The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Businesses held sway over reopening plans
Governors across U.S. were inundated with advice from industries.
As South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster prepared to announce the end of a coronavirus stay-athome order, his top staff received an email from the state health department.
The message, highlighted in bold, was clear: Wait longer before allowing customers back inside restaurants, hair salons and other businesses where people will be in close contact.
Instead, McMaster pressed ahead with a plan written by the state restaurant association to resume inside dining on May 11. The guidelines made masks optional for employees and allowed more customers inside than the health agency had advised.
A few days later, the Republican governor opened the doors to salons, fitness centers and swimming pools. He did not wait to gauge the effect of the restaurant reopening on the virus, as public health officials had suggested. Like many states, South Carolina later experienced
“Every time we have a community crisis, the bookstore is a place for people to vent on,” she said. “We have created a space for people to gather, and talk about their frustrations.”
She has always seen parallels with what is going on in the community and in the bookstore because it energizes people. “People want to share their emotions, people are hurt, and everybody don’t want to go to a bar believe it or not,” she said.
Craddock opened The Dock Bookshop with her sister, Donna, in 2008. The store serves to educate people about Black history and culture through books, in-person events and other programs. It is one of the largest Blackowned bookstores in the Southwest.
The owners not only want to educate their communities, but also encourage people to use what they learn to take action against systemic racism.
The owners of Turning Page Bookshop have said Goose Creek, South Carolina, does not have a large
African American community, but they provide and serve surrounding communities, such as Charleston and Summerville since opening in June 2019.
“From June 2 until about July 25 we received from 75 to 150 orders a day,” said VaLinda Miller, who runs the store with her best friend Arrylee Satterfield.
The biggest sellers
She said some of the biggest sellers included “White Fragility,” “Me and White Supremacy,” and “How to Be an Antiracist.”
Miller said she didn’t want people to just buy the books because they were popular, but to help them understand how the system has made them the way they are.
“I don’t want you to stop learning after reading the book. I want you to take that book and go out and look for something else to listen to and learn from.”
There has to be some action that follows the education, Nervis said, adding that he is not optimistic interest will last much longer. “That’s why we continue to do what we do and ask for the support. Not just our bookstore, but everyone doing work in Black communities.”