Gwendolyn Henderson, who "touched many lives over her 60 years as a teacher, community activist, public official, bookstore owner and champion for Black culture," died on June 10, WUSF reported. She was 60. In 2023, Henderson opened Black English bookstore at 401 E. Oak Ave. in Tampa, Fla.
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| Gwen Henderson | |
"Gwen's sudden passing is a shocking and devastating loss for the Tampa Bay book community and the independent bookstore community at large," said Alsace Walentine, co-owner of Tampa's Tombolo Books. "Black English is a thriving new bookstore that was immediately embraced by readers and authors. Gwen lovingly curated the store and made every square inch beautiful, interesting and focused on Black excellence. I loved visiting her thoughtfully designed shop.
"Gwen and her daughter Ariel had just attended their first ABA Winter Institute this past year. I hope the bookselling community can come together to help Ariel continue her and her mother's work."
A teacher for 23 years, the West Tampa native was voted onto the Tampa City Council in 2023. In a tribute to her, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor and City Council Chairman Alan Clendenin said, in part: "Councilwoman Henderson was a powerhouse in our community--she was a teacher, business owner, and champion for African-American culture and Tampa's history. Her sense of humor energized our city and her loss leaves a deep void for all of us. Councilwoman Henderson brought passion, empathy, and deep community knowledge to her role."
Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw praised Henderson as a leader with "strength, dignity and unwavering respect. Her passing is a somber reminder that legacy is not just defined by what we accomplish in our time here, but by the impact we make in the lives of others."
Councilman Luis Viera posted on social media: "My heart goes out to the family of my late friend Gwen Henderson.... I tell people that if you wanted to see Gwen's heart, you should visit Black English Bookstore in Tampa Heights. It was a bookstore about her family and families like her--black families and names in Tampa, in Florida and throughout our country. Names we know and names we will never know. It was a bookstore on pride in Black History--and pride in where she came from. It was a love letter to her family and to Black Tampa and our history--both painful and triumphant. Her values, life and journey were intertwined with the values, life and journey of Black Tampenos. That bookstore was a love letter to the beauty of Black History in our country and city--and a challenge to the pain. I would go there and always saw moms and dads--mostly African-American--bring their young kids to meet Gwen and see the bookstore and pick up a book on MLK or Medgar Evers or Emmett Till or Fannie Lou Hamer."
Anderson majored in education at Florida A&M University, then earned a master's degree in education and an education specialist degree at Saint Leo University. She recalled that a favorite teacher at Jefferson High School, her alma mater and the school where she taught for two decades, inspired her to become an educator.
While teaching a class on entrepreneurship, she created a plan to start an online store that sold books reflecting African American culture and history. "Two years later--a few months after winning the council seat--she passed a building for lease that soon became the home of Black English, a bookstore she opened with her daughter, Ariel, a Howard University graduate," WUSF wrote.
Henderson "often referred to the books in her shop as 'emancipated,' adding that there is not a 'banned' section at Black English because all the books are free. Work from non-Black authors isn't segregated either," the Tampa Bay Times reported.
"They get to come to the cookout. They mixed in with us. They don't get a special table, a section, they are in here," Henderson had said in a video about Black English.
Councilman Viera observed: "I really will miss this lady a lot. She was hilarious--even whenever she got mad at you (and she got mad at me occasionally because of a vote or two...) she was hilarious. If she liked you, you would know and she would let you know what was happening with her. And if she did not like you, you would know it. She let you know where she stood. I could tell you stories about her that will crack me up till my last day. She was hilarious, authentic and passionate. I will miss her a lot. And I am one of many."