I See Me: Diversity In Literature

“…when you are invisible, you are inadvertently excluded, but when you are visible, you encounter more direct prejudice.”

- It Came From The Closet: Queer Reflections on Horror. 

Every time the world forges ways to forget my existence, words on a page pave roadways that lead me back to who I am and what I could become. 

Representation carries ancestor’s answered prayers in each fantastical phrase, and it etches the retribution we hope to offer the wounds that never quite healed. It’s a tough truth to realize we’re the new adults now, but this stage doesn’t negate our inner child’s desire to be seen. That need for acknowledgement drives us towards the representation we gain from the stories we pick up. 

When conversing about the importance of diversity in literature, I think it’s essential to return to the foundation of why we all love this shit—the emotional exploration. Dark romance and horror are few of many genres that have us in the headlock with how it affords us an outlet to delve into complex emotions. The feature of life that millions of scholars devoted their lives to rationalize, poets wax on about, and artists forge abstract expressions to possibly drive us to understand; however sadly, like the stubborn horse kids we used to be, we somehow refuse to drink the waters presented to us.  

Yet, we can find the answer our lips are yet to conceive in the narratives we create, particularly stories infused with diverse identities. Imagine the magic in seeing characters that reflect familiar features being adored as they deserve. It feels like home when you read about characters that carry those full curves we see on the big cousin you wanted to be when you grew up, or intricate styles from classic Sophisticate’s Black Hair magazine issues you tried to convince your mama give you before picture day. 

Reading characters that speak in Patois, Swahili, Tagalog, Spanish, or any other mother tongue feels like reverence to legacies that carried empires. Reading characters that depict an array of rich, deep complexions with wide noses or angled bridges, unlocks a deeper level of emotional connection familiarly seen in our cultural circles. With narratives, particularly in dark romance — complex emotional draws are an essential feature to endear readers to the main characters despite any unique plight in order to establish empathy in the reader's mind. Remember the booger-nosed inner kid from earlier? Well think of how seeing their features being held in reverence and power, could strengthen who they become tomorrow. At our big ages, there is still so much to grow from and seeing positive reflections of ourselves call for us to recognize complexity in every human experience. Literature bridges the gap between the real world human emotions with what is abstract to create safe zones for exploring and growth.

When we pick up a new dark romance novel, what do you think we’re searching for? Scenes where the main characters express their frustrations out on each other's bodies in some hot and erotic overflow of passion with possible involvement of blood? Sure…but we also gain more than that. 

In dark romance, we are afforded autonomy through the journey of the main characters; through every plight, each morally grey feature, every harrowing journey of vengeance, we gain insight on the motivations of why we exist in this world so deeply. The illusive, mysterious worlds between those pages elicit feelings of dread, anticipation, horror, and delight with the focus of allowing us to unveil the complications of being human. Access to character’s perspectives gives us front row seats to intimate motivations, which then affords us opportunity to process emotional conflict. Here’s where the enrichment of diversity in literature comes to play—we are afforded additional features of connection to the narratives that allow for marginalized identities to be seen in a lens that is otherwise absent in mainstream publishing. 

Familiarity is the rule of thumb that is then expanded in a literary foundation for us to see that our experiences, our lives receive the deserved care. For eons, diverse communities have faced discrimination against their identities, particularly Black readers within the publishing industry—and rightfully so, we’re sick of the bullshit. Misrepresentation and erasure of cultures and identities has caused emotional wounds that come with decades of trauma to unpack. Diversity is the breath of life in narratives that draw readers further into the story. Proper representation done with care and intent breathes life into the character’s journey and allows for parables to have a richer impact. 

Everyone can place a moment in time where they felt a rush of euphoria seeing the main character that mirrored them get their happy ending. Whether it came in the form of finding love from their protector, or getting second-hand vengeance as the main character slays their enemies in a wretched show of recompense, finding those elements that connect culture or identity adds beautiful seasoning to the story. I can remember the feeling of the first time seeing myself in books growing up—it was bigger than joy, it felt like coming home. Reading books that had Black FMCs with a complexion such as mine be loved on and obsessed over emphasized why respect and care is the minimum requirement for me. Even in these adult narratives where we see a morally grey character yearning to worship at their lover's feet, with said lover who has the same features as us enriches the experience. 

