Schwarzes Herz (literally: Black Heart) is the first novel by Jasmina Kuhnke. It has not been translated into English (yet).
Finished on: 1.1.2024

Content Note: domestic violence, sexualized violence, (critical treatment of) racism, misogyny, misogynoir

Plot:
The narrator grows up as a poor, biracial, Black child in Germany in the 90s. Racism is her daily bread, even when she is successful as an athlete in school. When she meets a local rapper who shows his soft side to her and only her, she feels chosen and hopes for freedom. Instead their relationship soon turns violent and yet another place where she can’t be safe. But finally she gathers her strength to make a new start.

Schwarzes Herz is an autobiographically inspired book on a mission – that is, it wants to share the pain its narrator experiences and show that circumstances can be bettered. That mission trumps the literary effort of the novel. Nevertheless, it is a compelling novel.

Kuhnke has some (online) notoriety in German-speaking countries for her outspoke activism against racism, sexism, classism and its intersections. It is her online presence that made me aware of her novel, and her passion for activism is certainly present in the novel as well. It is part of what made the book such a quick reading experience for me: the sheer earnestness with which it is written might not work for everybody, but for me it kept the book from becoming either trauma porn or a disingenuous ticking of discrimination boxes.

Yes, at times the book might err on the side of didactics, feeling almost desperate to make itself understood, to make every possible reader understand what it meant to grow up a Black girl in racist Germany, and the many ways it is still san issue. But honestly, these are difficult topics and some people will have a hard time understanding. Especially because Kuhnke and her narrator embody a perspective that is rarely seen or heard in Germany (or here in Austria): that of Black German women. We, especially white folks, can still use a lot of education on this experience.

Given all of this, it is no surprise that the literary merit of the novel maybe takes a backseat to its sociocultural merit. But Kuhnke’s writing is absolutely good enough and serviceable enough to serve the story, even if it is not great writing per se. The narrator is a compelling character, and it was easy to root for her. I blazed through the novel in a day, hoping for a happy end for her – and getting one together with an emotional look at the state of German culture.

Summarizing: a good, albeit a little rough read.