maybe that thing is a smile or changed heart. Either one equals success to me.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
YaYa Books is an online bookstore featuring literature written by Black authors and books that speak to the Black experience. We have a mix of new and pre-loved books for adults and children. I am so very proud of the support that we have received from family, friends, and strangers. It’s been beautifully overwhelming, and I’ve cried MANY tears of joy. I’m amazed by how kind people are. Sometimes, I get messages from folks I’ve never laid eyes on, saying things like, “Keep being great, I support you.” It’s heartwarming to have so many folks sharing in the happiness of my business that was once just a dream renting space in my head. I’m so grateful, and I try to express that gratitude as often as possible. I don’t want to focus on what sets me apart from others because I think that in an industry like this, those of us providing Black books, we have to move us a unit because the mission of amplifying black stories is a collective, revolutionary purpose. It takes every last one of us, moving in unison to set us free.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.yayabooksllc.com/
- Phone: 6786009064
- Email: yayabooksllc@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yayabooksllc/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/yayabooksllc/?ref=bookmarks
- Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/YaYaBooksLLC/
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