The Business

Kenola’s Bookbag is a book subscription box that features Black authors and Black businesses.  We recognized the need to amplify the voices of Black people in a time when our voices seemed most needed but most silenced.  We wanted to share our love of  reading, shopping and giving in a way that allowed others to appreciate literature from Black voices, shop merchandise from Black businesses and give to organizations that were focused on our communities. 

 

Kenola’s Bookbag was born out of pandemic, protest, passion and purpose.

The People Behind the Business

 

Adeola

 

I consider myself an educator that loves to learn.  I love books - especially those written by authors from Africa and the African Diaspora. Representation in literature has always mattered to me as an immigrant and a New Yorker: a Brooklyner to be exact. Ever since the day my mom took me to get my own library card I became an avid reader.  That laminated plastic card helped to transform and inform my world. I studied English and Africana Studies at New York University, got my Master’s in School Counseling from Brooklyn College and a PhD in Urban Education from the CUNY Graduate Center.  A New Yorker to the core. Kenola’s Bookbag is allowing me the opportunity to connect again not only with books but also a community of readers and people that are committed to supporting our communities.  Thank you for joining the Kenola’s Bookbag community.

 

Kendra

Born and raised in Brooklyn with a parent from the Dirty South and one from the West Indies I consider myself to be a nice cultural mix! LOL  As a high school teacher and co-founder of Kenola's Bookbag, I have a passion for uplifting my community both in my professional life and my personal life.  I studied Marketing at Howard University, have a MST from Pace University and a SBL Certificate from The College of Saint Rose.  I am proud to be a part of Kenola's Kinfolk and hope that you will become a part too. I want us to read together, learn together and support each other.  Welcome!!

Oh… btw, we are cousins so this is a family business!