The Dock Bookshop is embracing challenging dialogues with the launch of a new book series. Co-owners and sisters, Donna and Donya Craddock, have established themselves as vital figures in the literary communities of Fort Worth and Texas. Their independent bookstore, which has been a staple for 18 years, is Black-owned and is located in the Meadowbrook neighborhood.
As part of the North Texas Indie Bookstore Crawl, which spans the month of August and features over 30 bookstores, The Dock is inviting visitors to engage with literature in a unique way. Participants can collect stamps at each store by picking up a passport, with a chance to enter a grand prize raffle at the end of the crawl.
During the crawl, patrons can purchase tote bags starting at $5, which can be filled with used books and other discounted materials. This event is a prelude to the upcoming Trinity River Book Festival, set to celebrate its fifth anniversary on September 12. The festival will host more than 50 authors and offer live music, discussion panels, and family-friendly entertainment. It will be preceded by the Run-to-Read 5K and 1K runs, serving as the bookstore’s primary fundraising effort for the year. These initiatives aim to honor National Literacy Month and amplify multicultural voices that often remain unheard.
Upon entering The Dock, visitors are greeted by art and images of historical Black figures, alongside books authored by writers from various cultural backgrounds. The Dock proudly identifies as a Black-owned establishment, yet the Craddock sisters emphasize that it is not merely a “Black bookstore.” Instead, it serves as a community hub for diverse exchanges of ideas and information, fostering connections between the past and present through storytelling that reflects a multitude of cultural perspectives. The mission is to dismantle divisive mindsets and behaviors that harm community cohesion.
In the wake of the George Floyd protests, which highlighted racial disparities, the sisters actively engaged in essential conversations rather than avoiding them. They have facilitated numerous group discussions and book clubs, the latest of which is the series titled Courageous Conversations. This initiative, led by Fort Worth City Councilmember Deborah Peoples and activist Patrice Jones, will kick off with a discussion on Angela Davis’ “Women, Race and Class.” Following that, the second meeting will focus on “White Fragility” by Robin DiAngelo, addressing the defensive reactions that white individuals often exhibit when confronted with racial inequalities. These meetings aim to cultivate racial resilience and dismantle barriers that hinder meaningful cross-racial dialogue.
In a time when discussions about race can be seen as polarizing, it is crucial for the community to persist in these vital conversations that promise to lead to lasting change.
Courageous Conversations: Women, Race and Class
6:30 PM with City Councilmember Deborah Peoples and activist Patrice Jones at The Dock Bookshop, 6637 Meadowbrook Dr, Fort Worth. Free admission. For more information, call 817-457-5700.
