Black Love Letters

by Cole Brown, Natalie Johnson

"We reserve this space for our humanity in all of its fond, ironic, elated, grief-stricken, confused glory . . . When you find yourself alone and downtrodden, when the news is too much, return to these pages. This one is for you." ―from the introduction by Cole Brown and Natalie Johnson

"There's something particularly special about Black Love. When you consider the history of our people, the strife and adversity we've overcome, love seems an almost illogically ambitious act of resistance." ―from the foreword by John Legend

From celebrated Black writers, creators, and thinkers―and with a foreword by John Legend―comes a collection of letters and original illustrations on the subject of Black love, a powerful and heartfelt celebration of Blackness in all its many forms.

In this exquisite anthology of letters and illustrations, Cole Brown and Natalie Johnson bring together a constellation of influential Black figures to write to the people, places, and moments that mean the most to them. With a foreword from John Legend and contributions from Brontez Purnell, Morgan Jerkins, Reverend Al Sharpton, and Dr. Imani Perry, among many others, Black Love Letters is an ode to a phenomenal a testament to the fact that where there has been pain and suffering, there has also always been immeasurable, irrepressible joy and love.

With letters Akili King • Reverend Al Sharpton • Alexandra Elle • Allisa Charles-Findley • Barbara Edelin • Belinda Walker • Ben Crump • Bill Whitaker • Bilquisu Abdullah • Brianna Holt • Brontez Purnell • Cole Brown • Danez Smith • Dick Parsons • Deborah Willis • Doug Jones • Douglas Kearney • Imani Perry • Jamila Woods • Jan Menafee • Jayne Allen • Jeh Charles Johnson • Jenna Wortham • Jonathan Capehart • John Legend • Joel Castón • Joy-Ann Reid • Justus Cornelius Pugh • Kwame Dawes • Lynae Vanee Bogues • Mahogany Browne • Malachi Elijah • Michael Eric Dyson • Morgan Jerkins • Nadia Owusu • Natalie Johnson • Raka Reynolds • Rhianna Jones • Chef Rōze Traore • Sojourner Brown • Tarana Burke • Tembe Denton-Hurst • Topaz Jones • Tracey Michae’l Lewis-Giggetts • VJ Jenkins

Genres: Nonfiction, Poetry, Romance, Essays, Race, Short Stories, Social Justice

240 pages, Hardcover

Published October 24, 2023

About the author

Cole Brown is an author, producer, and political commentator. His first book, Greyboy: Finding Blackness in a White World was a finalist for an NAACP Image Award and selected for Steph Curry’s “Underrated” book club. His first co-authored book, First Impressions, was released in May ’22. Black Love Letter's, an anthology Cole co-edited, released in October 2023 on John Legend's Get Lifted Books imprint. Cole’s opinion writing appears in GQ, W, CNN, NBC, and others. He was a 2022 Forbes 30 Under 30 in Media honoree. Today, he lives in New York working on various literary and film projects.

Reviews

[Lalaa #ThisBlackGirlReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

"When you consider the history of our people, the strife and adversity we’ve experienced and overcome, love seems an almost illogically ambitious act of resistance. We take pain and hardship and convert it into something that sustains us."

A collection about Black love in all its beauty and glory, how could I resist? Needless to say, I jumped into this collection expecting to be enthralled in the beauty, essence, and complication of Black love in all its forms, and this book did not disappoint.

From the very beginning, with an introduction written by John Legend, this book moved me.

The letter he wrote to his wife was touching and while the letter was for her it resonated so deeply because he proclaimed something that truly stuck with me, essentially that love is the core of everything he does. I thought this was a beautiful sentiment. To live and be guided by love in all that we do.

I devoured this book, each letter added a different layer of beauty and a different layer of how we love as Black people. How we love through pain, through difficult times, and through adversity.

All the letters are different, some are to lovers, brothers, sisters, grandparents, fathers, mothers and the list goes on.

There are so many letters I loved some that stuck out are:

Joy Reid to Her Hair
Michael Eric Dyson to the Black Church
Tarana Burke to Grandma
Reverend Al Sharpton to His Grandson
Jayne Allen to Blackness
Alex Elle to Self

Here are a few lines that I loved from the collection:

- "It is my belief that the most political thing you can do is love another Black person. It’s an act of resistance. It is revolutionary."

- The proverb is, Every time an elder dies, a library burns to the ground. If that’s true, then when a Black grandma dies, it’s like losing ancient scrolls.

- "I understand now that love is imperfect, but it is always within reach."

- " Assassination was an occupational hazard for folks on the frontlines of the struggle"

- " I love you for loving me at times when I found it difficult to even love myself."

Such a beautiful collection prepared to be moved.

Thank you Zando Projects, Get Lifted Books, and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC for my honest review.

[Chelsea Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book feels like soul care. Grateful for poetry centered on our stories and experiences. This is art!

