Love Jones Through Grown Eyes: Revisiting 90s Black Romance

Hey Candi Crew!

Welcome to a special three-part series on the blog! We’re diving back into our favorite Black-American romantic comedies from the ’90s. Remember those cozy nights as teens, curled up on the couch, binge-watching these classics that made our hearts skip a beat?

First up, let’s talk Love Jones from 1997. Do y’all remember that one? I sure do! I was 12, just a 7th grader, when it came out. This movie was my first glimpse into the “Black Art World”—Darius Lovehall, played by the never aging Lorenz Tate, was a poet and writer, while Nina Mosley (played by the 90's "it girl" Nia Long) was a photographer. At that age, I hadn’t even been in my first relationship yet, so watching Nina and Darius on-screen felt like a sneak peek into the grown-up world of love and friendships. Their conversations at the bar or those hangouts with friends felt

so mature and exciting back then!

Now, revisiting it as a grown woman who’s been through her share of both positive and, let’s be real, toxic

relationships, I see it in a whole new light. Let’s rediscover the lessons on love, relationships, and self-discovery that we might’ve missed back in the day. So, grab your favorite blanket, get cozy, and let’s relive the magic of our favorite ’90s Black romance flicks!

Re-examining Love Jones

Two things about Love Jones really stood out to me—and not in a good way. First, Darius wasn’t upfront about his feelings for Nina. He tried to play it cool, like he was this detached, go with- the-flow guy. He said they were just casually hanging out, but his actions were saying he wanted more. Come on, let’s be real—as adults, playing games like that isn’t cute. Say what you mean, and mean what you

say!

Second, let’s talk about when Nina came back and decided to go out with Darius’s friend. That’s a big no-no!

We’re not out here dating our ex’s friends like it’s all good. We don’t want to be passed around in a friend group that’s not cute or cool at all. Why did she think it was okay to date his friend, even if it was casual? How could she expect Darius to be fine with it and still want to hang out or call her? Good thing she didn’t actually sleep with the friend because, whew, that could’ve made things even messier!

Looking back, these moments in Love Jones might’ve sent the wrong message to our generation about boundaries. As an adult, I’m clear on what I want and need in a relationship, and I’m not here for games or indirect communication. Either you want to be with me, or you don’t—simple as that.

Movies like Love Jones kind of normalized dating within friend groups, and honestly, I saw it happening all the

time in my early 20s. It always felt messy and uncomfortable, and I’d be wondering, “Why does everyone act

like this is no big deal?” Even when exes’ friends would hit on me after a breakup, I couldn’t cross that line—it

always felt cringe-worthy.

It’s important to recognize that these movies don’t always show the best examples of healthy relationships or

boundaries. It’s just not cool or normal to date a friend’s ex, and that goes against what I think friendships and

relationship boundaries should be.

That said, Love Jones is still an important part of Black cinema. It captured Black culture, art, and deep,

meaningful conversations that were rare to see on-screen. And of course, scenes like the “Brother to the Night” poem and that amazing soundtrack are why it’s a classic we still love

today.