Vic Mensa has come to the rescue of a Black-woman-owned business in his hometown of Chicago, IL.
On March 13, 2024, the rapper made a stop by Da Book Joint. Self-described as “Your African American book source,” the bookstore has been in operation since 2007,” according to its website.
“We are particularly interested in books targeted at the youth,” the website wrote. “We are looking to play our part in the development of the youth of the country, and we do so by providing a healthy selection of books and titles for them to select from.”
To help keep Da Book Joint’s doors open, Vic Mensa presented the bookstore with a check for $7,200.
“We are thankful,” Da Book Joint shared in an Instagram post. “We are honored. We are grateful. We are truly living a dream right now. Thank you so much to @vicmensa and his entire @93boyz team for blessing us today by covering our rent for an entire year.”
It continued, “Thank you for seeing our mission and helping us stand in our purpose. You are that breathe of fresh air we needed. His generosity ensures our doors stay open for all book lovers and dreamers. This act of kindness touches our hearts deeply and reaffirms the power of community and support.”
In addition to selling books, Da Book Joint hosts an annual book fair with free books and school supplies as well as additional events such as the Chicago chapter of the NoName Book Club.
Vic Mensa’s act of kindness to Da Book Joint is an extension of his company’s mission of providing access to literature. As previously reported by AFROTECH, the first program that 93 Boyz — an equity-focused cannabis company — launched was Books Before Bars to help send books to Illinois prisons.
“The goal of Books Before Bars is to bring liberation and freedom to people who are incarcerated through literature because I believe strongly that when you change your inner reality, you begin to influence your external reality,” Mensa told AFROTECH™ at the time.
