Comments on: Sort of Like Why We Needed the Black Barbie Doll, Some Ponderings About African American Romance Novels

By: Gwyneth Bolton

Gwyneth Bolton — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:52:43 +0000

Ellen ~ I’m shuddering over here trying to imagine my childhood without Barbie. LOL.

Sola A ~ Brenda Jackson rocks!

By: Sola A

Sola A — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:57:08 +0000

I am Nigerian and have lived in Nigeria for most of my life. Read “hundreds” of romance novels in my teens and didnt realise i was missing much until after a long hiatus, I read my first Brenda Jackson (westmoreland series) novel in my late 30s, I could relate on a deeper level with the emotions, the language and chemistry between the characters and the dialogue was so familiar… almost like it was a story about me or a friend.. Then I got it! Story telling is not just about the words and the skin color of the characters, its about the perspective, the culture, the values, the richness of our individual experiences … And for me, – a black African, reading Brenda was like coming home to a place I never knew existed. Needless to say, i have read about 15 of her books ever since….(

By: Ellen Hartman

Ellen Hartman — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 19:03:46 +0000

I didn’t have any Barbies as a kid. I wasn’t a very effective girl back in those days.

My first African American romance was a Gwyneth Bolton–Sweet Sensation, I think. (Still one of the best covers of all time.) Since then, I’ve read a bunch of other African American romances, and even had the great privilege of meeting Francis Ray and having her sign a book at RWA last year.

I think it’s wonderful to see more choices for romance.

By: Gwyneth Bolton

Gwyneth Bolton — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:58:04 +0000

PatriciaW ~ I think we’re moving closer to that kind of “post-racial” approach to books. Not quite yet… but moving in that direction.

LaShaunda ~ I’m telling you. My early Arabesque books are so worn the covers are falling apart I used to read them so much, over and over again. And I didn’t have a favorite Barbie doll, I loved them all the same, lol… But I remember I loved buying clothes for my dolls. That’s where I developed my shopping habit.

Loshonda ~ I know they have so many options know with the Barbie dolls. Way more than we had… Almost makes me wish I was a kid again.

Victoria ~ I think we might be able have a contest to see who is the bigger book addict. I can admit I have a problem… a serious problem…

By: Victoria Wells

Victoria Wells — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:15:48 +0000

I started reading romance at the age of 15. I didn’t discover African American romance novels until my early 30s. I nearly lost my mind! Immediately I became addicted and went on a crazy buying spree (which I haven’t been cured of yet)getting my hands on as many AA romance novels as I could. It just felt so good reading about black folks in love and committed to that love. I am an AA romance reader for life! And darn proud of it!

Gwyneth, I thoroughly enjoyed this post. As always you did a fabulous job

By: Gwyneth Bolton

Gwyneth Bolton — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 04:55:13 +0000

Niambi ~ Sidney Poitier and Diahann Caroll are nice substitutes. Sidney Poitier will always be fine!

Conseula ~ I know, it’s amazing what we take for granted. I know that black shows are few and far between these days, but at least we have them. And there’s always reruns and syndication…

Cilla ~ Thanks, sis!

Shelia ~ Seriously, girlfriend, books and dolls! There was nothing like getting a new doll on Christmas when I was a kid, except for maybe when the Scholastic book orders came in or they had some kind of book fair. LOL.

By: Lashonda Silver

Lashonda Silver — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 04:11:15 +0000

WOnderful Blog and very well put. I get and agree with the connection. I loved my Christie and love even more the fact that my 4 year old has more options than I had. Just as I love the day I discovered AA romance and I am glad my girls will have more options than I ever had.

By: LaShaunda

LaShaunda — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:51:11 +0000

Gwyn, I’m clapping over here, great post. My favorite Barbie was Super Star Barbie and she was beautiful. I started young reading romances at 9 and I hoped for some that looked like me and you better believe I was first in line for those first two books when they hit the shelves. Meeting the authors that write these wonderful books will continue being high points in my life. Being able to help promote them is priceless. I’m glad my daughter will be able to have the diversity of books and Barbies.

By: PatriciaW

PatriciaW — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:44:15 +0000

I hate that I missed a lot of the early Harlequin titles written by African-Americans and featuring African-Americans. Because I was seeking that same joy during that period. It never occurred to me to even consider Harlequin back then as a possible source of such diversity. So I stuck mostly to hardcover literary fiction for my fix of characters that were like me.

I recently read a book where I imagined a key secondary character to be African-American. Eventually it became clear that she indeed was, but the author skillfully wrote it in such a way that this wasn’t easily apparent. I’d like to read more books like that, but I’ll always look for books with obvious AA protagonists. Because I’ll always be Black.

By: Shelia G

Shelia G — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:05:04 +0000

What a wonderful comparison. I too recall the joy of opening up my Christmas present and my Black Barbie doll stared me in the face. I felt that same joy when I read my first romance novel by a Black author, which if I’m not mistaken, was Sandra Kitt.

I do think we can reach a place where the race of the characters don’t matter if readers open up their horizons. A good story is a good story. My reading tastes are diverse and if readers will give certain books a chance, I think they too, will find gems within the pages of books where characters don’t necessarily look like them.