Midnight: A Gangster Love Story
| Company type | Publishing company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Products | Books |
Midnight: A Gangster Love Story authored by Sister Souljah was released on November 4, 2008, through Atria/Simon & Schuster. This work functions as a prelude to The Coldest Winter Ever (1999), a novel credited with popularizing the urban fiction genre. The narrative follows Midnight, a young Black Sudanese Muslim immigrant residing in Brooklyn, who has ties to Winter Santiaga prior to her incarceration.
Plot
Born into an affluent Islamic Black Sudanese household, Midnight experiences a nurturing and protective upbringing from his father, who vanishes in the mid-1980s after directing the family to move to the United States. Subsequently, Midnight, along with his mother and sister, adapts to life in Brooklyn’s public housing projects, where they endeavor to preserve their cultural values while resisting assimilation into American society.
On the streets of Brooklyn, Midnight draws upon his Islamic principles and African roots to safeguard his family, develop entrepreneurial ventures, and maintain his convictions. Over a span of four years, he forgoes conventional education, dedicates himself to mastering Japanese martial arts, and excels in a basketball league frequented by hustlers, where he forms friendships with Ameer and Chris. He also secures weapons for defense and frequently engages in chess matches at a neighborhood bookstore, all while concealing his true background—a fact later unveiled in A Deeper Love Inside.
Midnight develops a romantic relationship with Akemi, a gifted Japanese artist studying at Pratt Institute. Despite communication challenges, they marry with Midnight’s family’s endorsement. Nevertheless, Akemi’s father disapproves of their union and returns her to Japan. The continuation of the story depicts Midnight’s journey to Japan as he seeks to reunite with Akemi while confronting familial obligations and personal hardships.
Characters
- Midnight, the 14-year-old narrator and Black Sudanese immigrant, offers critical reflections on contemporary African American culture contrasted with his Sudanese heritage. He practices Ninjutsu for protection and navigates complex romantic experiences.
- Umma, mother to Midnight and Naja, strives to establish a thriving business creating and marketing traditional attire after emigrating to the United States.
- Naja, Midnight's 7-year-old sister, is carefully shielded by her family from external adversities.
- Akemi, a 16-year-old Japanese artistic prodigy on scholarship in Queens, balances work for her uncle with collegiate studies at Pratt Institute. She is acquiring English language skills and shares a romantic bond with Midnight.
- Ameer, aged 15 and affiliated with the Five Percenters, is one of Midnight's close companions focused on romantic pursuits. Their interactions often involve playful disputes that reveal their personalities.
- Chris, another trusted friend, participates in basketball hustling under the vigilant supervision of his protective father.
- Marty Bookbinder, proprietor of a bookstore who provides guidance to Midnight through chess games and life lessons.
Reception
Publishers Weekly characterized the book as "gritty" but critiqued it for its "slack plot and slow pacing," further commenting that Souljah’s writing style remains "woefully unpolished."