Gabrielle Union Says She Made A Bucket List Of F-boys She Wanted To Date Following Her Divorce
Gabrielle Union continues to open up about her life with her new book, You Got Anything Stronger? The actress details her harrowing journey to motherhood, how she felt about husband Dwyane Wade getting another woman pregnant while they were on a break and now she's opening up about the time in her life once she divorced her first husband.
Gabrielle was married to NFL star Chris Howard for five years and ultimately broke up due to her husband's cheating. The L.A's Finest star detailed her marriage to Chris in her first book, We're Going to Need More Wine, where she also revealed his bizarre proposal and their wedding, in which she ignored all the red signs.
However, in her second book, she reflected on what happened after her divorce, which involved a bucket list of men.
During her recent book tour stop in Atlanta, Gabrielle sat down with her friend and music manager Chaka Zulu and recalled the time she shared the list with him.
"So I got divorced and like other divorced people, you have a mental bucket list. I had a bucket list of diddles. I was like, here is my deep, what do they call it, Red Sea scrolls of gentleman callers I would like to check their [availability] on, check their pulse and Chaka was like, 'about 99.9% of that list are f--k boys and I was like, 'yes exactly.'"
The Being Mary Jane star assured her friend that she was ready to take on f-boys despite his warnings.
"I feel tall enough to enjoy this ride. I will strap in and I will hold my arms up and I'll buy the picture at the end of the ride."
While neither one of them revealed names from the bucket list, it would appear that her happily ever after was closer than she expected.
She divorced her husband in 2006 and met Dwyane in 2007. Although they were just friends at first, they began dating and got engaged in 2013.
Now, they have been married for seven years, she is a bonus mom to his kids from previous relationships and they share a two-year-old daughter together.
Featured image by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
This article is in partnership with Lexus.
Luxury is often defined by someone else’s standards. But what if the finer things in life looked different through the lens of those crafting and shaping Black culture?
In Redefining Excellence, a two-episode short-form video series presented by Will Packer Media in collaboration with Lexus, we dare to broaden how we think about luxury. Here, it’s not just about the price tag. Luxury is a practice.
At its core, Redefining Excellence is a celebration of intention woven into every detail of how we live: our joy, our spaces, our craft, but also our rituals of care. These are the Black creators who not only give the best to themselves in what they build, but also pay it forward to the communities around them.
Through their vision, they embody the same precision and artistry that Lexus embraces when in pursuit of a higher standard, the Standard of Amazing.
In Episode 1, “Ingredients of Success,” the series follows chef, restaurateur, and Lexus Culinary Master Kwame Onwuachi, whose artistry is imbued with rich cultural storytelling. We see him wander purposefully through a garden, gently testing the ripeness of fresh fruits and vegetables. “Luxury isn’t about exclusivity. It’s about being intentional with your choices and craft,” he says.
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“Now, because of my work and the ingredients I use, luxury means something different. I am boldly setting a new standard of amazing and innovation.”
As he chops vegetables, plates vibrant dishes, and loads the finished product into the sleek Lexus LC Convertible, he continues, “For me, luxury means ingredients that carry memory… dining experiences and locations that honor the stories that raised me and feel like us.”
In Episode 2, “The Texture of Luxury,” the lens turns to founder and CEO of CurlyCon LA Ava Pearl, whose ingredients take a different form. As the trunk of her Lexus LX 700h lifts, she says, “When I think of luxury, it isn’t expensive, it’s expansive.” The scene shifts, and we watch Ava lay down a bouquet of fresh flowers upon entering her home before using aloe vera leaves to prepare gel by hand.
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“When I was younger, I thought luxury was something you bought. Now I know it’s about living up to a higher standard… Black women have always defined what’s next, setting the standard for beauty, luxury, and excellence.”
Like Kwame, she builds with intention, pouring care into the details, believing, like Lexus, that “luxury isn’t just a finish, it’s a standard. One that’s built to amaze.”
Through these stories, Redefining Excellence serves as a reminder that the journey is not just about the destination, but also the ingredients you choose along the way.
Watch both episodes now and learn more about how Kwame and Ava set their own standard of amazing.
Featured image by xoNecole/Will Packer Media
I know firsthand how powerful it is to see our voices centered, not just included. Black-owned bookstores are one of the few places where our narratives are celebrated instead of marginalized. You’ll find works that explore our joy, our pain, our love, our resistance, our healing. And the best part? You’ll find books by authors that might not be widely represented in your local library or at big-box stores.