[chantel nouseforaname · Rating 5 out of 5]

Black Love Letters left me emotionally full! These letters were heartfelt and spanned generations and relationships. Each one gave honesty, affection and connection. Even when the pieces were reflecting on hard or challenging topics, it hit! Honestly, so much of the time I felt like: I'm not crying, you're crying! Seriously though, the book is filled with moments that make you pause and reflect on the power of love, and family. Tarana Burke's letter to her grandmother hit me deeply — there’s something so profound about women writing back across generations, filled with clear-eyed wisdom and understanding. I know I wrote that about another book of poetry written by a Canadian author recently, but it's true here as well - there's something special about reflecting upon your lineage and thinking about and writing about their impacts on you.

Another of my favorite pieces is Tembe Denton-Hurst's sweet letter to her half-baby sister, I LOVE YOU, BABY — the tenderness between siblings is palpable, reminding us of the bonds we build in unexpected ways. And don’t even get me started on Kwame Dawes’ piece on fishing; it’s the best thing I’ve read in a long time: an expansive, vivid, lush and meditative reflection on life, it hit. That was my absolute favourite segment of the book. The love letter Pops and Dad by VJ Jenkins is another standout, as Jenkins captures the beauty and complexity of Black masculinity, and unrequited queer love. This collection is a truly touching testament to the various ways love is expressed, shared, and remembered.

More faves include the piece by my play auntie Joy Ann Reid to her hair, the piece by Jamila Woods, Ben Crump to Thurgood Marshall describing the important and continuous struggle towards progress featuring this statement:

“We are on the front lines. The courtroom is the battlefield for the struggle. You taught me that. The struggle is my calling, just as it was yours. Folks tend to condemn the struggle when really, they should celebrate it. I fell in love with it—there’s no other way to do this work and keep alive. Progress is gratifying, but a mystery. The struggle is all that’s guaranteed—like a car requires friction to start, progress demands struggle.”

and the one that made me cry: Allisa Charles-Findley to her brother Botham Jean which eviscerated me. For those who need a reminder:

“Allisa’s brother, Botham Jean, was murdered on September 6, 2018, when an off-duty Dallas Police Department patrol officer entered his apartment in Dallas, Texas, and fatally shot him. His name became a rallying cry for protests city- and nationwide.”

All in all it was a emotionally fulfilling read, the illustrations were also dope, and you should read it.

[Andre(Read-A-Lot) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tremendous.A book about Black love told through letters. And not every letter is to a loved partner or parent. Michael Eric Dyson writes to the Black church and Joy Ann-Reid writes to her hair. All the letters speak of love, loving through difficult circumstances and oppression, repression, and depression. In the final tally love always wins. That is my main takeaway. So fellow readers, don’t sleep on this one. Add this book to your shelf post-haste! Oh and the cover is 🔥 fire!

[Kierra Tarrance · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book felt like a warm embrace after a long day.

Black culture is formed with love. This book perfectly encapsulates that fact. Pack a tissue or two.

I’ll be saving this book to read again when my blackness feels heavy or when the tries to make me forget my identity is formed in love

[Hugh Minor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely. Just lovely. Stumbled upon it at Barbara's Bookstore in O'Hare while I was looking for a magazine for my flight. Cried most of the way home while reading it. Thankful. Grateful.

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

This anthology, thoughtfully curated by Cole Brown and Natalie Johnson, brings together celebrated Black writers, creators, and thinkers, each contributing heartfelt letters and original illustrations that center on the subject of Black love. From John Legend's eloquent foreword to the poignant contributions of luminaries like Brontez Purnell, Morgan Jerkins, Reverend Al Sharpton, and Dr. Imani Perry, "Black Love Letters" is a compelling mosaic of voices that celebrates the beauty, strength, and deep humanity of Black people.

In a world marred by war, suffering, and social injustice, loving and allowing oneself to be loved is a political act. The act of loving another Black person is a revolutionary one, as it defies the historical adversity and systemic oppression that Black folx and Black communities have endured. "Black Love Letters" beautifully captures this truth and serves as a testament to the expansive capacity of Black people to love, heal, and thrive despite the trauma and suffering we have faced throughout history.

The collection echoes the sentiments of Lynae Vanee, who eloquently encapsulates the essence of Black love as a force that transcends time and space. Vance writes that Black Love is found in the praying hands of grandmothers, the shared moments of joy on hot summer days, the support of siblings, and the resilience of a community that has had to navigate a world that often seeks to diminish their worth. This anthology reveals that Black love is not just about romantic relationships; it is a love that extends to self and to the collective.

In times of turmoil, books like "Black Love Letters" are indispensable. They remind us that even in the face of adversity, love and connection can be our guiding lights. Through its letters and illustrations, this anthology offers a soothing balm for those seeking solace, a source of inspiration for those yearning for a sense of belonging, and a call to action for those who wish to stand in solidarity with communities enduring hardship.

Thank you to the editors, contributors, and publisher for the e-arc copy!

[Eros Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I love Black Love because, when done in earnest and done right, it is possibly the most healing thing you can experience.”

When I put this on my TBR I barely looked at the cover outside of the title. So I was irritated when I seen John Legend was the foreword…considering this is a book dedicated from Black folks to Black folks.
Then, I looked into the editors..
& I almost chose not to read it all together.

