#black teen couples

[blackgirlcinephiles]

Incoming: Long Post

*Steps on soap box*

*Clears throat*

BEHOLD!

A collection of Black YA romance novels I need TV/Film adaptations for! Right! NEOOOOW!

Over the past few months, I’ve had the pleasure of reading a lot Black YA romance. And what makes me so excited about these books is that they didn’t just tell a good story, but also imparted strong messages about what it means to share a healthy love between family, between friends, and between lovers of course.

Today I want to talk about these books (sans too many spoilers, seriously go read them for yourself!) and the love lessons we can learn from them.

Lesson 1: A healthy love prioritizes trust and respects boundaries.

Joya Goffney has quickly become one of my favorite Black YA authors for several reasons. If there’s one thing she can do, it’s tell an entertaining, well-rounded story.

In Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry, she explores themes of racial identity, class tensions within the Black community, and the feelings of shame, guilt, and pressure that come with trying to understand yourself as a Black teen in this world. In Confessions of an Alleged Good Girl, she explores themes of sexual agency and sex positivity, specifically within the context of southern Black Christianity, and how traditional framings of sex and virginity can leave girls in a vulnerable position, without the knowledge needed to assert themselves within romantic/sexual relationships.

Despite being centered around different topics, I found that both of these novels emphasized the importance of being able to trust in your partner. In Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry, when a trust was broken between our leading couple, working to rebuild it through shared vulnerability was an essential apart of the reconciliation process. In romantic relationships, vulnerability is inevitable, but respect for your partner’s timing should come first.

In Confessions of An Alleged Good Girl, the most freeing and affirming romantic relationship was the one where physical limitations and bodily autonomy were acknowledged and respected, no debate. Being in a romantic relationship does not entail entitlement to your partner’s body and the story really drove that home.

These messages are important for people of any age to hear, but especially for young teens having their first experiences of romance. There can be so many instances where you simply go along with things, because you don’t know any better and you assume that its the way things are. Being able to trust your partner with innermost feelings/secrets and your body is a crucial part of healthy relationships.

Lesson 2: Romance is about effort.

Now that I’m thinking about it, it’s kind of insane the amount of similarities these two novels have while still being wholly unique. Both books include a radio show about love advice, a protagonist wounded by a past friendship betrayal, and wonderful supporting characters who make the story more coloful.

But probably the most satisfying way these novels resemble each other is how the romance is built between the protagonists. Despite rocky beginnings for both couples, connections are built through mutual effort to understand each other’s passions/interests and support one another in their endeavors. These novels probably have the cutest, most swoon-worthy first date moments and it’s entirely because we can see how each protagonist took the time to come up with a creative way to get to know their love interest while also connecting with their passions.

More and more, on social media in particular, it seems that people equate effort or “applying pressure” with doing the fanciest, most expensive activity right off the bat. But like with giving gifts, the best present isn’t always the most expensive one. Rather it’s the one that’s the most thoughtful. That shows you’re paying attention and that you remembered the small, silly, weird details that would otherwise be forgotten.

Lesson 3: Love is a choice worth making.

The last book in this collection is Zyla & Kai by Kristina Forest, who is also quickly becoming another favorite author of mine. What I love about this book is the way the author went about building the narrative leading up to the big reveal. The message was so clear: Things between Zyla & Kai have always been quite simple. It’s everyone and everything else that makes it complicated.

Throughout the story there are so many external forces creating obstacles for Zyla and Kai. Their families, their peers, their pasts, and their futures are all pulling them in opposite directions. Yet, despite these challenges, Zyla and Kai always choose each other and make an active decision to make it work. To try again one more time. Their love story illustrated the idea, that while love can be simple, it’s also a choice that you make everyday.

I hope this post sparks some interest in these books if you haven’t heard of them before. And if you have, what did you think of them? Do you have a favorite?

While some of these books would work well as movies, there are others that I would want as a limited series. All of the books novels, so the story begins and ends and probably shouldn’t be drawn out for multiple seasons, but there a few where I would want to spend a bit more time with the characters than a film would afford. What say you?