Supporting Black-owned bookstores isn’t just about buying books. It’s about preserving culture, investing in community, and reclaiming our stories. They’re also spaces where local authors are uplifted, children see themselves reflected in the pages, and where conversations about liberation and love happen organically between book lovers who have so much in common.
If you’re wondering where to start, here’s a great list of Black-owned bookstores, both in the U.S. and globally, that you can add to your must-visit list this fall and beyond:
North
Harriett’s Bookshop — Philadelphia
This book shop, named after Harriet Tubman and founded by Jeannine Cook, serves as a hybrid space: part bookstore, part art gallery, part monument. The inventory rotates monthly with thematic exhibitions (for example reparations), and the store hosts events including internships with local youth.
The Lit. Bar — Bronx, New York
Opened in 2019, this is the only independent bookstore in the Bronx. It combines a bookstore with a stylish social space (wine bar) that brings readers together. It’s also well regarded for its curation of books by underrepresented authors and as a gathering place for the community.
Midwest
Black Garnet Books — St. Paul, Minnesota
Started as a pop‑up, Black Garnet Books received a grant to open a brick‑and‑mortar location. Its founder Dionne Sims discovered there were no previous Black‑owned bookstores in Minnesota, which motivated its creation. The store is focused on literature by Black authors and community programming.
Semicolon Bookstore & Gallery — Chicago, Illinois
A Black woman‑owned bookstore and gallery space that emphasizes art and literature together. It carries a mix of books by Black authors across genres, and supports community engagement through gallery exhibitions, programs, and online presence.
South
The Listening Tree — Decatur, GA
The Listening Tree, located on Candler Road in Decatur, Georgia, was founded by Omar and Kimberly Finley to promote literacy and Black representation in children's literature. They established Our Story Books Publishing and later The Listening Tree. The bookstore offers a Young Entrepreneurs Program for ages 8-16, teaching financial literacy and business skills. Through the B-Boys and B-Girls Book Club, members receive age-appropriate books and access to a virtual community.
The Book Bar — Richmond, Virginia
Located at 1311 East Main Street in Shockoe Slip (Downtown Richmond), this Black‑ and woman‑owned bookstore (also wine bar) is focused on centering Black, Indigenous, and authors of color. Opened in early 2022 by Krystle Dandridge, it features lounge‑style seating, book clubs, author events, subscription boxes, and nearly 99% of its inventory represents Black authors or Black characters/subjects.
West
Marcus Books — Oakland, California
One of the oldest Black‑owned bookstores in the U.S., Marcus Books has a long legacy of promoting African-American literature and culture. Despite challenges, it remains an important institution in the Bay Area.
Shop at Matter — Denver, Colorado
A Black‑owned bookstore in Denver that offers a well curated selection of Black literature, art books, children’s books, and community events. It acts as a hub for readers interested in diverse voices and community building.
Fulton Street Books & Coffee —Tulsa, OK
Funded by Onikah Asamoa‑Caesar, an educator and cultural activist, this café‑bookshop serves as a sanctuary, combining her love of books and Black liberation. It offers community, comfort, and curated literature.
International
New Beacon Books — London
Founded in 1966, New Beacon Books is the UK’s first Black publisher and specialist bookshop. It champions literature from Africa, the Caribbean, and global diasporas. Central to social and political movements. Check their website for events and open hours before visiting.
This bookstore specializes in Caribbean literature and its diasporic roots in Africa and India. Based in the Caribbean, it offers rare, out-of-print, and culturally significant works. Deeply rooted in the region, it reflects a lifelong commitment to preserving Caribbean heritage and knowledge. When you’re on the island, be sure to check their social pages or call to be sure of open and closed days. (As of this article, they are open Wednesday through Saturday).
Roving Heights Bookstore —Multiple Locations, Nigeria
If you’re going to Nigeria for Detty December, add a stop at Roving Heights to your itinerary. It’s a family-owned literary hub offering a wide range of fiction, non-fiction, and African literature. Known for its welcoming space and events, it promotes Nigerian storytelling, local authors, and a strong reading culture in the city.
Tusome Books —Winnipeg, Canada
Founded by Valerie Chelangat, this bookstore promotes intentional reading by amplifying underrepresented voices, including Black, Indigenous, queer, immigrant, and disabled authors. The store also offers book clubs, speaking engagements, and literacy programs through its foundation.
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