07/29/2026
Donald Goines
New too me; old to someone.
This originator of the ‘Urban Fiction’ genre (if you ask me), is accredited for tell the story of black people in real situations faced everyday within the black community, notably in the sixties , seventies and eighties.
Goines told the real struggles of the ‘streets’, impoverished times, lack of parental guidance and so much more that kept the ‘black community’ continuously referred to as what we know to be ‘the ghetto‘, even in todays current society. The stories are told as they as experienced, no details spared. Because Goines was not unfamiliar of the lifestyle, with his own traumatic experience, drug addiction and jail time for a variety of petty crimes.
Not only did Goines stories contribute, in a major way, to the Urban Fiction genre, he also has a unique backstory that you wouldn’t expect from the average novelist. Causing one to think🤔, “Do drugs always have a negative affect? For some, it can be quite stimulating or progressive?”.
I don’t think there is a particular sequence when reading his novels and I hope not because I started with one of his later novels written in the middle of Goines’ career , ‘Black Girl Lost’ and fell in love.
Now here we are 5 days later and I’m in possession of five out of sixteen of his literary works. TBR sooner than later (hopefully 😁).
