Today, June 12, is celebrated by many interracial couples and families as “Loving Day.” I must confess I was not aware of this special day until I read reports last month about Mildred Loving’s death.
On this day in 1967, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the laws banning interracial marriage. (Think about that—1967!) Richard and Mildred Loving were the interracial couple whose “illegal” marriage brought the case before the court. The Washington Post features a thought-provoking story on the subject, along with reprints of its editorials from the sixties decrying anti-interracial marriage laws.
Also read or listen to an interesting NPR commentary by John Ridley and an in-depth report from Voice of America. Finally, this April article from the Burnside Writers Collective asks us to consider interracial and cross-cultural marriage as a model of Christian reconciliation.
As a bi-racial woman, I appreciate this more than others might! Thanks for reminding us that so much progress has been made… and never forget the work that still needs to be done.
Take care!
Chaze77
Thanks for putting it out there. This is a very special day for my wife and I. We thank God for the Lovings…
Thank you for educating me a bit about this day. I had never heard of it, but appreciate it. I will be officiating an interracial marraige next week and it is good to know the history even as I approach that responsibility.
Coming from a family in which my dad is technically biracial (the child of two bi-racial individuals – although neither of my paternal grandparents knew their Euro-American fathers), my sister-in-laws are Euro-American and Mexican American and my wife is Asian American, I this holiday sits close to my heart.
Ed, thanks for posting on this.
B”H
Hi Ed,
Thanks for sharing this piece. I knew about the Loving case as a Supreme Ct. decision, but was unaware of it as a day of celebration. Being in an interracial marriage for nearly 24 years now, you would think I surely knew about this day. Oh well, so much to learn and so little time.
Blessings,
Shlomo
As a person in an interracial marriage which was arranged by God, theologically this goes to the heart of the gospel. It’s not a sign of reconciliation per se but, Christianly speaking, that we live what we say we proclaim: there is Jew or Greek, bond or free in Christ. Paul says in 1 Cor. that if someone wants to marry, the only prerequisite is ones status “in Christ” not according to ethnic/racial categories, which would be a rejection of what God accomplished in and through Christ. Ed, thanks for the article. White supremecy is heresy!!!!
Thank you, Ed. I appreciate this post and what I’m learning from the links included.
Today it was reported that a justice of the peace in LA is refusing to do IR marriages. I think it shows the extent of cultural diversity in the US. …which can be hard to swallow. It is like we are an empire consisting of different nations.
The Justice of the peace in Louisiana is not the only one who doesn’t believe in interracial marriage. Many black women and black mothers don’t want their sons dating or marrying other races, especially white. My mother felt that way growing up. What do you think?
There’s a difference between a personal belief and an agent of the state denying two people civil rights and violating the law himself.