Underground Books: Home
David Fontaine “The Black Financial Literacy and Wealth Building Bible”
Discussion and Book Signing
Black Americans have achieved and thrived through Slavery, Jim Crow and benign neglect. The Wealth Building Opportunity Gap presents another major challenge for Black Americans. We realize that we cannot rely on anyone but ourselves to conquer this challenge. We cannot expect those that grow wealthy from our condition to provide a solutions to our problems. This book lays out the mindset, financial knowledge and skills Black Americans must acquire to build long lasting wealth.
Children’s Storytime
Come join us on the last Saturday of each month from 12-1pm for Children’s Story time at Underground Books (2814 35th St.).
The free event is catered to children ages 3-10 and includes a book reading and an organized arts and crafts project. Kids also receive a free book!
Parents are welcome to attend and participate with their children.
Please visit our upcoming events section for future dates, or contact the bookstore for more information.
(916) 737-3333
Kiyomi Hall “Live Bold, Live Forgiving”
Discussion and Book Signing
Join us for this engaging discussion and book signing with author Kiyomi Hall on September 28!
Medical Speaker Series
Presented by St. HOPE and Dr. Keith Hopkins
Join local medical experts during this free community speaker series to discuss and answer questions about African-American health topics including:
Hypertension
Diabetes
Cancer Screening
Health Insurance
Vaccinations
And more!
Leon Scroggins “Power of a Choice”
Discussion and Book Signing
If someone told you that the difference between the life you are currently living and the life you want to live was just one choice away, how would you respond? What if you knew that just one decision right now could determine your ability to secure the bag? The truth is, choices are powerful. Choices are tools of change, and when used properly, amazing things are bound to happen. In this book, Leon Scoggins exposes millennials to the benefits of making the right choices in life.
The Truth About Men
by Devon Franklin
New York Times bestselling author and Hollywood producer
DeVon Franklin speaks out frankly and openly about why men behave
the way they do and what everyone—men and women alike—need to
know about it.
We hear it all the time. Men cheat. Men love power. Men love sex.
Men are greedy. Men are dogs. But is this the truth about
men?
Lebron Inc.: The Making of a Billion Dollar Athlete
By Brian Windhorst
From the New York Times bestselling author of Return of the King comes the story of LeBron James’s incredible transformation from basketball star to sports and business mogul.
With eight straight trips to the NBA Finals, LeBron James has
proven himself one of the greatest basketball players of all
time. And like Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan before him,
LeBron has also become a global brand and businessman who has
altered the way professional athletes think about their value,
maximize their leverage, and use their voice.
Everyday Millionaires
By Chris Hogan
Everywhere we turn, we hear negative financial news—that the American Dream is dead or that the little man can’t get ahead. Our culture feeds us the lie that it’s impossible to become a millionaire in America today, but it’s time you heard the truth.
The Source of Self-Regard
By Toni Morrison
The Source of Self-Regard: Selected Essays, Speeches, and Meditations
On the Come Up
By Angie Thomas
Sixteen-year-old Bri wants to be one of the greatest rappers of
all time. Or at least win her first battle. As the daughter of an
underground hip hop legend who died right before he hit big,
Bri’s got massive shoes to fill. But it’s hard to get your come
up when you’re labeled a hoodlum at school and your fridge at
home is empty after your mom loses her job. So Bri pours her
anger and frustration into her first song, which goes viral…for
all the wrong reasons.
The Truths We Hold: An American Journey
By Kamala Harris
From one of America’s most inspiring political leaders, a book
about the core truths that unite us, and the long struggle to
discern what those truths are and how best to act upon them, in
her own life and across the life of our country.
Never Shut Up: The Life, Opinions, and Unexpected Adventures of an NFL Outlier
By Marcellus Wiley
Ex-NFL player, gentleman scholar, and Fox Sports personality
Marcellus Wiley sucks you into a world of inner-city violence,
Ivy League intrigue, and pro-football escapades that’s one part
touching, one part hilarious, and all parts impossible to put
down.