But, I read it and it was emotionally beautiful. Love letters to Black grandparents, parents, family members, lovers, friends & more. I walked away from this read leaning heavily into my loved ones.

I’m not sure if I would recommend this but I wouldn’t read it again.

[Kennedy C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

GUT-WRENCHING, SOUL-CHANGING TRUTHS, all in the form of a poetic love story. these love letters range everywhere from love of family, to love of friends, to love of self, to love of the world. It explores emotions like love, grief, anger, sadness, joy, and everything in between. In my opinion, a must read. All of the contributors did an amazing job of transforming their own vulnerability into something that is relatable for us all.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely Beautiful

A must read. What we need now is love and lots of it. Black love makes your knees buckle. It’s tough, sweet, endearing and hard to understand. It’s a true gift.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soooo many good gems in this book. I underlined/highlighted something in almost every letter. I am very appreciative of this project and send all of my love to the contributors and editors.

[Kevin Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A powerful collection of letters that celebrates love in all its forms. Many of the letters are accompanied by illustrations, and these stark silhouettes are like woodcuts carved into the pages. There is a sweet melancholy running through many of the letters, an understanding that all love is ephemeral. As Jamila Woods, writing in ‘For Joycetta’, puts it “I’m embarrassed of the ways I’ve started to grieve you before you’re even gone.”

What I most appreciated was the encouragement to fully embrace contemporary black identity and also honor the culture and history of African Americans. Self-love, acceptance, and healing are recurring themes in the letters and best expressed by Lynae Vanee Bogues in ‘On Black Love…’ where she writes “(love) is a fort we build to shield the people we love from oppression and where we take ourselves to be repaired.”

[Devin Redmond]

I checked out 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘓𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 because its beautiful cover was looking at me from the shelves of the ICPL. Physically, it’s a small book that fits well in your hands. And it wasn’t too long.
Editors Cole Brown and Natalie Johnson “bring together a constellation of influential Black figures to write the people, places, and moments that mean the most to them.” (book jacket)
There was lots of vulnerability and honesty in these words, and the book isn’t really one to rate because of it.

[Sherie Carnegie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love this little palate cleanser- short essays on what we love about Black people, life, experience. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely a book to keep in your library

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great love letters from and to people in the black community. There was even a love letter from Al Roker to a new grandchild.

[Natasha Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gave it a 3.5. Was a really good book would recommend just wasn’t for me

[Shawn Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great collection of Black stories. Many were relatable, while others resonated well.

[noloveyourloss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read. I love short stories when I’m not sure what to read next.

[Domonique Abner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the letters from John Legend and Alex Elle! 🤎

[mars m. · Rating 5 out of 5]

happy black history month 🫶🏾

[Joanna Seeley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and moving. Johnson’s illustrations shine. This book is rich in shared love and pain and experiences. Gorgeous.

[Stephen Paul Chase, Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love audiobooks on CD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jacqueline Nyathi · Rating 5 out of 5]

"White people have the luxury of experiencing love as a journey only burdened with the defaults of humanity. However, we experience love as an escape. It is a fort we build to shield the people we love from oppression and where we take ourselves to be repaired. The people we love are our safe zones. They allow us to direct our attention away from the veil and into the worlds we build together. When two or three of us gather to love or be loved, it is already implied that each of us had to work through a thing even to offer such an extension of ourselves, which makes our love stronger. (Lynae Vanee Bogues, On Black Love…)"

Ah, such a delight! This is a book about Black Love: community, family present, absent or on the way, couples, friends, self, peers and mentors, and even jazz, hair, the Church, fishing, and travel—a collection of letters from Black people to Black people and Black experiences. There’s so much life and grace and connection in these pages, so much pain and joy and grief and celebration—in Care, Awe, Loss, Ambivalence, and Transformation, the five sections of the book. And it’s beautiful.

The book opens with a lovely (as one would expect) letter from John Legend to his wife, Chrissy. Namesake, by Natalie Johnson, a letter to her late aunt, took my breath away, as did My Black Body by Malachi Elijah and So I Can Face the Fear Of Living by Sojourner Brown, both poems about living in Black bodies. But nothing in this book is filler; every “love letter” will speak to you. I was also very touched by the letters that honour the lineage of Black activism, including Rev. Al Sharpton’s letter to his grandchild, and Ben Crump’s to Justice Thurgood Marshall.

This love letter to Blackness is a welcome and complex record of the Black experience (in the US), and will make you feel so much. Highly recommended.

Thank you to Zando Projects/Get Lifted Books and to NetGalley for access.

[Selamawit · Rating 4 out of 5]

We should all write letters to each other. I’m going to give this to a black friend and tell them to give it to another black friend when they’re done (and on and on). Think of all the beautiful places and minds it will live in instead of just sitting on my shelf!

[Ast · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this collection. From the first few pages I was moved by the words and knew that this is a book I have to have in my own library. The expressions of different kinds of Black love are beautiful. The vulnerability is admirable. I am not familiar with many of the contributors but their one letter told me so much about who they are. I am grateful that I stumbled on random Instagram post that featured this book.