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Walmart Book Section: Separate Black, African-American Section

by NowPublic Staff | September 2, 2010 at 10:52 am

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Walmart "Black Section": Walmart Has Separate African-American Book Section

The never ending debate about race in America has new twist on the notion of separate but equal. Some Walmart stores in Ohio have a separate "black section" in its books area, reports the Akron Beacon Journal.

At the Walmart in Montrose, Storm Warning, by hugely popular white pastor Billy Graham, can be found in the religion section. But Life Overflowing, by hugely popular black pastor T.D. Jakes, is in the black section, along with Dungy and Obama and Sister Souljah and Adrienne Byrd and all those other people whom Walmart believes are pretty much the same.

The positioning of books within the black shelves would be laughable if it weren't such a sorry commentary on Walmart's thought process — or lack thereof. For instance, directly beneath a faith book by gospel artist Kirk Franklin is a steamy novel called The Hot Box, whose back cover promises ''fiery titillation.''

Indeed, as well all know most book sections are generally divided by genre, fiction, non-fiction, history, poetry, politics. That Walmart would decide to create a separate section of African-American, or Black is the Akron Beacon Journal claims is down right bizarre. Indeed, Maya Angelou's poetry should sit along side the poetry of Walt Whitman.

The novels of James Baldwin should share the same shelf space as the novels of Richard Ford.

That Walmart would do have a separate Black Section for its books is no accident. As the article explains it likely comes down to money and marketing.