Sweet Home Cafe
A Celebration of African American Cooking
A celebration of African American cooking with 109 recipes from the National Museum of African American History and Culture’s Sweet Home Café
For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Politics
by Donna Brazile, Yolana Caraway, Leah Daughtry and Minyon Moore
The four most powerful African-American women in politics share the story of their friendship and how it has changed politics in America.
Last Stop on Market Street
by Matt de la Peña (Author), Christian Robinson (Illustrator)
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
Winner of the 2016 Newbery Medal
A 2016 Caldecott Honor Book
A 2016 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book
A New York Times Book Review Notable Children’s Book of
2015
A Wall Street Journal Best Children’s Book of 2015
Carmela Full of Wishes
by Matt de la Peña (Author), Christian Robinson (Illustrator)
An Instant New York Times Bestseller!
In their first collaboration since the Newbery Medal- and
Caldecott Honor-winning Last Stop on Market Street, Matt de
la Peña and Christian Robinson deliver a poignant and timely new
picture book that’s sure to be an instant classic.
Under Fire
by April Ryan
Veteran White House reporter April Ryan thought she had seen
everything in her two decades as a White House correspondent. And
then came the Trump administration.
In Under Fire, Ryan takes us inside the confusion and chaos
of the Trump White House to understand how she and other
reporters adjusted to the new normal. She takes us inside the
policy debates, the revolving door of personnel appointments, and
what it is like when she, as a reporter asking difficult
questions, finds herself in the spotlight, becoming part of the
story.
An American Marriage
By Tayari Jones
THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!
OPRAH’S BOOK CLUB 2018 SELECTION
LONGLISTED FOR THE 2018 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FOR FICTION
“A moving portrayal of the effects of a wrongful conviction on a
young African-American couple.” —Barack Obama
“Haunting . . . Beautifully written.” —The New York Times Book
Review
“Brilliant and heartbreaking . . . Unforgettable.” —USA Today
“A tense and timely love story . . . Packed with brave questions
about race and class.” —People
The Sun Does Shine
By Anthony Ray Hinton
The Instant New York Times Bestseller
A powerful, revealing story of hope, love, justice, and the power
of reading by a man who spent thirty years on death row for a
crime he didn’t commit.
“An amazing and heartwarming story, it restores our faith in the
inherent goodness of humanity.”
– Archbishop Desmond Tutu
My Love Story
By Tina Turner
Tina Turner—the long-reigning queen of rock & roll and living
legend—sets the record straight about her illustrious career and
complicated personal life in this eye-opening and compelling
memoir.
From her early years in Nutbush, Tennessee to her rise to fame
alongside Ike Turner to her phenomenal success in the 1980s and
beyond, Tina candidly examines her personal history, from her
darkest hours to her happiest moments and everything in
between.
Born a Crime
By Trevor Noah
Trevor Noah’s unlikely path from apartheid South Africa to the desk of The Daily Show began with a criminal act: his birth. Trevor was born to a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother at a time when such a union was punishable by five years in prison. Living proof of his parents’ indiscretion, Trevor was kept mostly indoors for the earliest years of his life, bound by the extreme and often absurd measures his mother took to hide him from a government that could, at any moment, steal him away.
Barracoon: The Story of the Last Black Cargo”
By Zora Neale Hurston
A major literary event: a never-before-published work from the author of the American classic, Their Eyes Were Watching God which brilliantly illuminates the horror and injustices of slavery as it tells the true story of the last known survivor of the Atlantic slave trade — illegally smuggled from Africa on the last ”Black Cargo” ship to arrive in the United States. In 1927, Zora Neale Hurston went to Plateau, Alabama, to interview ninety-five-year-old Cudjo Lewis.
The Hate U Give
Angie Thomas
Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.
