Books N Bros

In a reversal, Georgia now says districts can use state funding to teach AP African American studies classes!!

Wow. 😞

“Georgia’s school superintendent declined to adopt the course [African American Studies] for the state’s public schools. That means no state funding will be provided to underwrite the cost of the class, which led Gwinnett County Public Schools to notify students Monday that AP African American Studies will not be offered and they will have to adjust their schedules.” This just in from the 🗞️

Mom here! Bear with me, as someone leaves for college in a little over 30 days! 🥹 I’ll be probably embarrassing him over the next 30 days as we prep for this transition. 🏫

Hint: He will be on the East Coast 🙏🏾 (if you know, don’t spoil it 😂)

We will share soon! Until then, if you want to support his dorm room needs — take advantage of Prime Day today! Love y’all. 🥰

Sidney’s Send Off 📦 - Amazon Gift List (LINK ALSO IN BIO) - https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/1LGY7JGQ456DH

Cancelling our account wasn’t on my bingo card at all. We’ve used them for years not knowing that they really are so headstrong, unprofessional and lack taste that they’d choose to use customer data to push a political agenda.

We’re not here to tell one who to vote for but this is not what we signed up for. And we aren’t the only ones outraged.

P. S. If you have a Sticker Mule account and want them to remove your data, email the sales team at [email protected] Feel free to say Books N Bros sent you. 😎

Just as much as we’ve promoted them and brought them dollars, especially during a time when their sales team told me directly that they were struggling financially, I will also use my voice to advocate for better service.

But in all, explore the businesses mentioned. I’m excited to support printing companies that deserved our dollars a long time ago.

As today we celebrate and honor our ancestors, I wanted to bring a very beautiful piece to light. Sidney’s gift of storytelling and writing has progressed even in the last year and this piece moved me — especially as his mother. This is a piece published in ‘s “Knight Gallery”

Being Black in America is no easy feat. While we have come very far as a people and even get to celebrate today as a federal holiday, our Black boys and men still have vastly weighted reality.

Sidney, I’m so proud to watch the young man you’ve grown up to be. I’ve read this piece written by you several times and even when you’re old and grey, I’ll always be here as a guiding light.

Who remembers this?! Good times! Such a great opportunity for the summer! 📚☀️🍕

https://www.bookitprogram.com

What’s Sidney been up to? After the last day of school, he was presented with an opportunity to not only earn extra income but experience working at Top Golf!⛳️

He was initially hired for Guest Services! He said that they were so impressed with his leadership skills and his resume even as a teen entrepreneur. But shortly after training, he was offered a promotion as a Golf Coach for kids! In an economy where businesses are dissolving and entrepreneurs are struggling to earn extra income, I’m grateful that the team recognizes him as an asset and not a threat. Now it’s time for mom to learn some golf 😆

P. S. This is not an end to Books N Bros, I’m just very adamant about him experiencing life on his terms especially as a young man. 🫶🏽

Thank you for a beautiful graduation celebratory breakfast for !! We had an amazing time and will definitely be back!! 🥂

*more pics to come 🫶🏽

I know it’s late but WE HAVE A GRADUATE!!! 🥹💙🎓🥳👏🏾 Congratulations kid!!! You did it! 🎊

More pictures to come. We’re partying hard tomorrow! You deserve it all! 🫶🏽

Graduation is today! In 2 hours at 7:30pm ET (6:30 for our St. Louis family!) paceacademy.org/graduation 💙🎓

Happy Mother’s Day to the real-life Wonder Woman who raised me. I am grateful to have been raised by such a hardworking, talented, and beautiful person. Throughout my life, you always instilled in me the power of not giving up. To this day, I finish anything that I start.

During my first year at a new school, I made the impulsive decision to play football, a sport I had no experience in. Unfortunately, after a few summer practices of not taking care of my body, I was hospitalized for being diagnosed with a moderate case of rhabdomyolysis. Many of my teammates, who are now my brothers, didn’t expect me to come back. But the next practice, I was there and happy to be back. Every time I look back, I realize it was the best decision I ever made. The memories, brotherhood, and love for something I had only just experienced are something I wouldn’t trade the world for. If it weren’t for your work ethic, passion, and determination, my life would be different. And this is just one of many instances where it has paid off.

I am so proud of you, . You have truly changed both of our lives because we could have easily become another statistic. The reason we aren’t is because of you, and I want you to never forget how amazing you are, ma. Happy Mother’s Day!

- The (first) kid

It’s so crazy to think Books N Bros was started by us when Sidney was just 10 years old! 🤯 We’ve been able to serve so many families, near and far and while we don’t have capacity for meetups at this time, we still have the love to serve.

