Black Coffee discussion

It’s time to recommend a book for the month of May!

For this month, the suggestion must be a book that was written before 2000 and of the humor or romance genre.

Happy suggesting 😀

This brings me to Beverly Jenkins (a favorite author) for romance. I will look into what she has written pre 1980.

This is more hard than I thought. Does it have to be an AA author? So far, I can come as close as 1985 - Hideaway by Rochelle Alers. I’ll keep looking.

Here's on GR shelf of black romance books, but most are too new.
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

I have a desktop and did a search "published 19" but in the first 6 pages Beverly Jenkins is the only name showing up, but not all are old enough. There must have been black romance novels published before by other authors, but where are they??? On the 7th page I found one, but it's not romance genre, and that was Their Eyes Were Watching God which I have read and definitely didn't shelve as romance.

Humour, okay, I'd like to nominate The Best of Simple: Stories by Langston Hughes --it's been shelved "humor" 8 times

Yeah, Karin , I agree - where are the the pre 1980 AA romances? I read AA authors, pre 1980, but they were not romances and I read romances, pre 1980, but they were not AA; they were Danielle Steele, Sidney Sheldon and Jackie Collins I think her last name was Collins. They were romances mixed with mayhem.

Dosha (Bluestocking7) wrote: "Yeah, Karin , I agree - where are the the pre 1980 AA romances? I read AA authors, pre 1980, but they were not romances and I read romances, pre 1980, but they were not AA; they were Danielle Steel..."

So maybe they weren't out there??!!! It irks me that the only romance story I can remember (more of a mainstream book, but shelved romance) featuring an interracial couple written and set during the 1960s civil rights movement is Five Smooth Stones by a white author that my mother had. I've forgotten almost all of it other than at the time I read it (I was quite young) it seemed to be very powerful. (or was it set in the 1950s but written in the 60s? I can't remember.)

For those who aren't familiar with Ann Fairbairn, she managed the American and international tours for George Lewis' band for more than a decade. Her personal life was highly guarded so no one knows who her two husbands were. She worked as a riveter in WW II in San Francisco--not sure if that was before or after she moved to New Orleans.

I haven’t started looking yet but wow 😯 I’m really surprised that y’all are having a hard time finding books in this genre. I’ve been considering going to the library and asking them to help me since it seems internet searches aren’t giving us much.

I for sure thought romance was common no matter the race and time period so it’s just odd that it’s hard to find books.

Yeah. This search has been kinda hard.

Beverly Jenkins is the queen of that genre during that time period.

I don’t think it’s Pre 1980s but I loved How Stella Got her Groove Back. Or Waiting to Exhale. I’ve read both ages ago but I would revisit them.

Good suggestion…. Can we bump it up to the 90s?

Terry Mcmillan would definitely cover the 90s

Done 🤓

Hideaway by Rochelle Alers. It is written in 1985.

I remember Anita Richmond Bunkley having really good books during the 90s, but I can’t seem to find any on kindle…so they are probably hard to find. 🥹. I’ll have to check out eBay.

I cannot believe Sugar, by Bernice McFadden is written in 2000. It was a helluva debut novel, but it was not a romance, 🤪

I am going to look her up, thanks Lulu

Eric Jerome Dickey


Kimberly Lawson Roby

First one that came to mind for me also is Five Smooth Stones by Ann Fairburn. It is very long, but a powerful, memorable story. Romance, racism, politics, etc. Beautifully written!

Carl Weber is known for writing some funny stuff too. I forgot about him, but he is in the 21st century I think.

Milk in my Coffee and Cheaters by Eric Jerome Dickey May both be late 90s

There are authors coming up that I have not read or heard of, and since romance is my favorite genre, historical or contemporary, I am enjoying this thread immensely.

The Bride Price, by Buchi Emecheta (Everything by Emecheta is excellent)!

Shaylah wrote: "It’s time to recommend a book for the month of May!

For this month, the suggestion must be a book that was written before 2000 and of the humor or romance genre.

Happy suggesting 😀"

😆😆😆 tired of the sad i see.

Shaylah wrote: "I haven’t started looking yet but wow 😯 I’m really surprised that y’all are having a hard time finding books in this genre. I’ve been considering going to the library and asking them to help me sin..."

nah...i loved romance novel in the late 80's and 90's. romance genre was dominated by white women.

most paperbacks were the bodice rippers or harlequin/silhouette paperbacks. hardbacks were not really romance since the romance was not the main focus of the stories.

contemporary romance was like soap operas. the hardbacks were rich families doing all sorts of stuff just like on dallas or dynasty. the smaller harlequin/silhouette ones were housewife fantasy- the sheik needs a bride, cowboy got me pregnant, ceo dating sectary, etc. they were fun and not at all realistic.

the historical romances were a tad more realistic. in that the brides were always quite reluctant (aka virgin brides raped on their wedding nights) and much younger than the husband. and of course everybody was rich or tilted nobles or royalty.

so i never saw black contemporary romances until the 90's and they were not romance but erotica or the urban gang type fiction that again is not really romance. and the historical i just could not buy. sorry slaves in love with white folks or former slaves living free and falling in love with no issues . yeah i could not suspend my disbelief for that. it touched too close to home. i can suspend my disbelief with white folk in historical times but not black.

true black romance books started around the 2000's and they were contemporary and fun. i have not read the historical ones but i hear they are fun as well.

Beverly Jenkins is the queen of black romance. Rochelle Alers is next in line for the throne.
Terry McMillan and Eric Jerome Dickey write contemporary stories like danielle steele or jackie collins did in the 80's and 90's. there is a romance in the story but that is not the main focus of the novel. LOTS of other drama happens that has nothing to do with romance.

Brenda Jackson
Carl Weber
Kimberla Lawson Roby
Francis Ray

they wrote contemporary romances in the late 90's.
basically when publishers were forced to finally publish black authors. 😒

I won't change my nomination, but I'm glad we've added the 90s so we can have more options :)!

Hey Y’all!

The poll for May has been created. Please take a moment to vote for next month’s group read. Thanks 🤓


https://www.goodreads.com/poll/list/1...

Okay, so by one vote ‘How Stella Got Her Groove Back’ won the poll. I can’t wait to get started on this book. The movie came out when I was in 5th/6th grade but I still haven’t seen it yet. I remember it being really popular and my mother told me I couldn’t watch the movie or read the book. Well, I guess I’m old enough now LOL.

The discussion board will be created shortly.

Lol, that is too funny. I read this awhile ago but don’t mind reading it again. Just out of curiosity, who was the runner up for winning the poll?

Dosha (Bluestocking7) wrote: "Lol, that is too funny. I read this awhile ago but don’t mind reading it again. Just out of curiosity, who was the runner up for winning the poll?"

The Best of Simple was the runner up. I was rooting for that one too lol

Thanks, I am going to read them both in May.

I was rooting for The Best of Simple, but have thought about reading When Stella Got her Groove Back on and off for a long time, so I plan to join in this month.

Dosha, I’m going to be tag teaming both books also for May.

Great news, Angel. Karin, you may as well join us.

Dosha (Bluestocking7) wrote: "Great news, Angel. Karin, you may as well join us."

Yes, I was thinking about doing that, so tag teaming sounds great :).