By Shandra Martinez
Jacqueline Galloway-Blake’s pioneering online Metro Detroit bookstore champions diversity, literacy, and representation in education.
Jacqueline Galloway-Blake remembers her frustration when she did an informal survey of New York City’s bookstores in the 1970s and could not find books with Black children as the main characters.
“Every now and then, you’d find a Black child in the background, part of a group,” she said. “But a story where they were the central figure? That was almost impossible.”
A decade later, in the 1980s, she recalls crawling on her knees in the aisles of the children’s section of a public library and finding Black children as central characters. This was after she began homeschooling her children and wanted books that reflected their identity. To her relief, she finally found books where African American children were the heroes of their own stories.
“It was still disheartening to find so few books,” Galloway-Blake said. “When I did come across one, it was like finding a hidden treasure.”
From these experiences, Galloway-Blake recognized a systemic gap that left many parents and educators searching futilely for books that reflected their communities. Fueled by this awareness, she founded Brown Sugar & Spice Books out of her Metro Detroit home to ensure those “hidden treasures” were no longer rare but accessible to everyone. Her busiest times of year include January, around Martin Luther King Jr. Day; February, for Black History Month; and March, during Reading Month, when she introduces diverse literature to new audiences.
“I never wanted another parent or teacher to feel the frustration I felt that day,” she said. “Every child deserves to see themselves as the hero of a story, not just in the background.”
Jacqueline Galloway-
Blake with civil rights icon John Lewis.
Seeing a Void
As a homeschooling mother, Galloway-Blake found signs of progress in public libraries. She attributed this to the Civil Rights and Black Power movements, which she believed sparked change in the publishing industry. Diverse books were slowly becoming more available.
“There was a revolution in the publishing industry,” she said. “It was wonderful to see books celebrating Black culture and voices, but many parents and educators didn’t know they existed.”
Determined to bridge this gap, Galloway-Blake launched Brown Sugar & Spice Books in 1990 from her home in Romulus, Michigan. Using a typewriter, she created a simple mail-order catalog listing her favorite books and their descriptions.
“I wanted to let others know these stories were out there,” she said. “And I wanted to make them accessible to families and schools.”
The name of her business was carefully chosen to reflect her mission. Inspired by the nursery rhyme “Sugar and spice and everything nice,” Galloway-Blake envisioned a name that celebrated diversity and inclusivity.
“Girls represented the ‘sugar,’ boys the ‘spice,’ and the ‘brown’ highlighted our focus on African American and diverse stories,” she said. “The name reflects the sweetness and vibrancy of our culture while celebrating the joy of representation.”
Making Inroads
The mission resonated with educators and parents alike. Galloway-Blake began collaborating with schools to bring diverse books into classrooms. She remembers a social studies director from a suburban Detroit school district asking her to select books aligned with their curriculum. She meticulously matched books to topics, ensuring African American history and contributions were authentically represented.
“That project resulted in thousands of books being embedded into classrooms, making a lasting impact on students,” she said.
Her work wasn’t limited to K-12 schools. Galloway-Blake also partnered with colleges, helping institutions like Andrews University in Berrien Springs create children’s sections filled with diverse titles in their libraries.
“I’ve always believed that children of all ages and backgrounds benefit from seeing authentic portrayals of diverse people in the books they read,” she said.
As her business grew, Galloway-Blake faced challenges managing logistics and scaling operations. She found key support in the Michigan Retailers Association (MRA).
“MRA provided not just the technology but also incredible support, especially when it came to identifying and avoiding scams,” she said.
In one incident involving a suspicious overseas order, MRA verified that the credit card being used was stolen.
“That saved me from what could have been a big loss,” she said. “Their guidance has been invaluable for a small business like mine.”
Building Skills
Jacqueline Galloway-Blake interviews Stedman Graham.
Brown Sugar & Spice Books was very much a family effort. Galloway-Blake’s three children played integral roles in the business, helping with inventory, managing administrative tasks, and assisting at book fairs. She even gave them formal titles like inventory clerk and administrative assistant, fostering a sense of responsibility.
“They still joke about the hours they spent working for Brown Sugar & Spice,” she said. “But I know those experiences taught them the value of dedication and perseverance.”
Her children have since gone on to build successful careers. Her son is an engineer, one daughter is a physician, and another is earning a doctorate in nursing.
Faith has always been central to Galloway-Blake’s journey. She credited God with guiding her path and opening doors she never anticipated.
“He placed me in rooms I never thought I’d be in and connected me with people who helped further the mission,” she said.
In the 2000s, she began branching out from selling books to leading workshops and speaking engagements. Initially, she suggested ways for teachers to integrate books into their curriculum. But then she felt a spiritual nudge: You do it.
That inspiration led her to develop workshops, assembly programs, and professional development sessions that have since impacted educators and students across the nation.
Long before e-commerce became mainstream, Galloway-Blake positioned Brown Sugar & Spice Books as a pioneer by embracing online retail. That allowed her to connect with schools and libraries nationwide.
Over the years, Galloway-Blake expanded her offerings to include a radio show, “Save Our Black Boys,” workshops for educators, and professional development programs. Each initiative was a natural extension of her mission to inspire literacy and celebrate diversity.
“Our mission hasn’t changed,” she said. “It’s about bringing joy and representation to children through books. Knowing I’ve played a part in that keeps me going.”
