Understanding Urban, Contemporary, and Erotic Black Literature with The Well Read Pharmacist

Beyond the Stereotype of Black Stories

If you’re a reader in the online book community, you’ve seen the word urban used to describe books featuring Black characters. But as Aniya, The Well Read Pharmacist, points out, there’s a huge misconception happening, especially on platforms like BookTok: not all Black books are urban, and that’s okay.

Aniya, also known as The Well Read Pharmacist, is a pharmacist and avid reader from New Orleans, Louisiana. She loves escaping into a good book, especially within the romance and thriller genres!

I sat down with Aniya on the latest episode of We Read Smut to dive into this topic and get a clear, definitive guide to the genres of urban fiction, urban romance, and contemporary Black romance. Get ready to correct your reading vocabulary and fill your TBR with some fantastic Black authors!

The Urban Catch-All

Aniya was candid about the frustration of seeing people call all Black books as urban. She highlights that this practice is often a generalization and can be very stereotypical. Just because Black characters may speak in a specific dialect, like AAVE (African-American Vernacular English), does not automatically make the book urban. Black people are not a monolith in or out of stories. They can be physicians or dentists, not just kingpins.

This distinction is crucial, and understanding the core definitions will help you find exactly what you’re looking for.

Black Story Genres Explained

What is the real difference between these book categories? It all comes down to the setting, the stakes, and the plot’s focus:

1. Urban Fiction (or Street Lit)

Urban Fiction is gritty, street-focused, and typically involves drug dealers or gang bangers. The key difference here is that there is no romance. These are not fairy tale stories and tend to cover heavy topics without the guarantee of an HEA.

2. Urban Romance

In urban romance, typically, the male main character is heavily involved in the street life. He may be a kingpin, a dope boy, or a stick-up kid. His main role involves being in the streets day and night. Crucially, for it to be a romance, it must still have a happily ever after (HEA), and the main point of the story must be the relationship between the main characters.

Aniya notes that the male main character, despite his life, is often the most loving, caring, and protective hero to his woman.

3. Contemporary Black Romance

This is your regular love story between two Black main characters. The characters often have 9-to-5 jobs and are just regular people going about their lives. Their lives are focused on dating, careers, and their personal journeys, and they are not in the streets or selling drugs.

4. Urban Fantasy & Diverse Sci-Fi

Urban fantasy is typically categorized as fantasy set in the modern world. But some stories are urban fiction and have Black main characters. In this case, both main characters are Black, and one or both of them are part of the paranormal world.

We didn’t mention sci-fi in the episode, but I’m a huge fan of the genre and love reading about Black main characters getting loved by an alien. In this case, they would not be considered a Black romance because only one main character is Black. One main character is Black, and the other is an alien.

5. Urban Erotica

If you’re looking for that combination of street life and extreme heat, Aniya confirms that Urban Erotica is a genre unto itself!

In erotica, the plot is sex, and there is no long buildup. As we explained it, if you take the sex out of erotica, you have no story.

Read Intentionally

Aniya’s advice is clear: Black authors are not a monolith. They write in every genre you can imagine, including paranormal, fantasy, and more.

If you are reading Black romance, Urban Fiction, or any diverse story, read with intention. Supporting and reading Black authors who are sharing their own culture and stories provides a deep, powerful level of understanding and is a practice we should all embrace.

CONNECT WITH ANIYA:

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BOOKS/AUTHORS MENTIONED:

Instagram Post from The Well Read Pharmacist

The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah (Amazon)

Carl Weber (Amazon)

Nikki Clarke (Amazon)

Vickie M. Stringer (Amazon)

The Cartel Series by Ashley and Jaquavis (Amazon)

Murder Mamas by Ashley and Jaquavis (Amazon)

T’Lyn (Amazon)

Shvonne Latrice (Amazon)

To The Only Thug I’ll Ever Love by K.L. Hall (Amazon)

My Little Love by Charae Lewis (Amazon)

When a Gangsta Calls by Lex C. (Amazon)

Kennedy Ryan (Amazon)

Alexandria House (Episode | Amazon)

Alex Warren (Amazon)

Christina C. Jones (Amazon)

Marlee Rae (Amazon)

Bailey West (Amazon)

Tiye Love (Amazon)

Dria Andersen (Amazon | Episode)

Natavia (Amazon)

Jade Royal (Amazon)

Katrina Jackson (Amazon)