I am a member of a book club for Black women, and it was my turn to choose a book. I decided on a second-chance romance, “When I Think of You” by Myah Ariel.  My sister read the book, and I read the dedication, instantly knowing that this book was going to resonate with me in more ways than one.  

The love story of Danny Prescott and Kaliya Wilson is one of deep introspection, personal growth, risk, and the passage of time, which allows for a second chance at love.

While the book centers on the film industry, music plays a significant role in the storytelling, including references to  Stevie Wonder’s Songs in the Key of Life (which, in my opinion, is one of the best albums in history) and the perfect soundtrack for any love story.

“You know the feeling when a song comes on the radio that you haven’t heard in years, and instantly it’s your favorite song all over again, that’s you. You have been my favorite song all over again. – Danny Prescott, When I think of you

Words like that leap off the pages of a book straight into the soul and enhance powerful storytelling because music has had such a profound impact on our culture and our stories.

Music Motif in Black Love Stories

 Music has been so central to the Black experience that it makes total sense for Black authors to use music as a powerful theme in their love stories. There’s something about music that can transport us back in time. Songs that remind us of who we once were and who we once aspired to be. The majority of my “Hip Hop & R&B” workout playlist is songs from the 90s, 00s, and 10s when I was coming of age, enjoying nightlife ( BEFORE SCREENS), WHEN PEOPLE  ACTUALLY DANCED, coming into my own, and thinking the world was mine for the taking.  When those songs come on, I can’t help but giggle and bop around, remembering the good times.

I love the love and music motif with Black authors because music is so deeply ingrained in Black culture. Whether it’s the soul-stirring gospel music at church, Frankie Beverly and Maze blasting at the cookout, memories of the late-night Quiet Storm R&B jams on the radio,  or the “ignant” club music that even had the most bougie of us screaming “YEAH!! OKKKK!”

Even in the midst of grief, songs can remind us of our loved ones and evoke fond memories of them.  Not long after my mother passed away, my sister and I were in Trader Joe’s, and we heard the song “One Hundred Ways” by James Ingram. We both immediately thought of our mother because she loved that song.  I was recently at Trader Joe’s and heard an Anita Baker song, so I immediately texted my sister because Anita Baker and Luther Vandross were my mother’s favorites. Who knew Trader Joe’s was so soulful?

 

How the use of the Music Motif in Black love stories has inspired me to write a love story

The use of the music motif in Black love stories has inspired me to one day write a love story. Whether it is based on actual events that haven’t happened to me yet or fragments of couples I know, I am going to write a love story.

I have been accused of having a penchant for the dramatic, and now that I am in my 40s, I intend to use that to my advantage.  We need more love stories centering Black women that allow us to be fully seen and fully human.

Music is part of my ability to communicate and tell stories. My mother sang in church, and I did inherit some of her vocal talent.  Since I used to teach and lead in a charismatic church, I would often sing as part of my message.  Music is a natural extension of my communication style, providing the soundtrack for my ability to tell stories. Music will be at the heart of the love story I write,  reinforced by an accompanying soulful soundtrack that brings the story to life.

If I could pick any accompanying soundtrack for my love story, it would be 1990s R&B with Jodeci as the headliner. However, that has gotten me into trouble because several years ago, I saw this human here in the city of San Francisco who looked like a Jodeci song in the flesh. I straight up could hear K-Ci hollering, “I CAN’T LEAVE YOU ALONE.  YOU GOT ME FEENIN. OOH YEAH!”

Friends, if you asked me my type, I couldn’t have come up with a better picture: bald, chocolate, beard, and other fixings. He looked like a Jodeci song come to life, and I couldn’t let this moment pass me by.  

Nevertheless, turning into a crazed, hormonal lioness intent on devouring her prey is not a good look.  To this day, I am convinced I had some biological reaction where he had pheromones that completely took hold of my rational brain and set me off,

I used to teach workshops about being single and thriving, and my best tip was that harassing and bullying people that you are highly attracted to is not a good dating strategy.  One thing about me is I’m always going to have a good story to tell!   Unfortunately, most of the time, they end up being a comedy or a cautionary tale of what NOT to do. 

Speaking of stories, there was the time I was trying to create my own story to embellish later on or to include in a book. 

A  few years ago, I impulsively purchased two tickets to see Celine Dion when she was scheduled to have a concert at the Chase Center here in San Francisco. I never went to her Vegas residency because I couldn’t bear to attend a Celine Dion concert as a single person or with someone I wasn’t in love with, as I felt that would be an invitation to either sink into depression or do something impulsive. 

“If I buy these tickets, the next thing you know, I will be in that arena with the love of my life, and I will be in pure ecstasy as I sing from the depths of my being,” I thought to myself .

We’re heading for something.

Somewhere I’ve never been

Sometimes I am frightened

But I’m ready to learn

Of the power of luuurve

Sadly, the tour was canceled due to Celine Dion’s diagnosis of stiff person syndrome.  Her disease looks very painful, and I pray she has a full recovery.  That may also have been a sign from God, allowing my story to unfold as it needs to, in the time allotted, and to stop trying to control it.

Black women are allowed to be flawed and be loved.  I want to write that story.  I feel it’s essential to document this publicly before it happens, for accountability purposes and to confirm my inner knowing.

The woman who runs away at the first sign of trouble may be suffering from childhood abandonment issues, or maybe you have a problem with letting go of control because you felt you couldn’t count on the people in your life to come through for you.  Perhaps you may come across as aggressive and demanding because you’ve had to fight for every opportunity you’ve had.  

The man who is unable to communicate his feelings due to trauma, grief, rejection, feelings of inadequacy, low self-worth, misplaced ideas about identity and value; these all deserve characters with a story to tell.

As this idea begins to take shape, I sense that the story I am going to write will be a second-chance love story.  Some people do not believe in second chances, and I can see why, but there’s something about a redemption arc between two people on diverging paths who reconnect and converge at the right moment because in the end LOVE WINS!!