text: Love Lessons – Brytnie Devon
  14 Jul 2017 25 Jun 2018 by Brytnie Devon
  I grew up watching and listening to old 90's classics. I was born in 1994, so I'm a product of parents that were absolutely in love with the 90's and everything it had to offer, which resulted in my infatuation with timeless love stories and music that made you sad about your break up, want to dance in the club, and want to find somebody to love all at the same time.
  I put together a list of three of my favorite films! Besides these films having black casts, it's safe to say that one thing that keeps me coming back to these movies is the undeniable chemistry between the actors and actresses and the lessons that they seemed to teach us. Something about each one of these movies left us feeling attached to each character. Each cast member has a certain amount of relatibility that is undeniable. I'm sure all of us have seen these movies an unbelievable amount of times and can quote the lines word for word without hesitation (I know I can).
  Below is my list of some of my favorite films, why I fell in love with them, and the lessons they taught me. But all three of these films have at least some if not all of these things in common…they are between artsy lovers, they have the best 90s soundtrack out, Sanaa Lathan is the lead actress, the love between these lovers blossomed when they were kids, the couples struggle to accept their love for one another until it seems to be too late.
  Darius Lovehall: Let me tell you somethin'. This here, right now, at this very moment, is all that matters to me. I love you. That's urgent like a motherf—-.
  A love story about two artsy lovers in Chicago.
  Larenz Tate and Nia Long were the perfect on screen combination for this film.
  As an artist and a lover of poetry I loved that this love story was between two creatives, a photographer and a poet/author. Both of these individuals lived lives as artists hustling and trying to make a dime, while somehow finding the time to fall in love with one another. Larenz' character "Darius" caught Nia's character "Nina" attention when he recited a poem he had written in the night club while staring deeply into her eyes.
  Darius Lovehall: Say, baby…can I be your slave? I've got to admit girl you're the sh** girl…and I'm digging you like a grave.
  Nina was hooked from this moment forward. However, like most relationships, Nina and Darius' relationship wasn't all smiles and roses. They still went through typical relationship drama like miscommunication, trust issues, heartache, etc. But through the miscommunication and eventual breakup, these two characters still had an undeniable connection and they fought for one another.
  This movie taught me that love comes during the most unexpected times and through people that you'd never imagine. It taught us that if you truly love someone despite the mess, love will always find its way and that love is always worth fighting for! Love is complicated and sometimes you gotta give it all up in order for someone to appreciate what they have and sometimes you gotta go through things with temporary people to be prepared to love your forever after. It also taught us the importance of friendships. These characters had some of the best relationships with friends, but also each other. There friendship is what made there bond stronger.
  It's the perfect movie coupled with a glass of wine and a bag of popcorn, and a rainy day.
  Monica: One game, one-on-one
  Monica: Your heart
  From the very beginning when Monica and Quincy were kids, they had a chemistry that we couldn't ignore. They had that love/hate relationship that we all had once or twice when we were kids. You know that feeling you get when you like someone but just don't know how to express it or what it means. But as they grew up together, that love deepened.
  This is by far one of my favorite movies because these two had the same passion and fell in love with it and each other together. They were best friends turned lovers.
  From kids to adults, they had something special. Although they broke up and moved on in other relationships, the ending of this film showed that true love never dies but strengthens. It challenged our thoughts on the complicated choice of having to choose between your first love (basketball) and the love of your life, (in this case Quincy). It made us question if it was even fair to choose. But also displayed how in moments of pain we tend to push the people that have our backs and love us the most away due to fear and our own pride.
  Quincy: All's fair in love and basketball
  Sanna Lathan and Omar Epps delivered these characters in a way that was real and emotional. From Monica's sassy, arrogant, and guarded character to Quincy's player and hard persona we became invested in the lives of each character and wished that we could have a love like there's (except the break up!).
  Syd: I thought it would be an adolescent memory I would look back on, like a crush on the captain of the football team, but I realize we have more than that, much more, we have a history, a friendship, we listen to each other, we laugh together, we finish each other's lyrics. I don't have to pretend with hip hop and hip hop doesn't have to pretend with me. My feelings have never been more clear and I know they will never go away.
  Again best friends turn lovers and A childhood love turns into adult confusion. Syd and Dre started out as friends in love with the same thing (HIP HOP). Dre was a successful A&R rep, while Syd was an entertainment/music journalist. Hip hop was there foundation that connected them to each other, but as time progressed they formed a undeniable bond that expanded there connection to more than music.
  As these two grew up, they took different paths and found different people to be romantically involved with. Syd became in a relationship with a basketball player, while Dre married an entertainment lawyer. But even marriage couldn't eliminate the love Dre had for Syd. In this movie, we found out that marriage does not always equal love, because Syd still had a special place in Dre's hard that his wife couldn't amount up to.
  This movie showed us that sometimes we deny love when love is sitting right in front of our face. We don't deny love all the time because we don't love them, but rather because we are afraid of messing something up. It also taught us that it's never good to confess love when it's too late. Syd and Dre waited until each other got into relationships/marriages to confess there love to one another, which only caused a world of heart to their romantic partners.
  Syd: I don't have to pretend with hip-hop…and hip hop doesn't have to pretend with me.
  Sanna Lathan and Tate Diggs did an extraordinary in delivering an unforgettable performance. The last scene where Syd in on the radio metaphorically talking about Dre through Hip hop and Dre calling the radio station asking the famous question "When did you fall in love with Hip-Hop?" still plays in my mind and still remains one of the best scenes of a love film hands down.