#YA novels #YA romance #black girl protagonists #black teen couples #Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry #Confessions of An Alleged Good Girl #Joya Goffney #Love Radio #Ebony LaDelle #Honey & Spice #Bolu Babalola #Zyla & Kai #Kristina Forest #black girls in love #black teens in love

[permeate]

#x #submission #couple #love #casal #casais #lovely #teen #photoset #art on tumblr #radarpls #radarplz #black and white

[8ballhomo]

#cute twink #college jock #gaylife #gay black #twinks #gay boys #gay teen #gay couple #gay aesthetic #jacob elordi

[ihrtyerimaa]

☆・．❕ 「episode 007 」

✩°｡⋆⸜ 🎧 starfire n robin

the day that i met you i started dreaming ♡ ⋆｡˚ - !!

honestly an it couple

#teen titans #starfire #robin #starfire x robin #starfire teen titans #robin teen titans #purple #black #purple moodboard #starfire moodboard #robin moodboard #teen titans icons #stars #ship #couple #lovers #heartcore #kisses #kiss kiss #robin x starfire #purple sky #lovecore #ihrtyerimaa #ihrtyerimaacore

[aceoflames]

I wouldn't be surprised if when Dazai and Chuuya first met Dazai dipped him and called him his bride or something, like he already kabedoned him and said he loved him. If that's not obvious enough alone the real Osamu Dazai had a crush on a short boy when he was 15 (Their age when they met in Bungou). No way did Asagiri not do that on purpose.

#Btw the guy liked him back #But they never went anywhere with it #skk #soukoku #bsd #bungou stray dogs #bungou gay dogs #chuuya nakahara #osamu dazai #bsd chuuya #bsd dazai #double black #they're basically canon #I could compile a whole ass list of all the things they've done that some married couples prolly wouldn't #Also something about them knowing each other as teens and knowing how crazy the other is just #Gives them such good chemistry with each other #fun facts #bsd headcanons #headcanon

[never-knew-best]

Winter love by blackb0yjoyy

#black boy joy #midjourney #ai art #black ai #ai generated #gay #black #gay teens #gay couple #rainbow #winter #christmas #love #romance #ai image #ai artwork #black men #winter love

[nerdy-stilinski]

y’all should tell me like, Your Derek Hale song. like the one you hear and go Oh My God, That’s Derek Hale. That’s Him. (feel free to rb or reply or whatever I’m just Curious)

#I’ve got a few but I’ll give my top couple: #this is me trying by T swift #paralyzed by nf #angry by paravi #animal by noah kahan (!!!!!!) #and then a funny one for gigs: black car by leon else #anyways drop yours #I’m just curious #teen wolf #derek hale #character songs #grace speaks

[capay9267]

I write two stories on Wattpad and two on AO3

Wattpad: Katebishopsimp13

AO3: Capay9267

If y'all like gay princes, jegulily, or rosestarkillerchaser then go check them out!!

#jegulily #ao3 fanfic #original character #original work #wattpad #writing #writers on tumblr #teen writer #constructive critism welcome #lgbtqia #gay couple #transgender #everybody lives #jegulily raises Harry #rosestarkillerchaser #sometimes i write things #james x lily x regulus #regulus black x barty crouch jr. x james potter x evan rosier #ao3 link #wattpad writer #fiction #fanfics #fanfiction #fanfic

[blacksapphicguide]

Pariah (Movie)

2011 movie. Drama, Indie. Written and directed by Dee Rees.

Plot points:

Coming out.

Coming-of-age.

Teenage stud/butch existence.

Embracing identity.

Sexual expression.

Friendship.

Familial relationship.

Queer black social scene.

Homophobia (verbal and physical attacks).

Black sapphic couples (primary).

Black sapphic characters:

Alike (Adepero Oduye) Laura (Pernell Walker) Bina (Aasha Davis)

Connections:

Alike x Bina (black sapphic)

Sex & Nudity - Mild

Sex toys.

Nudity in a strip club.

Violence & Gore - Moderate

Verbal homophobic slurs used.

Physical altercations (two counts).

Profanity - Moderate 

Swearing (f-word, s- word, bitch).

Homophobic slurs.

Alcohol, Drugs & Smoking - Moderate

Smoking: Joints.

Alcohol: Social drinking.

Frightening & Intense Scenes - Mild

A physical altercation after a character's coming out.

A family argument that turns violent.

#pariah #2010s movie #black butch #black lesbian #coming out movie #new york city #dee rees #female director #adepero oduye #pernell walker #aasha davis #coming of age #coming out #teenage black butch #teen butch #homophobia #alike x bina #queer coming of age #gay club #main black sapphic couple #black sapphic couple #blacksapphiccouple #blc #movie #stud #stud woman #black masc #black masc women

[permeate]

#x #edited #intimacy #intimate #couple #couple photography #black and white #babygirl aesthetic #aesthetic #aestheitcs #vintage #art on tumblr #radarplz #teen

[8ballhomo]

twitter: spaceboycowboy

[aizenat]

Real talk: are there any young women on Hollywood/the entertainment industry these days that ISN’T a fucking nepo baby?

