A door closes: Baltimore's Sibanye welcomed black authors.Baltimore, "The city that reads," has recently lost an African American African American Multiculture A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa. See Race. institution with the closing of Sibanye, Inc., formerly owned by Robin Green and Mary Douthit, after nine and-a-half years in business. Store oysters cited the economic downturn Downturn The transition point between a rising, expanding economy to a falling, contracting one. downturn A decline in security prices or economic activity following a period of rising or stable prices or activity. , coupled with the cancellation of the annual Baltimore Book Festival last fall where Sibanye single-handedly brought in 60-plus African American authors each year--as contributors to Sibanye's end. The festival usually accounted for 25 percent of the store's annual income. Green, who closed the store on New Year's Eve 2003, says that she might open another bookstore in the future. Meanwhile, "I will continue to chair our cultural arts education foundation, Ripe Harvest, and through it I will continue to sponsor our literary conference (Write Now) and our African American Children's Book Festival (Jambo, Watoto!), and participate in the Baltimore Book Festival, among other literary, visual and performing arts events," she says. While some view Sibanye's shutdown shut·down n. A cessation of operations or activity, as at a factory. shutdown Noun the closing of a factory, shop, or other business Verb shut down as a just loss in Baltimore, authors, publishers and publishing industry insiders from all over the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. , say that the mourning MOURNING. This word has several significations. 1. It is the apparel worn at funerals, and for a time afterwards, in order to manifest grief for the death of some one, and to honor his memory. 2. The expenses paid for such apparel. 2. won't stop there. The impact will be far-reaching because the store gave so many first-time and self-published authors a boost. Christina Royster-Hemby is a television writer and journalist who currently lives in Baltimore. |
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