Why were D.C. residents gathered outside Representative Trent Franks (R-Arizona) office this week? Residents mobilized by DC Vote protested against Franks’ bill that would disallow abortions in D.C. after 20 weeks, and the fact that he didn’t allow Delegate Norton to speak at the hearing. If Franks wants to ignore our Home Rule and stamp Arizona politics on D.C. residents then why shouldn’t we ask him to address other constituent concerns, like metro repairs and broken street lights?

On the Rachel Maddow Show, Del. Norton called Franks’ bill a “straight-out cowardly case of bullying.” She said:

Here you have a bill that affects only my district, no other districts in the United States, which signals out to the residents of the District of Columbia and says, ‘You women will not be subject to the constitutional mandate of Roe versus Wade. You alone can have an abortion only until 20 weeks. By the way, don’t talk to us about how this violates the 14th Amendment as well, which treats you differently from women in other states. Not only are we going to try to impose that on you, but we don’t want to hear from the only voice you have in the house, you have no voice in the senate; we shut her up, so we don’t hear from D.C. residents at all.

This issue reminds Washingtonians of the ways in which the federal has been meddling with our affairs for years. For instance, passing same-sex marriage legislation was a great victory but it only marked the beginning of a longer fight we are reminded of today.  The District’s status as a non-state means that opponents of marriage equality can wait for a more friendly Congress to prohibit same-sex marriage from taking place. Legislation already in place, including rights to have a safe abortion, that is threatened allows us the opportunity to defend and demand something finally be done about an injustice –  taxation without representation.

Norton said to Maddow: “[L]et me tell you something about us, we know how to fight back.”

The Making of Busboys and Poets

A Seat at the Table: The Making of Busboys and Poets

We’re proud to announce A Seat at the Table: The Making of Busboys and Poets, the new memoir from our CEO and Founder, which reveals the vision, challenges, and triumphs behind opening Busboys and Poets. Packed with misadventures, unexpected triumphs, and insights on race, business and politics, Andy Shallal’s memoir takes us on a “How I Built … Continued

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For Langston Hughes on His 123 Birthday

Speech given on February 1, 2024 in Havana, Cuba In 1927 Langston Hughes walked into a Cuba amid an emerging community of artists, intellectuals, and radicals.  He saw a “sunrise in a new land [– a day – in his words]sic – full of brownskin surprises, and hitherto unknown contacts in a world of color.”  … Continued

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Palestine Week 2024

January 18, 2024 – January 25, 2024 In keeping with our ongoing mission of uplifting racial and cultural connections, Busboys and Poets is hosting Palestine Week (January 18 through January 25, 2024). This week-long series of events will offer a diverse range of programming featuring Palestinian food, music, dance, poetry, discussions, and other enriching events. … Continued

Fusterlandia

8. Fusterlandia

Reflections from the Busboys and Poets Travel Tribe’s Cultural Exchange trip to Cuba (July 6-13, 2022) By Andy Shallal (@andyshallal CEO/Founder, Busboys and Poets) Jose Fuster aka the Picasso/Gaudi of Havana is a bundle of energy. At 70 something he is charming. Engaging. Full of life. And a brilliant artist and entrepreneur. He is the founder … Continued

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Books by Black Authors

Celebrate Black Lives and Black History with superb books written by Black authors. #blackbooksmatter Select one or many from recommended lists of multiple genres handpicked by Busboys booksellers, in store or online. l

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What We Read This Month (July)

Looking for your next good read? Well you’re in luck…Busboys and Poets Books is full of busy little readers! Ellie, Bookstore Supervisor at 5th and K: It’s been a rough month for my attention span, so out of all of the books I started, I finished only two – Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain and The … Continued