#JustTheTipTuesday Black Romance
Hey there, Wordmaker!
Welcome to #JustTheTipTuesday, where I share writing tips and tricks to help romance authors perfect their craft. Romance 101 series will cover the basics you need to get started. It’s an ongoing series.
Let me state right off the top that I am a Black author who writes Black and interracial romance.
This subgenre is very near and dear to me, so some of my opinions will be stronger than usual. I would also like to admit that I was reluctant to treat it as a subgenre because, frankly, I don’t believe people or identities should be boxed into categories like this. While we often share some of the same cultural experiences, Black authors and people are not a monolith, so I’m reluctant to put a box around an identity in this way. Love is love, and stories about Black protagonists deserve the same nuanced treatment as any other romance. However, the reality is that publishing loves its labels, and Black romance is often treated as a subgenre. So here I am, diving in because ignoring it wouldn’t do justice to its impact on readers and authors — and I consider myself to be both!
At its heart, Black romance celebrates love stories rooted in Black joy, resilience, and connection. These narratives highlight the beauty and complexity of Black relationships, giving characters space to experience everything from sweet beginnings to hard-earned happy endings. For Black readers, these stories are a reflection—a mirror showing love that looks like theirs. Black authors have a chance to reclaim and redefine how Black love has been portrayed. Beyond that, Black romance holds cultural and social importance. It challenges stereotypes, pushes back against erasure, and says, loud and clear, that Black love is worthy of being centered and celebrated. It’s more than a subgenre—it’s a testament to the richness and diversity of the human experience.
What is Black Romance?
Black romance centers love stories that authentically reflect the lives, culture, and experiences of Black people. It features two or more Black protagonists and is written by authors who identify as Black, ensuring that these stories are told with authenticity, care, and a deep understanding of the communities they portray. And I want to be absolutely clear here: Black romance is defined as stories written by Black authors featuring Black characters as the romantic leads. It’s about centering Black love. Black romance does not include interracial romance, even when one of the protagonists is Black. This distinction is not about exclusion but about focusing on Black love specifically.
Here’s why this is so important: Black romance exists to provide a space where Black love is fully seen, valued and uplifted without being filtered through or diluted by relationship or proximity to whiteness. For so long, it was believed—by society, media, medical professionals, and even academia—that Black people didn’t feel or express love in the same way white people do. This harmful narrative was used to dehumanize us, portraying Black relationships as cold, transactional, or nonexistent. Even today, it’s alarmingly common to hear readers say they don’t want to read Black romance because our stories are only about struggle, violence, or trauma. The idea that our love can only exist in the shadow of adversity has persisted, erasing the joy, tenderness, and multifaceted beauty of Black relationships. Most Black romance disrupts these damaging tropes, ensuring our stories don’t just exist but thrive, authentically told by those who live and breathe these experiences. By centering Black love—free from stereotypes and oppression—Black romance creates a space where we see ourselves whole. It shows us that our love can be soft, joyful, and healing. It reflects the truth of our experiences, from our cultural nuances to the shared understanding that doesn’t need to be explained. Black romance reminds us that our love is not only real but worth celebrating, and it does so on our terms, unapologetically.
Interracial romance, while important and valuable in its own right, brings its own unique dynamics, challenges, and cultural intersections. Those stories belong in their own category, where they can be explored with the depth and nuance they deserve. Black romance, however, remains a dedicated space for celebrating Black love in its purest form—a love that reflects shared experiences, cultural understanding, and the richness of Black identity. This clarity matters because Black readers deserve stories where their love isn’t conditional or exoticized. Centering and amplifying the beauty, complexity, and resilience of Black relationships without compromise. This distinction honors the cultural specificity and integrity of Black romance, ensuring its place as a vital and unapologetic cornerstone in the world of storytelling.
But let’s be clear: these stories aren’t just for Black readers—they resonate universally. At their heart, Black romance novels explore themes we can all connect with love, growth, healing, and the pursuit of happiness. By telling these stories through the lens of Black perspectives, the subgenre offers a rich, layered exploration of connection and resilience, creating narratives that are both deeply specific and beautifully universal. It’s a celebration of love in all its forms, told in ways that honor and uplift Black voices.
History of Black Romance and Its Evolution
The history of Black romance is a testament to resilience, creativity, and the ongoing fight for representation in a space that often overlooked or misrepresented Black love. Its roots trace back to the late 20th century when pioneers like Beverly Jenkins, Brenda Jackson, Sandra Kitt, Donna Hill, and Francis Ray carved out a space for stories that celebrated Black characters finding love, joy, and connection. These authors challenged a publishing industry hesitant to embrace Black romance and, in doing so, laid the groundwork for a thriving genre.
