Lewis H. Michaux
Lewis H. Michaux | |
|---|---|
| Born | between 1885 and 1895 Newport News, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | 1976 Calvary Hospital, Bronx, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Bookseller, civil rights activist |
| Known for | Founder of African National Memorial Bookstore in Harlem |
Lewis H. Michaux (born between 1885 and 1895 – 1976) was a notable bookseller and civil rights activist based in Harlem. From 1932 until 1974, he operated the African National Memorial Bookstore in Harlem, New York City, which stood as one of the most influential African-American bookstores across the United States.
Biography
Michaux’s birthplace was Newport News, Virginia, with his birth year uncertain; The New York Times records August 4, 1885. He was the son of Henry Michaux and Blanche Pollard and received minimal formal schooling.
Prior to relocating to New York, Michaux held various jobs including pea picker and window washer, and also served as a deacon in his brother Lightfoot Solomon’s church in Philadelphia.
He passed away from cancer at Calvary Hospital in the Bronx, New York, reportedly at the age of 92.
Personal life
Michaux was married to Bettie Kennedy Logan, with whom he had one son. His brother, Solomon Lightfoot Michaux, was an advisor to President Harry S. Truman and developed a housing project consisting of over 500 units aimed at low-income families.
African National Memorial Bookstore
Established by Michaux in 1932 on 7th Avenue, the bookstore moved in 1968 to West 125th Street following construction of the State Harlem office building. It ceased operations in 1974 after conflicts with local authorities regarding its location.
The bookstore left a lasting impact on numerous students, intellectuals, writers, and artists. Michaux referred to it as the "House of Common Sense and the Home of Proper Propaganda." During the Civil Rights Movement, it served as a vital hub offering more than 200,000 volumes centered on African American, African, Caribbean, and South American literature—the nation’s largest collection on these topics.
In contrast to Greenwich Village’s Folk Center, which attracted artists like Bob Dylan amid the folk revival, Michaux’s shop provided a unique environment for Black scholars and readers. It promoted the creation of personal libraries and welcomed visitors who could not afford to buy books to read within the store. This venue played an essential role in nurturing cultural and political consciousness during the early 1960s when folk music and civil rights activism were closely linked.
Politics and religion
From the 1930s through the 1960s, Michaux was engaged in the Black nationalism movement and endorsed Marcus Garvey’s Pan-Africanism. Harlem was home to Garvey's Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League, which was the largest black mass movement of that period.
Known by the title Alagba (Elder) Michaux, he maintained a personal friendship with Malcolm X and participated in the Organization of Afro-American Unity established in 1964.
On religious matters, Michaux displayed a sign in his bookstore proclaiming "Christ is Black" but distanced himself from his brother Lightfoot Solomon’s Christian ties, famously remarking: "The only lord I know, is the landlord."