John Woman
By Walter Mosley
A convention-defying novel by bestselling writer Walter Mosley, John Woman recounts the transformation of an unassuming boy named Cornelius Jones into John Woman, an unconventional history professor―while the legacy of a hideous crime lurks in the shadows.
Sacramento’s Oak Park transformed: One organization and its $89 million footprint
Sac Bee Article by David Caraccio
Long-time Oak Park resident and activist Robbin Ware remembers that when he moved to the neighborhood, “there wasn’t a damn thing.”
“There wasn’t nothing here but gangs, drugs, drugs being sold,” said Ware, 82.
Nearly 20 years later, Oak Park has become a hotbed of investment and development. One organization in particular has been busy — St. Hope.
St. Hope turns 30 and self-sustaining
July 8, 2019
One week ago today, at 4 p.m., to be exact, former Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson and his fellow dreamers quietly celebrated the 30th anniversary of the founding of St. Hope — which started as a summer program in a portable classroom for 12 African-American boys but became an economic and education turbo engine for what had been the historically neglected Oak Park.
As it Celebrates its 30 th Year, New Study Shows St. HOPE has Contributed More Than $400 Million to Local Economy
Infographic: "St. HOPE Making Its Mark on Oak Park & Sacramento"
Report: The Economic Impact of St. HOPE on the Greater Sacramento Area and the Oak Park Area
Report: "Quality of Life" in Oak Park Area with St. HOPE's Involvement in the Area
Report: The 30-Year Economic Impact of St. HOPE on the Greater Sacramento Area and the Oak Park Area
96% of Sac High Seniors Accepted to Four-Year Universities!
The Class of 2019 will be remembered as one of our most cohesive classes ever to walk through Sac High’s doors. The students from the Class of 2019 are as close as a true family who supported each other throughout the ups and downs of high school, ultimately emerging as graduates. Ninety-six percent of the seniors have been accepted to four-year universities across the nation, including 38 Historically Black Colleges and Universities, 21 California State University campuses, all nine of the University of California campuses, and 26 private and out of state colleges and universitie
PS7 Shows Off for First Art and Music Showcase
PS7 Elementary is always dedicated to bringing as many experiences to our scholars as possible. This year, we knew we wanted to increase the number of electives scholars had the opportunity to participate in while at the elementary school, so we added two — art and music. Throughout the year our scholars learned the various elements of art and music enabling them to present their first ever art and music production, “It’s A Creative World.”
6th Annual Sacramento Black Book Fair Celebration
The Sacramento Black Book Fair kicked off its 6th Annual event earlier this month in Oak Park and brought together African American authors and artists from all over to the community. This highly anticipated h two-day event included a panel discussion among featured authors, book signings, cultural and food vendors, children’s activities, poetry readings, art displays, and so much more.
A New Home for St. HOPE
As St. HOPE approaches its 30th anniversary serving the Oak Park Community, we can reflect back on the many locations we have called home. Many people still recall the original St. HOPE Academy after school building on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, which is now home to the SETA preschool. Others may remember the more corporate office space on 34th Street and 3rd avenue, which has since been completely remodeled and is now home to our friends at Valley Vision.
PS7 envisions their future selves!
PS7 Elementary hosted its first ever Career Day on Friday, April 19th! Our students dressed up as their future selves – teachers, pilots, music artists, athletes and more – and were able to explore and hear from professionals in and around the Oak Park community. As part of the learning experience, students had the opportunity to see an actual human brain thanks to researchers from UC Davis; they put in some sweat with a personal trainer; and, listened to each other’s heartbeats with a stethoscope like a pediatric nurse.
Student Diaries: The Impact of Notre Dame
Before winning the Transforming Youth through Travel scholarship by Context Travel, the only country outside of America I had visited was my parents’ homeland, Mexico. Paris is not what the movies or people make it seem to be, and it is certainly very different from both America and Mexico. My recent trip to Paris was amazing and life changing because I learned so much about the city’s history.
