Growing up I didn't see many shows or movies centering Black women and showing Black girls being loved; blame it on colorist Disney. Black women deserve to take up space everywhere, romantic storytelling included.

As much as I am a proponent of Black love, Black women are also in interracial relationships and I think it's important to show Black women being loved in a variety of ways.

The picks below run the gamut of romance from comedy to drama. Curl up to watch them this Valentine's Day or any other time you're in the mood to see sparks fly on the screen.

Summertime

This Italian Netflix drama series follows Summer AKA Summy Bennati, a teen who is eager to graduate high school and travel to broaden her horizons. She lives in a small city on the Adriatic Coast where the brutal winters give way to a brief and excitable summertime, which Summy ironically hates. Alongside her two best friends, Edo and Sofia, she tends to stay under the radar. At a summertime party, she ends up meeting Ale Alba, a competitive motorcyclist. The two commence a whirlwind love story.

As season two unfolds, Summy has a handful of people in love with her; she has to decide whether or not she wants to please those around her or pursue her true passions and true love.

The main actress, Coco Rebecca Edogamhe, is a biracial Italian actress (of Italian and Nigerian descent) whose real life younger sister, Alicia Ann Edogamhe, stars in the show with her. Edogamhe hopes that her success inspires other actors of color in the country to pursue their dreams and that eventually, “...seeing an Italian girl of color on the screen is just normal.”

Seasons one and two are available to stream on Netflix. The show was renewed for a third season in the summer of 2021.

The Lovebirds

This romantic comedy follows Leilani and Jibran, a couple in a long-term, decaying relationship. The pair question whether or not they want to continue working on their love when they unexpectedly become involved in a murder case. They subsequently go on a quest to clear their names; as they encounter danger at every turn and try to stay alive, they must assess the viability of their relationship.

First off, the casting choice was interesting. How many movies can you think of that feature an interracial couple comprised of a Black woman and an Asian man? Not many. I believe that Issa Rae, who stars as Leilani, wrote about something I'll call the “cultural desirability market” (specific to the U.S.) in her book entitled The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl, and how Black women and Asian men consistently ranked as the least desirable based upon digital dating profile preferences. I think that featuring that type of couple makes this movie a special gem.

That said, it wasn't the funniest movie I've ever seen but it had its moments. Issa Rae always makes for an awkwardly good time and it's an easy, lighthearted watch. (It was definitely a welcome distraction during the height of the pandemic!)

The Lovebirds is available to stream on Netflix.

The Photograph

This romantic drama was written and directed by Canadian media maven Stella Meghie. In the movie, we see Christina Eames, a noteworthy photographer from Louisiana die suddenly, leaving her daughter Mae Morton frustrated with a multitude of unanswered questions. Mae ends up meeting with a curious journalist, Michael Block, to uncover more about her mother's life and legacy. The two explore an electric romance encumbered by their commitment issues.

The film is about love intertwined with complicated and fraught mother-daughter relationships. I think that a lesson most people need to learn is that our parents are individuals outside of being our caregivers and need to be given the grace and space to be imperfect human beings. A sage line that Mae's father delivers to her regarding Christina is, “She wasn’t just your mother. At some point you’re going to have to forgive her and realize she was just a woman…with flaws.”

The movie has a quiet confidence and paces gracefully. The opening pulls you in and intrigues you to learn more about the story. Scenes swing between New York and Louisiana, past and present. It's a drama but definitely encompasses infectious humor as well. The music was composed by Robert Glasper.

The actors did a great job, especially Chanté Adams as Christina Eames and Marsha Stephanie Blake as Violet Eames. LaKeith Stanfield, who plays Michael Block, is probably my favorite male actor; he always does well. The other auxiliary actors were also very natural.

I love Issa Rae but I wish she gave me more in this film. She’s an exceptional director, EP, and writer, but I wouldn't say that dramatic acting is her forte. The good thing about her is that she’s comical and charismatic so even if her acting isn’t giving what it’s supposed to, especially in a drama, you still enjoy seeing her on screen.

The Photograph is available to stream on HBO Max and on Hulu with a premium subscription.