No Crystal Stair: a documentary novel of the life and work of Lewis Michaux Harlem Bookseller / Vaunda Micheaux Nelson / 168 pages

This is a teen book that shares the story of people, a time, and a place in our recent past.  Lewis Michaux was born in about 1895 in a family of 12 children.  In 1939 through grit and determination and passion he established a book store in Harlem with books by and about Black Americans.  He began with $100 and 5 books which he sold from a wheelbarrow and at the time of his death in 1976, had over 200,000 books.  "Professor" Michaux mentored Malcolm X, Nikki Giovanni, and other Civil Rights leaders.  They all visited his store and read the books that helped them to shape their vision.  Lewis firmly believed that Black Americans could not succeed because they didn't know their past and where they were from and believed his bookstore would serve as the foundation for progress.  It was a gathering place for discussion.  The book which was written by Lewis' great niece is thoroughly researched and includes many notes, photos, and bibliography.  It's the story of one man who felt strongly about what needed to be done and spent his entire life doing it and succeeded in making a difference.