February is often heralded as the month of love. Hearts, roses, and chocolates flood store shelves, and social norms encourage us to celebrate love in all its forms. Yet beneath the pink and red hues lies a thin, often overlooked line between love and danger. That line — shaped by habit, marketing, and tradition — reveals how easily expressions of love can cross into harm, both to ourselves and to others.
For Black communities, the stakes are especially high. The intersection of systemic inequities, cultural expectations, and historical trauma creates unique vulnerabilities, making it essential to examine what we accept as “love” — from the foods we eat to the relationships we build.
Sweet Deceptions: Sugar-Laden Love…