It’s a fair assumption to say books raise standards to the hemisphere, because I refuse to accept there isn’t a millionaire or mafia boss that wouldn’t worship at my feet at the drop of a dime—and you deserve to believe that too!

Fiction’s emotional evolution that features proper representation counteracts stereotypes and counteracts age-old narrative minorities only suffering or serving in background roles. Every reader should be afforded the opportunity to pick up a story and find themselves illustrated in the pages. This assertion isn’t with the intent to erase one voice over the other, but to ensure that every lens of life is unabridged; something that doesn’t feel like a task to be checked off, stories must carry an intentional infusion to the story's plot. Black and Brown characters deserve stories that depict them as they are—beautiful, complex, and rich in culture. 

Whether they are the villains of the night or a damsel to obsess over, we deserve faces we can look into and find parallels to the realms of life that nurtured our roots. Characters with disabilities should be afforded well-rounded arcs in narratives, not as outcasts of society or off-color jokes within the books. Queer characters should be told in narratives that afford them multi-faceted representation that isn’t within forms of subjugation. Plus size representation should be unapologetically fat and happy to be, living their lives to the fullest and being loved unequivocally.

In these stories, we are afforded the opportunity to be met with empathy, compassion, and care. We can see someone fighting for pieces of us to be loved and seen, that our presence in stories isn’t merely for plot progression or disposable characters meant to teach valuable lessons. In dark romances, we see that we can be loved in our broken pieces and that the inclusion of diversity affords us to reconstruct notions of our own worth that stereotypes contribute to. We find reflections of our identities, seek certainty in the ways we are loved, and show others how to express empathy towards each other. In my book, it’ll always be worth it to see someone get to say, I see me. 

No matter the avenue you choose to venture in dark romance, there’s always a story that has rich representation while tantalizing your scenes. If there’s anything I’m good at, it’s giving recommendations! 

As Luck Would Have It by Dria Anderson

A Black shifter-mafia romance featuring a leader of an Assassin league, falling for his soulmate and being hopelessly devoted to spoiling her. This shifter-mafia romance will have you on the edge of your seat as you follow tales of uncovered secrets, betrayal, and love like no other!

Light as a Feather by Alexia Onyx

In the third standalone installment of the Haunted Hearts series, you get a Morticia and Gomez coded paranormal tale of second chance romance and possessive hauntings. Features autism representation and plus size representation. It also features a Mexican-American FMC and a Black MMC.

Captured Beauty by Tay Monae

In this dark, Beauty and the Beast retelling, a woman takes on the debt of her father and begins to fall for the captor whose mystery enraptures you from the first page. This is a story that features Black main characters, and is written by a Black author. 

Guarded by Nix Murguia

The third installment of the Calavera Hotels series, Guarded tells the story of a cartel princess torn between familial responsibility and her desires for freedom. Along the way, she falls for her assigned bodyguard who carries scars and secrets of his own. A dark romance that features Latine and Filipino representation, written by a Latine author. 

Captured Beauty by Tay Monae

In this dark, Beauty and the Beast retelling, a woman takes on the debt of her father and begins to fall for the captor whose mystery enraptures you from the first page. This is a story that features Black main characters, and is written by a Black author. 

On Sunday She Picked Flowersby Yah Yah Schotfield 

A Southern gothic horror novel about a woman named Jude, who escapes an abusive home and finds refuge in a haunted mansion in the woods of Georgia. There, she is forced to confront creatures of old, spirits that see, and generational traumas that haunt you forever. This book features themes of body horror and sapphic romance.

The Mercenary and the Mortician by Alexandria Pierre

A story of a contract killer and a mortician who can speak to ghosts being entangled in this journey of uncovering secrets, battling age old traumas, and unlocking emotional connections. This book features a slow burn Achillian, MM romance with dark themes; please be mindful of triggers. 

The VictorTrilogy by Theodora Taylor

The story begins with a young girl being tasked to be the tutor for the mysterious Mafia son, Victor. Soon their story unfolds into a journey of betrayal, secrets, and power struggles. Features an Asian male lead with a Black female lead, and representation with a mute Male lead.

His Tesoro by Emilia Rossi

His Tesoro is a spicy, dual first-person POV Mafia Romance with an age gap, arranged marriage, disabled heroine, and jealous/possessive hero. This book is a standalone that ends in a HEA. A contemporary mafia romance that features a main character that has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.