by Marcella Ortega
Daily Lobo
The bookstore Libreria La Semilla doesn't operate under a hierarchy.
"That's OK," volunteer clerk Mimi Leland said. "That's the way it's supposed to be. We are trying to send the books out into the world."
Libreria La Semilla at 929 Fourth St. S.W. is about the size of a studio apartment and is connected to the Out Ch'Yonda art center. It carries books on topics such as African-American history, Mexican indigenous troubles, United States political issues, globalization, radical environmentalism, labor issues, and police and state brutality.
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Volunteers operate the bookstore, and they are interested in spreading alternative literature.
"We get together every once and a while and decide what to do," Leland said. "Americans view anarchy as synonymous with chaos. In Europe, it is a very respectable political philosophy."
The bookstore also carries newsletters called zines that are published by political activists and cover such topics as labor history, the Black Liberation Army and environmental issues.
"We're all manipulated by the media at this point," Leland said. "Our history has been stolen from us."
Leland said she and Clayton Levine opened the store in September.
"La Semilla is Spanish for 'the seed,'" Leland said. "We're trying to sew the seeds of knowledge."
Leland said the volunteers order the books at wholesale price or accept donations. Songbooks, vegetarian and alternative cookbooks, a children's section with Zapatista folktales and graphic novels are also available at the store.
"You have to have a place to get your curiosity piqued," Leland said.
She said the graphic novels are for people who want to read about politics but don't like heavy literature.
"At this point in time, there are a lot of interesting comics out there," Leland said.
Justin McGee is a volunteer clerk at the bookstore. McGee, who was a customer before he volunteered, said he heard about it through independent media.
"I've done stuff like this in the past - helping to set up and run alternative bookstores," he said. "They just carry literature that's not available in other places."
McGee said the bookstore provides an opportunity to meet, talk and exchange ideas. He said the ideas range from workers' rights to radical environmentalism.
"It's on a local level and a larger level as well," McGee said.
Customer Chuck McLaughlin said he was interested in books about Zapatistas, the Mexican revolution and African-American civil rights in the United States.
"I'm interested in anything about oppressed indigenous people and the Mexican uprisings," McLaughlin said. "There were a couple I liked, but I'm reading seven others."
Leland said the store will stay open as long as business allows.
"So far, we have sold enough books to pay the rent," Leland said. "It's definitely a work in progress."
Libreria La Semilla
929 Fourth St. S.W.
Monday and Wednesday
3-6 p.m.
Friday
6-9 p.m.
Saturday
Noon-4 p.m.
6-9 p.m.
Sunday
2-9 p.m.
