Books & Beans

Meet the Women of Color Remaking One North Carolina Town Into a Destination That Celebrates Diversity

"I visited Books & Beans, a café‑bookstore opened in 2019 by Palestinian‑American writer Etaf Rum, a New York Times bestselling author with deep roots in Rocky Mount; she launched the shop to give a voice to women, minorities, and people of color through a diverse selection of books and hopes visitors might leave with something that changes their perspective." - Alex Temblador Alex Temblador Alex Temblador is a mixed Latinx award-winning travel writer for Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, National Geographic, Lonely Planet, and Tripadvisor, among others. She's best known for her coverage of diversity, inclusion, and equity as it relates to travel. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines