Loving Day
June 12th is known as “Loving Day”; referring to the Supreme Court case Loving v. Virginia.
On June 2nd, 1958, Richard Loving and Mildred Delores Jeter married in Washington DC and just over a year later, they were arrested in their home state of Virginia. Their crime was falling in love across racial lines and living in a state where interracial marriage was illegal.
Virginia passed the Racial Integrity Act of 1924, strengthening racial segregation by prohibiting interracial marriage and classifying someone as “white” only if your ancestry was void of anything other than “Caucasian”. All others were considered “colored”.
Their case made its way to the Supreme Court of the United States and the verdict was unanimous in their favor, ruling that it was illegal to bar people the right to marry on the basis of race. As someone who is biracial and in an interracial marriage, this ruling couldn’t have a greater impact on me and my life.
Being biracial, of both African American and Caucasian descent, my very existence is considered frowned upon by some. In the late 80s and 90s, my parents would attract attention from people who made it no secret what they thought of the interracial couple.
As a biracial woman living in the United States, I’m eternally grateful that the Lovings came before me and made my very existence legitimate. In another time, I am proof of an interracial intimate relationship, no more and probably less.
As a biracial woman who fell in love with a white man, I’m grateful that we were able to get married last year. I’m glad that our union can be legally recognized and we can be provided the benefits of a legal marriage. We can be considered family by any and all entities.
I'm grateful that they fought for their love so I could have mine too.
It’s scary though, to have a Supreme Court case grant you your right to the life that you want. It’s scary that 9 justices and a lot of people in Congress can make decisions that dictate who you can love and how you can care for that person. Our governmental systems play fast and loose with our rights, serving as bargaining chips for votes and political power. In 2022, the Respect for Marriage Act was signed into law, providing protection for same-sex and interracial marriages; that they must be recognized federally and by all states, protecting my marriage and that of so many others.
I recently saw a meme that said you have privilege if a Supreme Court case doesn’t decide if you have the same rights as others. That struck me, especially as we also celebrate Pride this month. People have so many thoughts and opinions on how other people live their lives; lives of complete strangers. What is there to fear from who and how someone loves?
Each Loving Day I reflect on being able to be with the love of my life and find joy in all the small moments of our life together. Because of someone else’s bravery, I was able to find my person, the other half of me. I also reflect on those who don’t want to see us together; those who have stopped dead in their tracks staring at our clasped hands or who have audibly mumbled about our racial differences as we pass by. The Respect for Marriage Act gives me hope that our marriage will be valid for the rest of time, even though it may not always be tolerated. I live happily believing that the life I’m building with my one true partner is ours to design however we see fit. Just like all who love each other deserve to forge their own path to happiness, however that may be.