Black Issues Book Review was founded in late 1998[2] by William E. Cox, Adrienne Ingrum, and Susan McHenry.

Ingrum was a book industry veteran, with nearly 20 years of experience in publishing and book-selling.

McHenry had served in editorial positions at several magazines, including Black Enterprise, Essence, and Ms.[3][4] Library Journal named Black Issues Book Review one of the 10 best new magazines of 1998.

[9][10][11] Target Market News purchased Black Issues Book Review in March 2006.

[12] Later that year, Target Market News announced that it would begin publishing Blacks & Books, a monthly supplement for newspapers such as the New York Amsterdam News and the Philadelphia Tribune that serve African-American readers.