#no wonder gen z was making a big deal about this a couple of years ago #virtually every non black female under the age of 30 acting right now are all nepo babies #look at the cast of any movie for teens/young adults and about half the cast had a parent’s name highlighted in blue #I didn’t know it was this rampant #as these girls age they’ll start trickling into the stiff more in line with what I’d watch #it’s annoying #does actually talent and worth ethic matter anymore? #this is specifically non black actresses #Ayo edebiri is getting a lot of work but she’s like the only black woman in Hollywood under 30 getting consistent roles and gigs wtf #Hollywood was always a hard town to make it but these studios have no desire to actually look for and discover and cultivate talent anymore #it’s so annoying the same thing is happening in music #I feel like I’m watching the downfall of art #we’re about to go into a real dark ages art wise and it’s pissing me off

[silviakundera]

Manner of Death rewatch ep 11-14 (finale)

The thing about MoD's story structure and pacing is that they really want the viewer to suspect, but not want to suspect, love interest Tan for the first 3/4ths of the drama. It's a romantic suspense setup where Tan is attractive but dangerous... and attractive because he's dangerous.

Once this culminates in ep 10-11 with the reveal of the true antagonists, now the story focus flips over from romantic suspense to mostly pure suspense. Our otp is solid and just trying to get out of this alive & together. It makes a rewatch of the final 4 episodes pretty fast because you can speed thru the case stuff.

In my rewatch I've been directing stronger attention to the brothers' minor relationship arc, which I wasn't really tracking the first time around (as I presumed mob boss Por was gonna just end up as a minor jailed baddy).

Now that I have KP Chay's frequent, "Hia!" in my brain, it pings a bit harder whenever Tan directs it to Por with a plaintive edge. This low level criminal boss who almost killed him a couple episodes earlier is indeed the only family Tan has left. Tan trusted enough in that to tie his man to a staircase and show up in Por's mansion o' thugs to try to break thru to him face 2 face. LOL can u believe this murder case actually fixed their fucked up half-sibling relationship.

When it looks like the 3 teens are about to get GOT by the corrupt commander's officer and then pop! A shower of blood and its big brother Por standing there with his gun like the most menacing hero 🙌

Then he shows up at the couple's hiding stop with some handy stolen evidence and is like, "right now you're fugitives wanted by the police"

ok, fuck, I guess he IS your hia. 🤔

That scene where our otp watch the horrific proof of who killed Jane and even Por is like DAMN. I'm like, that's right bitch, this is why we don't murder our siblings ok it is not cool.

Somehow I find this all hilarious.

And then Por gets kidnapped! "Hia!" engaged. "Don't worry about me! Release the video!" wow, big brother, we've come such a long way in 4 episodes.

But then Tan is ready to risk it all, including his true love, in order to save his bro so.

The family that faces death together, stays together? 🤔

ah, Corrupt cop arrives for the rescue to kill the even more corrupt cop! YAY! He plugs that dude so full of lead he could serve as a paperweight. Nice.

MoD has a bit of that Vampire Diaries vibe, where the practical answer is always to align yourself with the lesser monsters.

Drugging & trafficking young girls under 15 is the greater evil. Even dirty cops & mobsters agree: let's scrub these scum out of our sketchy town and get back those "grey areas" everyone is comfortable with.

Very realistic that the congressman gets away. But 2 out of 3 isn't bad.

Tan and the other henchmen catch our villianess at the border and bring her back for Por to deliver a thematically appropriate murder. 👌

The less said about the psychotic proposal the better. But the kids are back in class and Tan is back to his teaching day job. And a man actually agreed to marry him after meeting him in the woods, being told he's on an errand for his mob boss brother, and running off with him to be held at gunpoint yet again. But just kidding! (Bun, this is the 1st day of the rest of your life: that hot man lying to you AGAIN.)

That's true love.

#my advice for ur rewatch: invest in that brother relationship #it added a spice #i really hope they do occasional family dinners #still bitter that the teen hechman x friendly student couple stayed subtext #normally i never care about teen couples when the main PoV is adults #but damn thai dramas got me again #first Tod x Black now this bullshit #whyyyyyyyy #fine fine fine #im over it #MoD is still a great batshit good time for all #highly recommend as long as you enjoy highly problemmatic characters #kisses #manner of death

[davetada]

Teen couple

Enoshima, JP

#enoshima #nikon fm3a #japan #black and white #ilford hp5 #vacation #sea candle #nihon #film #analog #ishootfilm #filmisnotdead #teens #couple #japanese

[justrake]

Your touch makes me feel comfortable, never let me go

#couple #let me choke you #veiny hands #veiny arms #black aesthetic #b&w #hot #daddy #cute #thirst #sexy #teen