Bros and families of former bros, please email us your updates! We want to see an updated photo of you, know where you’re in school now, what’s next for you, and how has Books N Bros impacted your relationship with literacy? And of course if you have a college/next-step registry, send us the link!

💪🏾

It’s that time of year! We’re in the thick of seeking scholarship and internship opportunities! 😳 If you have or see anything that Sidney qualifies for, please let us know!

Kudos to all of the right now! 🙏🏾

We’re almost at the finish line! 🎓

Classic Man — Senior Prom ‘24 🤵🏾‍♂️😎

We’d like for you to meet Aiden M. from Gateway Elementary in St. Louis, MO! 🤩 Aiden surprised us by making the choice to dress up as Sidney for Black History Month!!! Wow. We are truly honored. 🥹

Thank you Aiden for showing up, for spreading the word about Books N Bros but most importantly sharing the truth that Black boys love reading! Please keep it up and happy Black history month!! ✊🏾‼️

We send a special thank you to your teacher Mrs. Riddle for utilizing Sidney’s book as a tool in the classroom and a source of inspiration for the students! 🫶🏽

Thank you to for inviting me as a guest moderator yesterday for the 2024 Black History Month Youth Day! 🏀 It was inspiring to be able to interview about her book ‘We Dream a World’ and learn more about how she is walking in her family’s legacy.

This is Black History ✊🏾

Thank you to LaTisha & Marsau from for their extra suppprt during the Black Business Bus Tour in Atlanta today! Today’s win was a challenge to power through but God gets us through and to everytime.
🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

Book club meetings may have slowed down to focus on Sidney’s senior year but the mission is still growing! As a Black-owned business, Books N Bros strives to create a unique and inclusive experience for young Black boys. One long-term print company we swear by is Sticker Mule! Read more!

Enhancing the Books N Bros Experience with Sticker Mule's Custom Products — Books N Bros ® Estimated Read Time: 5 minutes (but don’t feel a need to rush) As a Black-owned business, Books N Bros strives to create a unique and inclusive experience for young Black boys. One long-term print company we swear by is Sticker Mule!

About this weekend 😎
It was great to meet fellow Hero (of the Marvel’s Hero Project), with !

We’ve collaborated so much virtually that it doesn’t feel like we’re just now meeting in person. But we had a good time and Jahkil connected us with some other people doing great things.

Only up from here 💪🏾

Sidney’s mom here! 👋🏾 While on the surface, we’ve built Books N Bros to empower boys to read while amplifying African American stories; the biggest impact for us is empowering young Black men.

Yesterday, I had the great opportunity to speak with the fellows of and guide them in the right direction for their careers. The Literacy Lab is doing incredible work introducing Black men to early childhood education while also fostering great community!

While we talked about the importance of a resume, options regarding the layout, the do’s and donts — we also empowered one another. Building a resume can uplift hiccups in the past; insecurities — but it was beautiful to talk through that and come out on top.

Thank you to and for having me. It was cool to share that he actually been revising resumes since I was only 16 years old! Shoutout to my mom for teaching me how AND showing me how to turn it into a side hustle. While I don’t have capacity for individual resume revamps today, I always try to make time for group sessions — especially to benefit the next generation.

Happy Black History Month 🫶🏽

Happy 1st day of Black History month! We’re always proud to honor past, current and future leaders, activists, change agents and those who pave the way in Black culture. 💪🏾✊🏾❤️🖤💚

We love this! 💪🏾📚

This superstar reader just completed 1,000 books before Kindergarten! If your child hasn’t started, it’s not too late to sign them up for our 1,000 books before Kindergarten program. Head over to slpl.org/1kbooks today!

“I just want you to know how proud I am of you Sidney Keys. A lot of people think that young black boys don’t read. But you obviously know differently,” - Oprah Winfrey ☺️

Happy birthday Oprah!!! We will never forget your support!

This Sunday in GA! 📚 Support and The Alpha Gamma Chapter of Gamma Phi Delta Sorority, Inc. at the “Books for Brown Boys” drive THIS SUNDAY! They need donations for books written for Black & Brown boys. For more info, visit listeningtreebooks.com 🌳✊🏾📚

Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and his impact today. ✊🏾

Amazing day serving with and our family today at Ebenezer Baptist Church!

We joined our LIIV church family by packing bags for the homeless and personally handed them out in the city of Atlanta.

Getting out in the community is always a great way to connect. Grateful to be apart. 🙏🏾

Merry Christmas from our family to yours! 🫶🏽🎁🎄

Grateful. Please spend today being as gracious to yourselves as possible. 🙏🏾

Happy Halloween 🎃 from our family to yours! Be safe today!

TODAY! Bring the kids and the teens and just yourselves. 👻