The rise of self-publishing and indie authors played a pivotal role in the genre’s expansion. Platforms like Kindle Direct Publishing allowed Black authors to bypass traditional gatekeepers who claim to be unable to connect with our stories or sell them and reach readers directly, creating communities hungry for stories that reflected their lives. This accessibility empowered authors to explore themes and narratives that might have been considered “too niche” by mainstream publishers. The result? A boom in Black romance that’s as varied as it is vibrant.
Today, Black romance encompasses a rich diversity of subcategories. LGBTQIA+ Black romance has brought much-needed representation to queer love stories, while historical narratives delve into eras where Black love thrived despite systemic oppression. Interracial relationships are also explored, though the distinction between these stories and Black romance as a genre remains crucial—Black romance centers on love between Black characters, told through an authentic lens.
Perhaps the most exciting evolution in Black romance is its growing focus on joy, agency, and representation. Modern Black romance celebrates love without requiring characters to endure unnecessary struggle or trauma. Instead, it leans into stories where characters find empowerment, healing, and connection on their own terms. The genre has shifted toward showcasing the fullness of Black love—its humor, tenderness, complexities, and triumphs—proving that our stories are just as varied and beautiful as we are.
Black romance continues to grow, pushing boundaries while staying rooted in the communities and cultures that inspire it. It’s a genre that affirms the power of love, written by and for those who understand its unique nuances. And with every book, it reinforces the truth: Black love matters in all its forms.
Why People Love to Read Black Romance
I think I can speak for everyone when I say this… I read Black Romance because it feels like coming home. For Black readers, it’s about seeing ourselves reflected in stories of love, happiness, and triumph—something the world often tries to convince us isn’t meant for us. There’s a kind of magic in picking up a book and seeing characters who look like you, sound like you, and love like you. It’s more than entertainment; it’s validation, a mirror reflecting the beauty and depth of our relationships back at us.
Black romance also serves as a powerful counter-narrative, challenging the harmful stereotypes and negative portrayals of Black relationships that are all too common in mainstream media. These stories prove, over and over again, that Black love is not just about struggle or survival—it’s about joy, connection, and the infinite ways we build and sustain relationships. They showcase the vulnerability, tenderness, and strength that define our love stories, refusing to let anyone else tell us who we are. And let’s not forget the universality of romance. Black romance doesn’t just resonate with Black readers—it fosters connection, empathy, and cultural understanding among all audiences. For readers outside the community, these stories open a window into the richness of Black culture and relationships, offering a perspective that’s too often overlooked.
For me, Black romance hits on both a personal and professional level. As an author, I write these stories because they matter. But as a reader? I’ve been devouring Black romance for years, drawn to books that echo the Black love I see around me every day. These stories remind me of the strength, laughter, and unshakable bonds I grew up watching in my family and community. They’re a celebration of what I know to be true: Black love is powerful, beautiful, and limitless.
So why do we love Black romance? Because it tells us what we’ve always known but don’t hear often enough: our love is real, worthy, and worth reading about — every single time.
Genre Conventions and Standards
Let me start by saying once again that I don’t believe identities should be categorized as a subgenre. Our identities are expansive and complex; they don’t belong in a box labeled “niche.” But here we are. The publishing industry continues to use these labels. While I find that frustrating, it’s worth diving into this exploration because it helps others understand the unique beauty and nuances of Black romance. That said, while we may share some common cultural threads, our stories and experiences are not monolithic. Black romance is as diverse as the people who write and read it, filled with characters and themes that reflect a spectrum of realities.
With that in mind, let’s break down some of the conventions and standards that make Black romance a powerful and authentic space in the world of storytelling:
1. Authenticity: At the heart of Black romance is authenticity. These stories celebrate Black culture in all its forms, from traditions and community ties to the specific ways we move through the world. Whether it’s the rhythm of Sunday dinner conversations or the deep-rooted connections to faith and heritage, these elements bring richness and realness to the page that can’t be faked. Authenticity isn’t just a bonus—it’s essential.
2. Representation: Black romance thrives on creating characters with depth, individuality, and relatability. These are people who feel real—characters with quirks, dreams, and flaws that resonate with readers. Representation here means showing the diversity within Blackness itself: different skin tones, hair textures, body types, professions, orientations, and more. It’s about seeing ourselves fully, not through a watered-down or overly idealized lens, but as whole, multifaceted beings.
3. Themes: The themes often center on love and joy as acts of resistance and celebration. Resilience is a cornerstone—stories of overcoming obstacles, finding strength in connection, and choosing hope even when the odds feel stacked. Family dynamics also play a significant role, offering layers of complexity and grounding characters in relationships that shape who they are. And then there’s personal growth—the journey of self-discovery that makes the romantic connection even more rewarding.
4. Conflict: Relatable struggles give Black romance its emotional depth. These conflicts often explore societal challenges like racism, sexism, or economic inequities, but they don’t stop there. Internal dilemmas—self-doubt, fear of vulnerability, or the desire to break free from generational cycles—are just as pivotal. What sets Black romance apart is how these conflicts are resolved, with love acting as a catalyst for healing and transformation.
