Gifts that celebrate Black culture and identity work well when they carry a story: a book to learn from, a flag in the colors of unity, something sold by people who know where it came from. At Nicholas Brooklyn, a family-owned, Black-owned apothecary and bookstore on Fulton Street in Brooklyn, many of those gifts cost less than $15.
What Makes a Gift Celebrate Black Culture and Identity?
A cultural symbol on a product is not enough. A gift celebrates Black culture when it connects the person to history, community or craft. Three questions help:
- Does it teach something or tell a story, the way a book or a flag does?
- Does it come from people who belong to the culture, and can you say where it came from?
- Will the person use it, display it or keep it, or will it end up in a drawer?
If the answer to all three is yes, you have probably found a good gift, whatever it costs.
Where Does the Tradition of Meaningful Gift-Giving Come From?
Many families think of Kwanzaa. It was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga and runs from December 26 through January 1. Each day honors one of seven principles: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith. Its colors are red, black and green.
Gifts are called zawadi, and the idea is that they should be meaningful, often handmade or educational, with books and heritage items among the most common.
Which Gifts at Nicholas Brooklyn Fit?
Books
Books are the classic gift for learning and heritage, and we carry hundreds. Start with our Black-owned bookstore page or the full books department. One example is The Ankh: African Origin of Electromagnetism at $10.95. Authors have signed books here, including Cheryl McKissack Daniel, author of The Black Family Who Built America.
Red, Black and Green
The red, black and green flag was adopted in 1920 by the Universal Negro Improvement Association, led by Marcus Garvey. We carry the RBG Red, Black & Green 3 x 5 Foot Flag for $10, the RBG Red, Black & Green USA Flag for $12 and the Canvas RBG Belt with Gold Buckle for $5. More are on our Pan-African flags page. For what each color stands for, read what the red, black and green flag means.
Gifts for the Senses
Our fragrance body oils start at $3, and the incense sticks come in packs and boxes. Raw white African shea butter, whipped, in 16 oz is $8, and Dudu-Osun Black Soap is $3. New to incense? Read our beginner’s guide to resin, stick and cone incense.
What Can You Give on a Small Budget?
These combinations use current prices, which can change.
- Up to $5: Dudu-Osun Black Soap ($3), a half-ounce fragrance oil (from $3) or the Canvas RBG Belt ($5)
- About $10 to $12: the 3 x 5 RBG flag ($10), The Ankh ($10.95) or the RBG USA Flag ($12)
- About $20: the 3 x 5 RBG flag, 16 oz whipped shea butter and a half-ounce fragrance oil, $21 in all
Why Buy Gifts From a Black-Owned Family Shop?
Nicholas Brooklyn did not start on Fulton Street. As owner Monique Nicholas has written, it started in the trunk of a car. In 1974 her father, Randolph Nicholas, began selling products to stores around New York City. He moved on to a flea market in Queens, and around 1980 he opened the first Nicholas storefront on Broadway between 17th and 18th Streets in Manhattan. Monique has worked in the business since 2003 and runs the Brooklyn shop today. You can read the full story in Fifty Years on Fulton Street.
In her words: “I want people to be able to walk into Nicholas and ask questions. I want them to discover something they didn’t know about before they came in.” And: “when they support Nicholas, they’re supporting a family business that has been serving our community since 1974.”
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Kwanzaa? Kwanzaa runs from December 26 through January 1. It was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, and each of the seven days honors one principle. Families often exchange gifts, called zawadi, that are meaningful, handmade or educational.
What is a good Kwanzaa gift? A good Kwanzaa gift is meaningful and often handmade or educational, with books and heritage items among the most common. At our shop that can be a book, a red, black and green flag, or a gift for the senses such as shea butter, incense or fragrance oil.
How can I support Black-owned businesses with my gifts? Choose gifts from Black-owned businesses and shop at the source when you can. Buy from a shop you can visit or contact, ask where products come from, and tell the person you are gifting about the business behind the gift. Nicholas Brooklyn is Black-owned and family-owned and has been open since 1974.
Does Nicholas Brooklyn ship gifts? Yes. We ship nationwide, and local pickup at our Brooklyn store is free. Orders are processed Monday through Friday, and processing can take longer around the holidays, so order early and check our shipping policy page for the current timing before you buy.
What can I buy for $10 or less? At today’s prices you can choose Dudu-Osun Black Soap for $3, a half-ounce fragrance oil from $3, the Canvas RBG Belt for $5, whipped shea butter in 16 oz for $8, or the 3 x 5 RBG flag for $10. Prices are on each product page.
Come See Us
Nicholas Brooklyn is at 1396 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY 11216. We are open Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 7 pm and Sunday from 12 pm to 7 pm. Walk in and ask us what we would pick for the person on your list, call (718) 858-4400, or find directions on our visit page.