Where Are All the Black Rom-Coms this Summer?

In the summer months, all I want to do is find a nice air-conditioned space—be it the theater or my living room—and watch a romantic comedy with all the trimmings: a cute meet, gorgeous leads, a big declaration of love at the climax and of course, plenty of could-never-afford-that fashion (even though our romantic heroine doesn't have the budget for her own expensive but ridiculously attainable wardrobe!). But as I check Fandango or flip from one streaming channel to the next, finding the latest romantic comedy with Black leads comes up pretty empty-handed.

Black romantic comedies have been made throughout the years; ones that come to mind include The Best Man, Just Wright and Brown Sugar , just to name a few. But it feels like we haven't had a frothy, trauma-need-not-apply-here rom-com in the 2020s (and through a pandemic when we could have used it most), akin to the recent theatrical release of Anyone But You or Irish Wish , part of Netflix's slate of Lindsay Lohan comeback comedy films. I want those films starring our people, and Lupita Nyong'o does too.

"What I love about romantic comedies is they allow us to fantasize about an idyllic, unabashedly romantic experience—we are all seeking love in one way or another," the A Quiet Place: Day One actress tells EBONY.

"A rom-com is a way to just delight in that moment when two people find each other, the serendipity involved. And, uh, you see two people overcome great odds and end up together. Rom-coms are traditionally happy endings. I feel like we could all use a few more of those in our lives right now."

And yes, I need to see more of these types of films with people who look like Nyong'o. "As a dark-skinned Black woman, I crave seeing people like me loved on, I do," she exclaims. "So I wanna be that person."

So, here's my Call to Hollywood: Make more Black romantic comedies. I'm ready. Lupita's ready. And there's a global audience out there ready as well. So start making rom-com films with Black stars that are, as Nyong'o puts it, full of "joy and levity and buoyancy and whimsy." We're here and waiting.