Internationalist Books

Opened as a small reading room above a bar on Henderson Street near the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Sheldon aimed at providing alternative information during the anti-apartheid movement in the 80s as well as a place to share Marxist literature.

When the bookstore was opened, Sheldon described the store's mission as follows: We are dedicated to the position that we have no country: we do not support mindless patriotic pleas for 'national unity,' nor are we interested in keeping America number one.

In the late 1980s, Internationalist Books became a successful enough enterprise, such that Sheldon was able to quit his "day jobs" to focus on managing the bookstore.

[6]) Following the death of the bookstore's founder, with an outpouring of support from the community, the Internationalist reopened as a nonprofit cooperative with a volunteer/membership structure.

Since 1991, the Internationalist has carried on the work begun by Bob Sheldon by hosting social justice workshops, meetings, campaigns, conferences, and providing facilities and resources to a diverse range of grassroots organizations.

In 2006, the Internationalist celebrated its 25th anniversary with special events, a commemorative ceremony in which Chapel Hill Mayor Kevin Foy declared February 21 "Bob Sheldon Day",[7][8] and by publishing a book which compiled a collection of 25 local hidden histories.

In addition, the bookstore frequently played host to a number of readings and events by authors and artists such as Inga Muscio, Michelle Tea, Timothy Tyson, and Reverend Billy of the Church of Stop Shopping.

The center also hosted a twice-monthly Trans Discussion Group sponsored by the North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition.