VG March 2008 Blog Archives

March 06, 2008

What's so interesting about 'romance of color'?

Romance novels—particularly those by women of color—are not just stereotyped tales about supermodel women and well-built men. At least, not always. According to Bowdoin English Professor Guy Mark Foster, these books can explore interesting issues of race, class, and ethnicity, and can confound the usual boundaries of romance and love.

VG has a number of different biographies and critical information about women romance writers of color.

Selected ‘romance’ writers on VG

Sophia Alice Callahan wrote Wynema in 1891, a “multifaceted work of fiction combining elements of conventional sentimental romance with actual historical events and facts,” according to Callahan’s biography page. Callahan used the romantic formula popular in the 19th century, but also addressed the issues of assimilation and destruction of Native groups and culture. Read more about Callahan and Wynema.>

Naoko Takeuchi writes girls’ romance manga, or comics. Her most popular thus far, according to her biography, has been the book Sailor Moon. Read more about Takeuchi and her works.>

The two McMillan sisters, Roslyn and Terry both have written romance-based works. In an interview with People Weekly, Rosalyn described herself as a romance novel enthusiast. Terry—Rosalyn’s more famous sister—has been credited, according to her biography, with creating “a new literary genre with her upbeat novels about contemporary black women.” Certainly, romance has been a part of that. Read more about Roslyn and Terry McMillan.

The romance novels of Anita Richmond Bunkley are not just about love. According to her biography page, Bunkley “emphasizes the connection between nurturing existing relationships with friends and family and having healthy romantic relationships. In addition, Bunkley incorporates real-life experiences, feelings, and problems into the lives of the African American characters she portrays in her books.” Read more about Bunkley and her works.>

The works of Winnifred Eaton, more popularly known as Onoto Watanna were popular romances. According to her biography, they gave Americans a “flavor of the Orient” by drawing on the Orientalist clichés of the time. Watanna both explored diverse social issues and exploited Oriental fantasies, writing romance novels about Eurasian and Japanese women. A review of Watanna’s The Heart of Hyacinth can be found in the VG critique section. Read more about Watanna and her works.>

Courtni Wright is another romance novelist of color. Wright has penned children's historical fiction, women's fiction, and romance. Read more about Courtni Wright and her works.>

Keep exploring

• Black Books Direct has a list of African-American romance novelists.
• Read an article about the work of Guy Mark Foster in the Bowdoin Academic Spotlight: “Romance Novels Explore Racial Boundaries”
• The African-American Literature Book Club also lists resources for those interested in “romance of color.”

Do you have suggestions?

Are there romance writers you'd like to see listed on this site? Would you like to write a review or suggest something to your fellow VG readers? Email us at voices@umn.edu or let us know below.

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