By Kendra Bryant
Special to the AFRO
Nearly 50 years after its founding, the Black Classic Press (BCP), founded in 1978 by former Black Panther Party member Paul Coates, continues to thrive as a staple of independent publishing in Baltimore.
The business, originally known as the George Jackson Prison Movement (GJPM), provided books and information to incarcerated Black people.
“I knew people in jail, many members of the Black Panther Party,” said Coates. “We wanted to create a vehicle that allowed those people in jail to be known to the world outside. We also wanted to create a program that brought information into the jail where these people were, and that affected the population in the jail.”
Coates handled funding for the business by hosting chicken dinners and book drive collections in the Baltimore community.
“I believe the cost at the time was a dollar a plate. I’d raise money and ask people to bring together books and donate books that we could send into the jail,” said Coates. “Most of the books were focused on the African descent of our people or published by Black authors.”
Black Classic Press later transitioned into a publishing house. Along with a sister company, BCP Digital Printing, they print books on everything from children’s books, economics, spirituality and even comics.
“If you think about the movie, ‘Black Panther’ and you think about how T’Challa and everyone constantly talked about the vibranium that strengthened the community and made it powerful, that’s how our narratives are in the Black community,” said Coates. “Whether they are nonfiction or fiction books, they are a vessel that contains our narratives of the generations before me.”
Paul Coates is father of the critically acclaimed author, Ta-Nehisi Coates, who has made a name for himself speaking on Black issues. The elder Coates did not intend for BCP to be a family business, but his children and grandchildren have become deeply involved.
“There’s a sense of pride–not pressure, but responsibility–that comes with being a Coates,” said Christopher Coates, grandson of Paul Coates and a Howard University graduate. “Knowing the hard work and sacrifice that went into this and getting me here means a lot.”
Christopher Coates looks at his elder as more than just a grandfather, but as a father figure. He has many memories of spending time with him.
“I recall sleepovers with my cousins at his house. He’s always been curious and intuitive,” said Christopher Coates. “There’s always been an emphasis on learning, reading books and knowing our history.”
Christian Coates, Paul’s younger grandson and a Morgan State University student, also shares fond memories of working at BCP.
“A day at BCP can include a lot of different tasks. We could be cutting down papers, binding books, packing up books to be shipped, printing shirts, making pamphlets, etc.,” said the younger Coates. “One of my favorite projects was working with Pearson. They needed about 150,000 copies. It was a heavy task, but we got through it.”
The respect held for the Coates name within the Baltimore community has persevered for almost 50 years.
“People stop me all the time to say that I look like my grandfather,” said Christopher Coates. “They always say he’s a good brother and has respect in the community.”
“He’s always been loved by his customers,” said Christian Coates. “So many of these people have invested in our futures. The respect that our family holds really sets the bar high. It’s something to look up to.”
Paul Coates hopes that the next generation of BCP will carry on amid the new age of technology. He wants the narratives of African Americans to live on in a time when it is being threatened with removal.
“This business wasn’t based on inspiration, but a holy journey,” said Coates. “Once you get called to lead and once you’ve been touched by it, there’s no turning back.”