Amplify Bookstore — Local services in Melbourne

This store reduces the works of people of colour to the Special Interest section of a library and not as something that deserves to stand among a myriad of voices.

It treats them not as canon but as subsects of designated areas such as black studies, gender studies, feminist studies all compiled within that section, that being the bookstore itself.

It indirectly denigrates the authors of these works by assuming that people are as ignorant of them as the bookstore's owners. Just because they may have discovered them yesterday doesn't mean everybody else did. It's belittling to coloured people and minorities and is exploiting them for its own gain.

Thankfully our capitalist and free society allows them this liberty and I hope they are grateful to be privileged enough to thrive in a society that enables them to do so.

The one star rating is due to treating "BIPOC" people as handicapped, as though they belong in a designated section of the city rather than stand strong among peers of all colours and creeds. It's as if to say they can't stand among them unless special treatment is afforded to them. It's not treating their works as canon and is consequently exploiting them by creating division by exclusion rather than unity.

This is my honest review as someone who lives...

I found Amplify bookstore on TikTok and recently bought 4 books online to get shipped to Sydney.

The books arrived very quickly (around 2 business days), which is much faster than what I've experienced with other online bookshops like The Nile or Booktopia.

They packaged the books really well - the package was soaking wet due to heavy rain by the time I got home but the books were completely dry and in great condition.

I also loved browsing their website to find books that I wouldn't otherwise come across or read - I went to their website to buy 2 books that I wanted and ended up getting 2 extra!

They offer competitive pricing compared to larger online bookshops and it's great to be able to support a small business that uplifts the stories of diverse communities of colour - both from...

This book store is run by two highly intelligent, successful business women who understand something that most people don't: that the best way to unite people and address past inequalities is to incessantly focus on the colour of people's skin. I mean, how brilliant! I am reduced to using exclamation points in order to best convey my appreciation! Genius! But I've written enough already, I must go now to meditate on my privilege and rebuke my ancestors for the sins that I've inherited. Please let me know if you decide to sell any tools for flagellation in the future, perhaps if I bloody myself enough I can change my white skin and finally be accepted...