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Urban Reads bookstore, owned by Tia Hamilton, is facing racial attacks due to her magazine exposing prison corruption and wrongful convictions. As threats escalate, members of the Divine Nine and the local community step in to support and protect the store, reinforcing its role as a hub for resistance and justice.
By Andrea Stevens
AFRO Staff Writer
astevens@afro.com
Urban Reads, a bookstore owned by Tia Hamilton, has come under attack from racists across the country.
Over the past two weeks, the bookstore and its employees have been harassed and threatened, prompting calls for Maryland officials to intervene on behalf of the business.
“All of this is because of my magazine, “The State vs. Us Magazine,” which highlights high-profile cases and wrongful convictions,” Hamilton said, in an interview with the AFRO. “I talk about the corruption that goes on in prison, [with the] police and government.”
Hamilton, a Baltimore native, believes she has been subjected to harassment because her work sheds light on issues some would prefer to remain hidden. While she is accustomed to threats, she said the situation has escalated, with people driving by her store and sending disturbing racial images via email.
“I helped bring home nine lives, and it’s archived in the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem, New York, and at Johns Hopkins University,” she said. “They just don’t like what I do, and I always get threats, but it’s never been to this magnitude. It’s an influx— DMs (direct messages), calls to me and the store, even emails to my assistant. It’s intimidation—somebody sent me a picture of a noose.”
The harassment is coming from across the country, including from Little Rock, Ark., Florida; and Louisiana. As the threats have escalated, community members have stepped in to support and protect the store and its employees.
Will Hug, a college professor, visited the bookstore in a show of solidarity as an ally to the Black community.
“I’ve had a lifetime of witnessing people stand up as allies,” Hug said. “I’ve been educated as an anti-racist, and one thing White folks have to do is listen to people of color– particularly African Americans– when they are telling us what they need.”
“I’ve gotten to know Ms. Hamilton over the years. I understand how important her work is and what she does. And I can understand how it would be a lightning rod for white supremacists and racists,” Hug said.
Armando Evangelista, a criminal justice professor and a member of the Psi Omega Chapter of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, called the situation troubling.
“It’s unfortunate that in 2025 we still have to deal with issues as blatant as hate crimes, or the attempt of hate crimes,” Evangelista said. He attributed the current racial climate to politics, saying it emboldens people to act in hateful ways.
Evangelista was joined by two other brothers of his fraternity who also came out to show their support. Andre Fulton, a master’s-level social worker and graduate of Morgan State University, emphasized the role of Black men in protecting their communities.
“I feel that it’s important for us, as men of our community and culture, to support each other– especially Black women, when they are feeling unsafe in their own homes and businesses,” Fulton said.
Despite the threats, Hamilton remains resolute in her mission.
The outpouring of support from the community has reinforced the importance of her work, proving that she is not alone in the fight for justice. As local advocates and allies stand by her side, Urban Reads continues to be more than just a bookstore—it is a beacon of resistance, education and empowerment in the face of adversity.
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