A Pennsylvania historical marker was recently installed in front of Hakim's Bookstore, a Black-owned independent bookstore in West Philadelphia that dates back to the late 1950s. West Philly Local reported that the University City Historical Society had advocated for the marker in partnership with the Enterprise Center. Founded in 1959 by Dawud Hakim, the bookstore has been at 210 South 52nd Street for more than 60 years, providing books, education, and the space for Black learning and cultural exchange. A dedication ceremony was held September 23 at the bookstore.
"This was a great day. My family and I want to thank all who braved the wind and rain to be a part of our celebration," Yvonne Blake, Dawud Hakim's daughter and manager of the business, posted on Facebook. "My father devoted his life to making a difference by educating and mentoring so many. While he is no longer here physically his spirit lives on in his bookstore and in our hearts."
UCHS noted: "As a place that has unapologetically upheld black learning and community, Hakim's has been on the front lines of the Civil Rights movement. Dawud Hakim was connected to national civil rights leaders like Dick Gregory and local leaders such as Mumia Abu-Jamal. Not coincidentally, Hakim's Bookstore was the target of J. Edgar Hoover’s COINTELPRO surveillance program that targeted places of black identity out of unfounded fears of criminality and civil unrest.... Hakim's Bookstore has survived social unrest, economic ups and downs, and building emergencies to continue to serve the community. Today, Dawud Hakim's legacy is carried on by his daughters and their dedicated staff."