5. Setting: The settings are as diverse as the stories themselves, ranging from contemporary cityscapes to small Southern towns to historical eras brimming with cultural depth. These environments aren’t just backdrops; they’re integral to the story, influencing how characters interact, grow, and fall in love. Whether it’s a bustling metropolis or a close-knit community, the setting often reflects the richness of Black life and culture.
Together, these conventions create a space where Black romance isn’t just about love—it’s about honoring our humanity, celebrating our joy, and telling stories that resonate deeply with those who see themselves reflected in them. This genre isn’t just a category; it’s a movement, one that deserves recognition and respect for the authentic, nuanced, and beautiful stories it brings to the world.
Current Trends in Black Romance
Black romance continues to grow as a vibrant space in literature, and baby, I love it! Black authors are showcasing the depth and breadth of Black experiences through stories of love and connection. These narratives embrace a stunning variety of perspectives, celebrating everything from first loves and meet-cutes to enduring partnerships that weather the test of time. They reflect the complexities of modern life, with characters navigating personal growth, family dynamics, and societal pressures, all while exploring the beauty of love in its many forms.
1. The Rise of Indie Authors and Self-Publishing: Indie authors are taking the reins, and it’s a game-changer. Platforms like Kindle Direct Publishing, Smashwords, and others have made it possible for writers to publish stories on their own terms. This freedom has led to an explosion of creativity, allowing Black romance authors to tell stories that feel authentic and unfiltered. From niche tropes to bold, unconventional plots, self-publishing is helping these stories reach audiences who’ve been craving more variety and representation.
2. Increased Diversity Within the Genre: Black romance is no longer a one-size-fits-all category—if it ever was. Today’s stories embrace the full spectrum of Black love, including queer relationships, polyamorous dynamics, and love stories that defy traditional expectations. These narratives reflect the reality that Black people’s experiences with love and connection are as varied as they are, and readers are here for it.
3. Blending Romance with Other Genres: Who says romance can’t mix with a little magic, mystery, or mayhem? Black romance is increasingly intersecting with other genres like romantic suspense, fantasy, sci-fi, and even horror. Whether it’s a love story set against the backdrop of intergalactic travel or a mystery steeped in Southern gothic vibes, this blending of genres adds richness and variety that keep readers hooked.
4. Focus on Mental Health, Self-Love, and Empowerment: Romance isn’t just about finding love with someone else—it’s also about loving yourself. Black romance stories are increasingly centering on themes of mental health, self-care, and empowerment. These narratives don’t shy away from exploring therapy, healing from trauma, or finding joy in personal growth, showing that self-love is often the first step toward building a healthy, fulfilling relationship.
5. Global Black Experiences: Black romance is international and beautiful to see! Stories now reflect the breadth of the Black diaspora, with settings ranging from the Caribbean to Europe to Africa. These narratives bring fresh perspectives, exploring how love unfolds within different cultural contexts while celebrating the shared threads of Black identity. It’s a powerful reminder that Black love is universal yet deeply rooted in unique experiences.
Black romance continues to grow, evolve, and push boundaries, offering readers stories that are as dynamic and multifaceted as the people they represent. With these trends shaping the genre, there’s never been a better time to dive into these stories, whether you’re reading or writing them.
Now… typically, I include a how-to-write section here, but in all honesty, there are no additional notes here. You write a Black romance the same way you would a white one. The distinction lies in your identity and the identity of your characters. This informs the drafting process more than anything I could include here. And as far as a practical exercise is concerned, I’m going to treat this the same way I treat Hoodoo: it’s a closed practice. If you know, you know, and if you don’t know, you better do your research!
Black Romance is more than just a genre—it’s a celebration of love, joy, and the diverse experiences of Black people specifically.
This might not be important to all, but it’s of great importance to Black readers and authors and deserves to be lauded as much as any other romance novels out there. These stories are a vital reminder that Black love is complex, multidimensional, and deeply inspiring. By centering authentic voices and lived experiences, Black Romance offers readers a chance to see themselves reflected in the pages, creating a space where joy, vulnerability, and passion shine.
For authors, this genre represents an incredible opportunity to celebrate diversity and inclusivity in storytelling. Writing Black Romance means leaning into narratives that uplift and honor the richness of Black culture and identity. It’s about crafting characters who feel real and relatable, exploring their journeys with care and nuance, and creating stories that resonate with readers on every level.
As creators, we have the privilege of shaping stories that inspire, connect, and empower. Black Romance is a genre that holds space for those stories, reminding us that love, in all its forms, has the power to heal, transform, and inspire hope. Let’s continue to tell these stories boldly, authentically, and with the joy they deserve—because the world needs them, and so do we.
See You Next Tuesday,
xo, Tasha
P.S. If you’re interested in learning more about the history of Black romance, you should definitely check out Black Romance Has A History, hosted by Steve Ammidown and Katrina Jackson.
