Souljah’s Sequel Spotlights Interracial Relationships

For three years—three long years, I‘ve been hanging on a cliff, hoping to be saved by Sister Souljah’s words to know the outcome of her character Midnight and at long last, on April 12, she came to my rescue and I was not disappointed.

The wait was worth it. Souljah not only shows growth in her novel “Midnight and the Meaning of Love,” but further challenges readers to catch a glimpse of various cultures around the world.

Souljah’s 2008 book “Midnight” was complex, but the setting was typical and simple. Set the 1980s in Brooklyn, NY, “Midnight” chronicles the life of 14-year-old Midnight, who moves from Sudan to the Brooklyn projects with his young sister and mother. Midnight and his family are Muslim and Souljah introduces the readers to their Islam practices and how others respond to it.

The fatherless Midnight treats his gun as an American Express card and being trained in ninjutsu, he is more than prepared to take on the mean streets of Brooklyn.

In Souljah’s recent book, Midnight’s world is turned upside down when his wife—yes, his wife—is kidnapped and taken back to Japan—yes, Japan. Souljah addresses the lengths of love and the meaning behind it. Souljah had the enigmatic Midnight fall in love with a Japanese 16-year-old who doesn’t speak English.

This young marriage causes uproar with his wife’s family resulting in her sudden kidnapping.

Souljah’s book is a joy to read. Souljah clashes the multiple cultures referenced in the novel in the final the two to clash but in the end, find common ground.

Pick up the first book “Midnight” before reading the second. Just know that “Midnight and the Meaning of Love” is a better, more organized work of art.