Legacy of Love
What's It About?
They say love knows no bounds, but sometimes you have to fight against your own family to make a relationship work.In Legacy of Love, author Maryl Damian takes us back to 1990 to explore an interracial romance between two people drawn together as they strive to build an education program in the Bronx. The prejudice they face from their families and society creates a struggle within and between themselves, which ultimately leads them to understand the value of love.
Michael is determined to bring an African cultural program into the school systems, so he settles on the teacher with the most impressive resume. Together, he believes they’ll take the program to the next stage.
The last thing he expected was for the teacher to be white. Angela is smart and cultured with a big heart and may be exactly what his program needs. Despite his apprehension to hire her, he decides to take the chance, and soon the two discover an unexpected connection between them.
As Angela balances her life as a teacher in the Bronx and her confusion when Michael pulls away, her parents work to convince her to return home. Michael has a strained relationship with his mother, and things don’t get much better when he reveals his relationship with Angela.
As the two explore their passionate romance, Michael fears the impact their relationship will have on the African cultural program while Angela fears the opinion of her Italian family. Soon, the two are forced to make a decision about their relationship and whether their love is worth fighting for.
OVERCOMING STIGMA AND SELF-DOUBT WITH LOVE
Through the power of story, Damian tackles topics of race and prejudice with an honest voice, capturing the emotional turmoil and obstacles Michael and Angela experience just to be together as they navigate a relationship that is stigmatized from the start.
As they struggle to gain approval from Angela’s Italian family and Michael’s mother, from which the main prejudice they receive stems, they try to tune out the voices of everyone around them and focus on their own feelings. Yet the perception of others leaves them second-guessing themselves. Damian explores both the external and internal issues in their effort to rise above other people’s opinions, push past their own fears and insecurities, and make the choice to love each other.
But not everyone is rooting against them, fortunately. We see many moments with Michael and Angela’s friends that give each a support system and community that rallies around them. This support is an important part of what helps them find their way back to each other.
At the heart of the story is the African cultural program, which is not only where Michael and Angela’s romance blossoms, but also the impetus for the novel’s discussion on the importance of education. As principal and teacher, the duo’s strong dedication to their work is the connection that draws them together from the beginning. Damian uses education in the novel as a commentary on the importance of respecting cultures, understanding the African-American experience and helping inner-city schools.
Legacy of Love is the perfect romance for those seeking love stories that are both sweet and dramatic, with a strong voice that highlights social issues and shines a light on the prejudices interracial relationships face, even today.
Legacy of Love is now available for purchase. Learn more about Damian on her BookTrib author profile page.
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