August is Romance Awareness Month! And it’s also National Black Business Month so I thought, let’s celebrate some films starring black folks being in love for a change.

The Photograph

“My mother wasn’t very good at love. What if I’m just like her?” says Mae, played by Issa Rae (producer, writer, and star of HBO show, Insecure) in the film. When she encounters Michael (Lakeith Stanfield), a writer covering a story about Mae’s mother, Sara, the connection between them can’t be ignored. A photograph uncovered by Sara’s previous lover uncovers a part of her life, Mae never knew about and affects the way Mae views love. Beautifully shot and executed with an amazing soundtrack, this film will inspire you to fall in love again with your partner or have hope for a future coupling.

Something New

Kenya and her girlfriends celebrate Valentine’s Day annually and over dinner talk about their IBM (Ideal Black Man) as they rattle off the statistic that “42.4% of black women have never been married.” Her White co-worker sets her up on a blind date with a White landscaper to Kenya’s surprise. Her initial reaction starts with them on the wrong foot. However, when he becomes her landscaper and says to her one night, “I take hard earth and make things bloom,” Kenya must decide, do I really want my IBM or something new? With great performances from romantic comedy queen, Sanaa Lathan, and hottie Simon Baker, you’ll be craving “something new” after watching this film.

Boomerang

Marcus (Eddie Murphy) is a slick executive at a marketing firm who is a womanizer until he meets the new marketing manager, Jaqueline (Robin Givens) who outsmarts him. Filled with laughs and romance, you’ll recognize many familiar faces in this underrated romantic comedy—actors like Halley Berry, Martin Lawrence, Chris Rock, and the late John Witherspoon. Murphy is irresistibly charming and handsome, while Grace Jones’ character, Strange, was written just for her. Watch this sweet nineties time capsule.

How Stella Got Her Groove Back

Taye Diggs’ debut film had him starring with the inimitable Angela Bassett in this nineties romance film based on the novel by Terry McMillan. Stella (Bassett) is a 40-year-old divorced stockbroker who needs a break! With her BFF Delilah (Whoopi Goldberg), they visit the island of Jamaica and enjoy the ambiance. Stella meets the 20-year-old Winston (Diggs and his dazzling white-toothed smile), she wonders if she indeed can find love and companionship again after a divorce. For Grey’s Anatomy fans, peep a young James Pickens Jr. (Richard) as Stella’s ex-husband!

Poetic Justice

Sorry y’all, I must give some love to John Singleton with this film. While it’s not a perfect movie, it stars a future Oscar Winner (Regina King) and catapults Janet Jackson’s career while also showcasing to the world, the late Tupac Shakur’s acting chops. With a dope soundtrack that adds to Justice (Jackson) and Lucky (Shakur) romantic journey. Watch them fall in love on their way to Oakland from Los Angeles. We learn how to care about someone else after a tragedy, and this is their story. For Bay Area residents, peep Lake Merritt in the background at the end of the movie. It’s always great recognizing places you live in a film.

Watch one or watch them all. Either way, you won’t regret seeing the joy in getting to know a new person and giving yourself over to the possibility of passion and companionship.