Charis History

Old Charis Sign at 419 Moreland Ave.

Old Charis Books and More Sign at 419 Moreland Ave.

We will be celebrating 36 years of feminist bookselling this fall and we are always celebrating our stories. These stories are written in poetry, biography, short stories, plays, essays, songs and novels. These stories are told in circles--circles of women, circles of children, circles of dreamers, circles of men seeking hope, all making justice. Some stories are read to huge crowds, others are spoken in whispers, one by one. Some stories are found in books, while others emerge from our own hearts as we recognize ourselves in someone else's eyes or words. For over 35 years these stories have been weaving themselves together and finding voice in our little corner of Little Five Points in Atlanta, Georgia. We call this space a feminist bookstore. We call this space "Charis," a Greek word that means grace, gift, thankfulness.

Read about the early years of Charis in Southern Spaces: an interdisciplinary journal about the regions, places, and cultures of the American South

"Atlanta's Charis Books and More: Histories of a Feminist Space"

staff photo 1994

Staff photo circa 1994, (L. to R.)Beryl Jackson, Linda Bryant, Sara Look, Sherry Emory

Read about Charis in the news:

AJC Article (10/27/09): "Feminist Bookstore Perseveres"
AJC Article (10/22/09): "Charis Books and More to Celebrate 35th Anniversary"
Examiner (1/7/09): "A book store with a lot to offer"
Creative Loafing Article (2/10/05): "Fiona"
AJC Article (12/22/05): "End of an Era? Bookstore fights to stay open"
Creative Loafing article (8/14/02): "War of the Words"

bell hooks and Byllye Avery circa 1985

Below you will find some books that contain further Charis history.

Carryin' on in the Lesbian and Gay South (Paperback)

By John Howard, Robert Howard (Editor)

$25.30

ISBN-13: 9780814735602
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days
Published: New York University Press, 08/01/1997

For a brief history of Charis' early years please read "'Women Ran It' Charis Books and More and Atlanta's Lesbian-Feminist Community, 1971-1981" by Saralyn Chesnut and Amanda C. Gable.