,

9 Movies Embodying the Diversity of Black Love Across Decades

‘Twas the Friday before Valentine’s Day Suggested Reading ‘Sinners’ Releases in Black American Sign Language. Here’s What That Means A Burger King Employee Throws a Drink on a Child in Viral Video, and Black TikTok Goes Nuts The Best, Black TV Shows, Movies to Stream on AppleTV+ Video will return here when scrolled back into…

Image: Southside With You

‘Twas the Friday before Valentine’s Day

Video will return here when scrolled back into view
Trump’s Tariffs Might Stick Around. What Should We Buy Now?
Trump’s Tariffs Might Stick Around. What Should We Buy Now?

And all through the house

Not a creature was stirring

Because we cannot go out.

*Sigh* It’s Valentine’s Day again. I am a total romantic and have Valentine’s Day traditions dating back five years that I can’t do because my favorite restaurant is closed—for safety reasons—and I refuse to ever set foot in a movie theater again.

This can be a good thing, though, considering Valentine’s Day falls directly in the middle of Black History Month and celebrating Black love is of the utmost importance. Because we have been stuck inside for far too long, we haven’t had as much of a chance to love our divine Blackness and the divine Blackness of others. The end of 2020 brought us Sylvie’s Love, boasting a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and rave reviews from critics everywhere. Last Valentine’s Day, Stella Meghie’s The Photograph, a love story centered around family and connecting with one’s roots, premiered. The fact that these movies came out within less than a year from each other blows my mind, but that’s not the point.

This year, I want to honor movies I love that paved the way for Black love to be appreciated across the silver screen—and maybe even throw in a kids’ film. Types of love across all people—from romantic love to friendship and family love—are represented in these films and make for a perfect addition to your night in this coming Sunday.

Poetic Justice – (1993)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVN8VjmuIEk

Wait, oh yes, wait a minute, Mister Postman… well, Mr. Postal Clerk, and buckle up, because this Valentine’s Day we’re driving across the country to Oakland. Directed by the late John Singleton, Poetic Justice features Janet Jackson and Tupac Shakur in a love story about trust (or lack thereof), art, and family. There isn’t much I can say about this film that hasn’t already been said, but it is one of those enduring Black love movies that encapsulate the idea of finding love with someone who traditionally wouldn’t be “for you.” If you’re a bit more about that life but still want to get in touch with your poetic side, you can watch Poetic Justice here.

How Stella Got Her Groove Back – (1998)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FXXJxy7hUc

Look, we’re almost a year into the global panorama and I, too, am looking forward to a getaway. Hell, I’ll settle for anywhere I don’t have to wear a parka and two pairs of socks! How Stella Got Her Groove Back follows Stella (Angela Bassett) as she needs to get away from her life in California and travels to Montego Bay, Jamaica, where she meets and falls in love with Winston Shakespeare (Taye Diggs), a man at least 20 years younger than her. Cue rolling in the waves and on the beach and wondering later how the hell you’re gonna get all of that sand out of your... hair. This movie exudes renewed love, both for others and yourself. So, if you’re into the traditional rom-com with a twist of newfound self-love, you can stream How Stella Got Her Groove Back here.

Love & Basketball – (2000)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ur83i6_BjbE

Pull out your sports bras, gym shorts, and tissues, because we’re about to play some Love & Basketball. Childhood best friends turned basketball lovers turned slightly estranged because of… Imma stop.

The movie is broken into four quarters. The first three follow Quincy (Omar Epps) and Monica (Sanaa Lathan) at the beginning of their lives and relationship. Though it starts very flirtatious, it gets very serious over the course of a few years until they both decide to go to the same college together. The fourth quarter is where most of the hard-hitting love comes in and knocks you in the face. If you want to fall heartbreakingly in love with two childhood friends as they fall for each other, watch Love & Basketball on Hulu or HBO Max.

The Princess and the Frog – (2009)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQBy6jqbmlU

Before we begin I would like to acknowledge the fact that yes, Disney does commodify and rip off Black love and culture, and yes, when Disney talks about Black love it is usually in the shape of one woodland animal to the next. But The Princess and the Frog is so good, and is filled with uplifting and inspiring messages for young women about what their own priorities in life should be—and also shines a light on how easy it can be to forget that. But yes, it is told through the lens of two frogs who have to journey through the bayou together with a whacked-out mosquito as their guide. In the end, they do end up happy together and the prince is sweeping Princess Tiana’s kitchen—as he should. Clearly, this movie is geared toward young children, so if you have any of your own and want to be sing-screaming “I’m almost there,” for the next few weeks, you can stream The Princess and the Frog on Netflix and Disney+.