2019 Oak Park Block Party and Lottery Recap!
St. HOPE Public Schools recently celebrated its annual Admissions Lottery along with its first ever Oak Park Block Party held at the newly completed Esther’s Park. The Oak Park community gathered for a day of family-friendly fun, food trucks, and a live DJ. Incoming PS7 and Sacramento Charter High School scholars and families also had an opportunity to meet the St. HOPE staff during the Admissions Lottery.
Grand Opening of Esther’s Park
Last month St. HOPE officially launched its newest development, Esther’s Park! The park, located at 3408 Third Avenue, was created after the unfortunate fall of the historic Esther’s Bakery and will serve as an event space for hosting community gatherings. It is home to a beautiful mural done by Sacramento Charter High School alumni, Aizik Brown, which was part of last year’s Sacramento’s Wide Open Wall event.
2019 Best of Sac High
This year marks the 15th year anniversary of The Best of Sac High Student Art Exhibition and we are proud to celebrate it with students, their families and the entire St. HOPE team. Throughout the years we have endeavored to keep this wonderful tradition alive, showcasing the outstanding talents our students possess. We once again present to you the best artistic work from the some of our most expressive students at Sacramento High School.
College Visits Award Real-Life College Experience
Each year, Sac High prides itself in exposing ALL students to college life, and this year was no exception. In December, students were able to select their annual college trip to a vast array of Northern California universities, including UC Berkeley, Chico State, CSU East Bay, UC Merced, Sacramento State, and Sonoma State. By the time a Sac High student graduates, they have been provided with the opportunity to visit at least four different college campuses – those students involved in EAOP and College Track visit far more!
Admissions Lottery Fast Approaching
Although the priority deadline to apply for the St. HOPE Public Schools (SHPS) 2019-2020 Admissions Lottery has passed, the 2019-2020 Admissions Lottery and Oak Park Block Party will take place on Thursday, April 18, 2019 and is sure to be total fun in the sun!
The Block Party will take place at the newly-opened Esther’s Park located at 3408 3rd Avenue from 4:00pm-7:00pm and is free to attend! There will be a live DJ, BBQ, Face painting and so much more! Come hang out with us!
Oak Park Speakers Series Special Edition: Reverend Al Sharpton
The Oak Park Speaker Series, presented by Underground Books, hosted a special edition of the series featuring Reverend Al Sharpton on March 18, 2019 at The Guild Theater.
Former Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson highlighted the legacy of Stephon Clark – exactly one year after Stephon’s tragic death – along with special guests, Dr. Tecoy Porter, pastor of Genesis Church and President of the Sacramento Chapter of the National Action Network, along with attorney Benjamin Crump, representative for the families of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown.
1st Annual St. HOPE Public Health Fair!
By Katherine Jung - Student Services Coordinator
Since our scholars must be holistically healthy to achieve their optimal academic potential, we launched St. HOPE’s first Public Health Fair to provide resources that could benefit our students and their families’ psychological, physical, nutritional, medical, and emotional health and well-being.
An Oak Park Speaker Series Special Edition
Underground Books and The Guild Theater are proud to present Rev. Al Sharpton on Monday, March 18, 2019.
With over 40 years of experience as a community leader, politician, minister and advocate, the Rev. Al Sharpton is one of America’s most-renowned civil rights leaders. Sharpton’s highly visible career began at the tender age of four when he preached his first sermon.
A Little Dirt Never Hurt Anyone
Since the beginning of Sacramento Charter High School in 2003, biology students have had the opportunity to be involved in St.
Reading Makes Your World BIG!
Each year PS7 Elementary hosts a Family Literacy Night. The night is full of fun literacy games that families can play on their own at home with their scholars, and families have the opportunity to visit the Scholastic Book Fair. This year, PS7 made the event BIGGER and BETTER than ever! With the hope of exposing scholars to a plethora of cultures and diverse reads, the theme was #ReadingMakesYourWorldBIG! …and a BIG week it was!