I have noticed recently a number of BWWM writers of erotica and dark romance commenting about reviews they are receiving about their books. Some people are hurt and discouraged, others are defiant, but the issue is the same. For some readers, Black women don't belong in dark romances, and they especially don't belong in dark romances if the hero is not Black.
I get it. Historically, Black women have been treated very poorly in the west. We struggle under the weight of a lot of prejudices and stereotypes. We are often considered less attractive and less feminine than other women, or as hypersexual beasts who can't control ourselves. The same behaviors -- one night stands, getting swept away by lust, accidental pregnancy, submissiveness -- that is seen as mildly negative or neutral when white, Asian or Hispanic women do it, is considered differently from us. All these behaviors feed into stereotypes in some people's eyes and so our heroines must be moral, emotionally strong, difficult to manipulate, in control sexually, and/or bad bitches.
I decided to write this after someone left a negative review (1-star) on each of three books in my series. In the last review she said she did not finish, reiterated her opinion that the book glorified white male abuse of Black women (worse than Jim Crow, if I'm recalling correctly) and told me never to write another book. Today, I saw another writer post that she was taking that advice and would no longer write BWWM books. This saddens me because I've seen readers complaining at the lack of BWWM books or books with Black heroines across the romance genre, even from writers who are Black. This post is for readers AND writers. I am the first person to say that a reader has the right to think what they want about a book and to share that opinion in their review. However, I want to respond as an author in a general way and share my position on the issue. Take it how you will.
1. I believe that romance novels are fantasy. My books in particular explore some of the darker aspects of human nature, and I deliberately include characters that are not going to show up in Harlequin romances. I want readers to like my books, no doubt, but I feel no obligation to meet everyone's fantasy. If you have a need to see a particular kind of Black woman depicted in fiction that's all good. But as writers we don't have to (or can't) cover all the bases. If all heroines are strong, sensible, gorgeous goddesses, then you will get only one story over and over again. To create different kinds of stories you need a diversity of personalities and life experiences.
2. Romance has tropes. These tropes exist across the romance spectrum. Secret baby, accidental pregnancy, silly misunderstandings, abduction/forced proximity, billionaire/Cinderella/Pretty Woman, etc. aren't a Black woman thing. I've seen many reviewers complain about these being in books from a racial angle. If you don't like the trope, that's cool, but trust me the writer isn't putting it in there because the character is Black. It's there because it's a staple of romance novels.
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