Jumping the Broom – (2011)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ocnj8-_508

All right y’all, let us be transparent: I grew up on the sandy shores of Martha’s Vineyard and let me tell you, Jumping the Broom does the island dirty. The film wasn’t even shot on Martha’s Vineyard but shot on Blue Rocks, Nova Scotia, where the only similarity is that both have a year-round population of fewer than 15,000 people. But I digress.

The hilarious tale of a downtown man marrying an uptown woman and their meddling mothers in-law and the threat of their upcoming marriage imploding might not be a traditional movie to watch on Valentine’s Day, but the star-studded cast of characters more than makes up for the rocky beginning, middle… and end. The love in this film spans across family and friends and is perfect if you want a humorous love story—I mean Loretta Devine, Angela Bassett, Laz Alonzo, Meagan Good, Paula Patton? I could go on. But in the time I was rambling off the cast members, you could have watched the whole movie, which you can stream on Netflix—because they really understand the type of content we need on Valentine’s Day.

Moonlight – (2016)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NJj12tJzqc

Moonlight is for every type of love and emotion imaginable. Period.

You can see and feel it all for yourself when you stream Moonlight now on Netflix.

Southside With You – (2016)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erpUF2ToUls

It’s the first Valentine’s Day where the orange dumpster fire is not in office, which makes it a perfect time to reacquaint yourself with Barack and Michelle Obama’s first love story. The Obamas have been a beacon of Black love since we first met them, and this movie shows the world how they first met each other. Viewers get first glimpses into the philanthropy and influence the couple would have on the world, from Obama’s speech in church to Michelle’s drive to make the world better for women. The film also completely changed my perception of how ice cream should be eaten. If you’re ready to watch them fall in love and fall in love again yourself, then grab some ice cream and watch Southside With You on Hulu.

If Beale Street Could Talk – (2018)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQXSforT_qQ

Following the success of Moonlight, Barry Jenkins (writer and director), released If Beale Street Could Talk, a film adaptation of James Baldwin’s 1974 novel of the same name. Clementine “Tish” Rivers and Alonzo “Fonny” Hunt have been friends their whole lives, and when they finally get the chance to be together, Fonny is accused of raping a woman and is sent to jail. Just days later, Tish reveals she is pregnant with his child and she and her family do all they can to get him free. The movie dances across a nonlinear structure but sticks to the same storyline throughout, cutting between scenes and bringing the viewer back easily. Though there are pangs of fear and sadness that rip through the viewer from time to time, the love is effortlessly beautiful, spanning multiple generations, friends, and family. If Beale Street Could Talk is available to watch on Hulu.

Sylvie’s Love – (2020)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbjakuJZgww

Jazz is the music of love, and Sylvie’s Love embodies it. Set in 1962, Sylvie (Tessa Thompson) is working at her father’s music store when Robert (Nnamdi Asomugha) comes in looking for a Thelonious Monk album. I mean, what kind of meet-cute doesn’t start with a man walking into a record store and asking the beautiful woman behind the counter for music? The best kind.

The love that blossoms between Sylvie and Robert carries across oceans and time, as Robert leaves for Paris to go on tour. Five years later, Sylvie is able to find and love herself, accepting that she has to defend her own hopes in order to be the woman she set out to be. But when she sees Robert again—by chance—she is unable to hold onto her previous idea of what love is. If you’re inspired by high-class, badass, fine-ass women with a swooning and jazzy love story that we all can pine after, then streaming Sylvie’s Love on Amazon Prime is exactly what you should do this weekend.

Straight From The Root

Sign up for our free daily newsletter.

Latest from The Root

The Best, Black TV Shows, Movies to Stream on AppleTV+

The Best, Black TV Shows, Movies to Stream on AppleTV+

From Brian Tyree Henry getting down and dirty to David Oyelowo searching for a fresh start: we've got what you need to watch! ...
Have You Heard of The Tragic Story of Phyllis Hyman, a Beautiful, Soulful Singer Derailed By Her Own Demons?

Have You Heard of The Tragic Story of Phyllis Hyman, a Beautiful, Soulful Singer Derailed By Her Own Demons?

The soulful singer, known for hits like "Living All Alone and "You Know How to Love Me" died just days before her 46th birthday ...