  This movie is also one of my favs. Because in a movie about Hip-Hop, it including Hip-hop legends like Queen Latifah and Mos Def in the cast.
  All in all, this film taught us that love is complicated. There is no script or guidebook to who and how you should love. Love is an emotional rollercoaster at times, but it's worth it!
  Posted in LoveTagged Featured
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  32 thoughts on "Love Lessons"
  15 Jul 2017 at 4:32 am
  "We don't deny love all the time because we don't love them, but rather because we are afraid of messing something up" CHILLEEEE!!!! 🙌🏽 100% Accurate!!!❤️
  16 Jul 2017 at 8:21 pm
  Awesome read! Alot of truth and revelation! Brown Sugar is my favorite hands down. It's funny and real all at the same time. Love conquers all!! Good job!
  Vashona says:
  17 Jul 2017 at 12:12 am
  As a hopeless romantic you choose 3 of my favorite movies and what you wrote about all 3 is on point!! Corinthians 13:4-8 can be broken down in all 3 movies!!! Good read and job well done!!!
  17 Jul 2017 at 1:23 pm
  Those 3 of your favorite films are 3 of my favorite films as well. We could totally relate to this on movie night. No fighting about what to watch lol. I love how their love is so pure and also genuine. I feel that my husband and I have this same love. It makes marriage so much more amazing!
  17 Jul 2017 at 1:52 pm
  You're so young! It's great that you have an appreciation for Black RomComs. I didn't see love jones until about a decade after it debuted. Shame on me, I know, but I have watched it on DVD a million times ever since. It is absolutely one of my favorite movies.
  17 Jul 2017 at 7:56 pm
  These are ALL Black Classics! And I love that Taye and Sanaa are featured in two of the three. My personal fave is Love Jones. Just a classy, love film! Great list!
  17 Jul 2017 at 9:57 pm
  Loved all three of these movies and then some. The soundtracks, the onscreen chemistry. It was life in my teenage years. Now as an adult, I get it so much more.
  18 Jul 2017 at 12:23 am
  I have to go back and watch these! I don't remember Love Jones at all, but people who love the 90's swear by that movie!
  18 Jul 2017 at 3:35 am
  They make me smile every time I watch them…heck, I still listen to the soundtracks of them. I remember walking out of the movie theater with my husband after seeing Love Jones and feeling more in love with him.
  18 Jul 2017 at 9:17 am
  The 90s had the best black love stories. I could watch Love Jones a million times and always walk away with a deeper appreciation for black love.
  19 Jul 2017 at 3:42 am
  Yes! Yes! And… Yes!! These 3 movies will always and forever be on my Top Love Stories . . . they are true and real and get me every time I see them. I think I feel a movie night coming on . . .
  These are good classics, I've seen each of these several times over. I'm a sucker for a love story, more importantly, a black love story.
  19 Jul 2017 at 12:43 pm
  These are all great movies! Love and Basketball and Brown Sugar are two of my favorites! I need to actually watch Love Jones, I've never had a chance to watch it surprisingly!
  19 Jul 2017 at 12:58 pm
  Love Jones has got to be my absolute fav!!!! I love everything you listed. I'd just swap Brown Sugar out and replace it with Mo Better Blues!!! Omg love it
  19 Jul 2017 at 1:14 pm
  I've never seen that!!! Is it a must-see??
  Yes! These movies really take me back. I enjoyed them.
  20 Jul 2017 at 10:11 pm
  I was born in 1994 too🙌🏾 And grew up watching these movies and other black love movies. They make me want to find love like they did too.
  Of all of the movies listed, I've only seen Love & Basketball. I did indeed enjoy that movie.
  25 Jul 2017 at 1:07 am
  Love all of these movies, however, Love Jones is my FAVE! I love me some Larenz Tate. I am a sucker for love and I love a good love story. Thanks for sharing.
  25 Jul 2017 at 2:36 pm
  I love this! All 3 of these movies are amazing but Love & Basketball has to be #1 hands down. I'm a 90s baby too and watched these movies growing up and learned a lot of love lessons from them.
  26 Jul 2017 at 1:58 am
  All three of these are three of my personal faves! The 90s were SUCH a great time for movies and music, and babies (no bias though) haha
  Fabulous choices! I am definitely going to share these with my college bound son. Yes, yes and yes!
  Two of my favourite movies of all time.
  Monica and Q are just too darn cute and the
  Music in Brown sugar is my jam till today.
  I love all of these movies, but Love Jones was definitely a favorite. I've been working on my communication because that's a big thing and I am glad that these movies weren't 100% fairy tales.
  27 Jul 2017 at 12:51 am
  Love lol of these. But have you heard they are considering doing a Love Jobes 2?
  28 Jul 2017 at 4:22 pm
  I need to re-watch Love Jones, although I did see the Love Jones Musical. My favorite of the 3 is Love and Basketball. It was like a modern day fairy tale in terms of them living happily ever after despite the trials that they endured throughout the relationship. The lines you mentioned are some of my favorites from the movie.
  29 Jul 2017 at 11:55 am
  This is a great post! I loved all these movies. I still love them. I totally agree that you can definitely learn some lessons about love from them.
  1 Aug 2017 at 6:19 pm
  I stand by your choices 2K perfect, especially with Love Jones. It's a fav for me and my husband.
  11 Jan 2018 at 3:59 pm
  This brought me back! True love! Why don't they make movies like this anymore?
  11 Jan 2018 at 9:57 pm
  Awesome read. This brought me right back to high school. Now I need to see if these are on netflix and do a binge this weekend.