Revisiting ‘Waiting to Exhale’

Brittany Luse and BA Parker discuss the enduring relevance and impact of "Waiting To Exhale," reflecting on its significant role as a contemporary classic that has touched the lives of Black American women.

Podcast Guests' Ties to the Book Show Its Lasting Influence as a Landmark for Black Women

Brittany Luse On how the Book Resonated With Adult Black Women She Knew

Luse shared her experience of growing up around adult Black women whose conversations echoed the dialogue in "Waiting to Exhale." For Luse, recognizing the similarities between her past observations and her current life as she reached the age of the characters in the book felt like a full circle moment. She also mentioned that, interestingly, her mother would recall details from the movie adaptation starring Angela Bassett when discussing the book.

Parker Viewed the Novel and Film as Ubiquitous In Her Childhood, Highlighting Its Status As a Cultural Touchstone for Black American Women

Tia Williams talked about the novel being passed around among her mother and her friends when she was 16, highlighting the book's resonance with its portrayal of professional, suburban Black women in their mid to late 30s. Meanwhile, BA Parker grew up with "Waiting to Exhale" as a significant presence, so much so that she saw it every day on her mother's bookshelf. She associated the novel, film, and soundtrack with her entire childhood, understanding its iconic status even before she had read it.

Pivotal Moment for Urban Black Women's Interior Lives Representation

Before "Waiting To Exhale," Stories About This Demographic's Everyday Experiences Were Rarely Told In Popular Media

Luse observes that the book offered a rich portrayal of black professional middle-class women in the 1990s, whose interior lives and everyday concerns were re ...

"Waiting to Exhale" serves as a cultural touchstone, exploring the friendships and romances of four black women navigating professional and personal challenges in the 1990s. Both BA Parker and Brittany Luse reflect on how the novel mirrors and influences the lives of its readers.

The Novel Explores Complex Friendships and Romances Among the Four Characters

At the heart of Terry McMillan's "Waiting to Exhale" are the intertwined lives of Savannah, Bernadine, Robin, and Gloria, who all are managing their romantic lives while supporting each other.

Book Shows Women As Supportive but Also Depicts Unflattering Thoughts and Criticisms About Each Other

The novel portrays these women as supportive, yet candidly reveals their unflattering thoughts and criticisms toward one another. This dynamic fosters a sense of realism, offering readers an intimate view of the characters' flaws and struggles, thereby enabling empathy.

Dynamic Fosters Intimacy and Realism, Enabling Reader Empathy With Characters' Flaws and Struggles

Each character—Savannah, a career-focused PR executive; Gloria, focused on her son rather than dating; Bernadine, engulfed in a messy divorce; and Robin, who often falls for the wrong men—provides a different perspective on black womanhood. The honest and raw depiction of their emotions and interactions draws the reader closer, creating a bond that Brittany Luse equates to watching "constantly having breakdowns."

Pressures on Black Professional Women in the 1990s

"Waiting to Exhale" not only offers entertainment but also sheds light on the everyday realities and societal pressures faced by black professional women in the 1990s.

Issues Like Scarcity, Divorce, and Work-Life Balance Resonate With the Target Audience

Parker and Luse delve into the concept of scarcity and the cultural mindset shaped by Essence, Jet, and Ebony magazine articles, which discussed the challenges black women faced in finding suitable partners. This issue, framed as a continuing concern with 49% of bla ...

"Waiting to Exhale" has significantly impacted how stories about urban, professional Black women are told, shaping literary and media landscapes alike.

"Pioneering 'Waiting To Exhale' Paved the Way for 'Sex and the City.'"

Brittany Luse points out the structural similarities between "Waiting to Exhale" and "Sex and the City," particularly in dialogue and storytelling craft, suggesting that "Waiting to Exhale" may have influenced "Sex and the City." Both narratives provide shifting perspectives and develop clear plot lines for characters that advance over the course of the season, a style of writing that could be traced back to "Waiting to Exhale."

Women's Intimate Conversations Influenced Subsequent Narrative Styles and Sensibilities

The speakers agree that "Waiting To Exhale" laid the groundwork for shows like "Sex and the City," where women's intimate conversations are openly discussed. The narrative style and sensibilities of women talking freely about their lives have become a common theme in subsequent works, contributing to a shift in storytelling.

Success Demonstrates Demand For Stories About Urban, Professional Black Women

The podcast discussion implies that "Waiting To Exhale" unearthed a demand for narratives centered around urban, professional black women, a largely underrepresented demographic in media. BA Parker likens another book, "The Wilderness," to "Waiting to Exhale," highlighting the continued demand for stories of black female friendships and experiences.

Novel's Influence Extends Beyond Literature Into Media Storytelling

The discussion suggests that "Waiting to Exhale" has changed the cultural scene by presenting previously unseen mainstream media stories, particularly those about professional suburban Black women. Terry McMillan accomplished the task of writing an authentically Black story with broad mainstream appeal without pandering.

The Book Paved the Way for Open Discussions on S ...

The conversation around Terry McMillan's work reveals the nuanced challenges faced by Black writers when their narratives intersect with broader racial representations.

Criticism From Some in the Black Community for Negative Portrayals of Black Men

Controversy emerged from certain quarters within the Black community over Terry McMillan's novel "Waiting to Exhale," with some men feeling that the book portrayed Black men negatively. This criticism highlights the tension that Black authors often navigate in telling their stories.

Spike Lee Defends "Truthful Account" of Volatile Black Relationships, Anticipating Backlash

Underlining the novel's contentious reception, director Spike Lee saw potential backlash and proactively defended "Waiting to Exhale." He blurbed the book, framing it as a "truthful" and "well-written" account of the volatile relationships between Black men and Black women. His preemptive defense suggests awareness of the delicate balance between telling a compelling story and facing criticism over representation.

Terry McMillan On Telling Her Story Without Representing all Black People

In an interview with Terry Gross on WHYY's Fresh Air, author Terry McMillan articulated her perspective. She emphasized that the characters and stories within "Waiting to Exhale" reflect her creative vision and that she was not endeavouring to represent all Black people. McMillan made it clear that she anticipated criticism and stood prepared to address it, signaling her resolve to uphold her literary work despite potential controversies.

McMillan's Defiance Highlights Challenges for Black Writers

Terry McMillan's stance illuminates the unique pressures faced by marginalized creators to defend their narratives against expectations that their work should reflect their entire community.

The Author's Defense of Her Vision Highlights the Burden on Marginalized Creators to Just ...