'Sinners' Releases in Black American Sign Language. Here's What That Means

‘Sinners’ Releases in Black American Sign Language. Here’s What That Means

The deaf community was plagued by racial segregation, so Black Americans decided to create their own rendition of the language to serve their communities ...
A Burger King Employee Throws a Drink on a Child in Viral Video, and Black TikTok Goes Nuts

A Burger King Employee Throws a Drink on a Child in Viral Video, and Black TikTok Goes Nuts

The video of the volatile incident is making rounds on the internet and has everyone talking ...
Why NYC Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani Tried To Play The Black Card...Literally

Why NYC Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani Tried To Play The Black Card…Literally

Mamdani appears to have an interesting past when it comes to how he identifies racially, but what's it really all about? ...
If Poor Black, White People Unite, They'd Be An Unstoppable Force, But Here's Why The Powers That Be Won't Let Them

If Poor Black, White People Unite, They’d Be An Unstoppable Force, But Here’s Why The Powers That Be Won’t Let Them

We need to understand that America's current racial political divisions did not happen naturally. People in power did not want Black and white people to work together ...
What Diddy Will Eating and Doing In Prison This Fourth Of July

What Diddy Will Eating and Doing In Prison This Fourth Of July

Wondering what Diddy will be eating and Doing this holiday? Here's all the tea ...
A White Male TikToker Decided To Use Black Hair Relaxer... The Results Will Surprise You

A White Male TikToker Decided To Use Black Hair Relaxer… The Results Will Surprise You

A white TikTok Creator decided to use relaxer on his hair and... it worked? ...
Diddy's Best Friend Charlie Liucci is Being <i>Loud</i> About His Next Moves Will Be Following Acquittal

Diddy’s Best Friend Charlie Liucci is Being Loud About His Next Moves Will Be Following Acquittal

He's been spotted wearing "FREE PUFF" merch, now, Charlie Liucci has an inside scoop on what Diddy will do once released ...
How Baltimore Beat 'The Wire' Homicide Curse Under This Black Mayor

How Baltimore Beat ‘The Wire’ Homicide Curse Under This Black Mayor

Violent crime has plagued Baltimore for generations, and "The Wire's" depiction of drug and gang life surely hasn't helped... but there's hope ...
Best Self-Help Reads for Black Resilience in Uncertain Times

Best Self-Help Reads for Black Resilience in Uncertain Times

In these challenging times, these books can give you the hope you need ...
'Hey Google' and Other Voice Assistants Are Terrifying Children and Confusing Bemused Parents

‘Hey Google’ and Other Voice Assistants Are Terrifying Children and Confusing Bemused Parents

Social media is buzzing about the strange reaction kids are having to smart speakers in their homes ...
Internet Believes Eerie Photo Predicted Black Fort Worth Family's Tragedy

Internet Believes Eerie Photo Predicted Black Fort Worth Family’s Tragedy

A big rig driver admitted he fell asleep at the wheel in Kaufman County before he collided with stopped traffic ...
Why Philadelphia is Going Viral For Streets That Look Like a Landfill

Why Philadelphia is Going Viral For Streets That Look Like a Landfill

Libraries are closed, the medical examiner's office has a backlog of bodies, and trash is piling up everywhere ...
How Bakari Sellers Just Got the Ultimate Revenge on His MAGA CNN Colleague

How Bakari Sellers Just Got the Ultimate Revenge on His MAGA CNN Colleague

Sellers and Jennings often go back and forth on the CNN show, and this was only amplified when Jennings asked Sellers not to touch him during one viral interaction from December ...
The Scary Reason 'American Idol' Winner Jamal Roberts Declined a Key to This Southern Town

The Scary Reason ‘American Idol’ Winner Jamal Roberts Declined a Key to This Southern Town

While Roberts' reasoning is understandable, it's a shame he had to make the decision in the first place ...
A Black Mom Posted Video of a Terrifying Exchange She had with Police in Delaware

A Black Mom Posted Video of a Terrifying Exchange She had with Police in Delaware

Black Mom Says Cops Approached Her and Her Children With Guns Drawn ...
Why Are There Still Black People Listening To R. Kelly At The Summer Cookouts -- And What Does That Say About Us?

Why Are There Still Black People Listening To R. Kelly At The Summer Cookouts — And What Does That Say About Us?

Despite convictions and backlash, his music continues to collect streams. Why is the "Pied Piper" still on the cookout playlist? ...
How Diddy Could Still End Up With a Long Sentence, Despite The Acquittals

How Diddy Could Still End Up With a Long Sentence, Despite The Acquittals

Even with credit for time served, Diddy, 55, wouldn’t be free to break out the baby oil until 2031 ...
Why the Internet is Convinced Stephen A. Smith's And His Daughter Samantha Are Twins

Why the Internet is Convinced Stephen A. Smith’s And His Daughter Samantha Are Twins

Samantha Smith is the spitting image of her controversial sports commentator dad ...