The Couple that Broke Interracial Marriage Barriers: Loving Day
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| Mildred Jeter and Richard Loving Photo: Wikimedia.org |
During this time of year for thankfulness, I appreciate the trailblazing path made by the Loving’s, the couple that broke trough interracial marriage barriers. Here’s their story.
Mildred Jeter and Richard Loving from Caroline County, Virginia, fell in love and got engaged. Though this scenario takes place every day all over the world, on this day in 1958 in Virginia they were breaking the law. Mildred was Black and Richard was White, and like many states, Virginia banned interracial marriage. Since Washington DC allowed the marital union of different races, the couple got married there and returned to Virginia.
They had found a loophole – or so they thought. Little did they know that Virginia law forbade interracial couples living in the state even if they were legally married somewhere else. Upon returning to their home state, the police arrested and threw them in jail. At the trial, the court reviewed legal briefs and found them guilty. The court gave them a choice: imprisonment for one to three years or banishment from Virginia for 25 years. The Lovings chose the latter and moved to Washington DC.
Even though interracial marriages were legal in Washington DC, prejudice still existed. The couple faced housing and job discrimination, making it tough to support their children. Racists taunted them, and the couple longed for the much needed emotional support from their families back in Virginia. Mildred took matters in her own hands, sending a letter to Robert F. Kennedy, Attorney General of the United States, in a blind hope that he could improve the situation.
The Attorney General’s office forwarded her letter to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) who assisted them with attorneys. Two lawyers took on the case pro bono for they believed the Lovings had the right to marry and live wherever they wanted. After nine years, the case, Loving v. Virginia (1967),eventually reached the U.S. Supreme Court. There, the Lovings won with unanimous support. Chief Justice Earl Warren stated, “Under our Constitution, the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides within the individual and cannot be infringed on by the State.”
This U.S. Supreme Court ruling affected every interracial couple as it was now illegal for states to ban interracial marriage. Love is color blind, and it prevailed.
To acknowledge this pivotal civil rights win, the Loving Day organization strives to fight racial prejudice through education and to build multicultural community through its global network of annual celebrations and educational campaigns. Find out more at www.lovingday.org.
