The Couple Who Shattered The Race Barrier

40th Anniversary Of Supreme Court Ruling That Overturned State Laws Barring Interracial Marriage

(AP)  Reporters no longer beat a path to the modest white house just over the Caroline County border — and that's fine with its owner, a soft-spoken 67-year-old who never wanted the fame her marriage brought her.

Born Mildred Jeter, she's known mostly by the name she took when she — a black woman living in segregated Virginia — dared break the rules by marrying a white man named Richard Loving.

The union landed the Lovings in jail, and then before the Supreme Court, and finally in the history books; 40 years ago Tuesday, the court ruled in favor of the couple, overturning laws prohibiting interracial unions and changing the face of America.

Mildred Loving is a matriarch to thousands of mixed couples now sprinkled in every city. But she hardly considers herself a hero — just a girl who once fell in love with a boy.

"It wasn't my doing," Loving told The Associated Press, in a rare interview. "It was God's work."

While the rest of the Jim Crow South struggled to divide the races in the early '50s, blacks and whites in tiny Central Point had long been intertwined. They worked together on farms, raising chickens and tobacco. They drag-raced together.

And often, they were intimate, explained Edward Clarke, who grew up in the town an hour outside Richmond, today little more than vast fields, ragtag homes and weed-choked farm houses.

Standing in the hilly cemetery where Richard Loving is buried, he swept his hand out over markers reading Jeter, Byrd and Fortune — black folks, he explained, many so pale they could pass for white.

"The white people were just like the black people," said Clarke, himself a black man with clay-colored skin and stick-straight hair. "You lived and survived ... it was a sharing thing."

It was in this setting that a skinny 11-year-old nicknamed "Bean" met a 17-year-old boy who was a family friend, according to Phyl Newbeck, a Vermont author who detailed the case in the 2004 book, "Virginia Hasn't Always Been for Lovers."

[afmca]

And the same people that so vigorously fought mixed race marriages are using the same demented arguments against same *** marriages. It is just a good cover for people that wallow in bigotry and preachers that use this ignornace to enrich themselves. Falwell, Robertson, Dobson all enrich (or enriched) themselves by feeding off the biases and fears of those willing to be blindly led.

Good marriages, whether same race, different race, same/different religion, same/different ethnicity, hetero or same *** are hard to find and all strengthen the institution of marriage.

[rafterman1]

Unfortunately, the bigots who failed to keep blacks and whites apart 40 years ago are now trying to do the same to gay people. Gay people are now the new black people for practicing "acceptable" bigotry.

[stezzer]

Surely love, any kind of love, is better than all the hate in this world.

[l8c6]

And today the same elements, religious, societal, political that landed this couple in jail causing a supreme court case that were proclaiming that there cannot be interracial marriages, that it's an abomination before God and shall never be legal are saying the same thing about gay marriages. Of course the word today is, but this is much different but it's really not, it's just convenient for them to focus on such things instead of their own marriage problems, their pastor's latent homosexuality that comes in the form of visiting a male prostitute and using meth, their own children's drug problems, their own alcoholism, etc. etc. etc. To look for a scapegoat to take away our own shortcomings is the way of the human race and will probably never change.

There is absolutely no parrallel between same *** marriages and marriages of human beings of opposite ***, different "race". Race is an tnvented categorization that does not necessarily involve grotesque unintended, immoral and unnatural intimacy while homosexuality does. Spoken by a so-called "blackman" who doesn't identify by race nor supports falwell, Robertson et al. and generally liberal!

[jetlizhan]

a true love story - it's so hard for me to believe our country thought the way it did during the time this couple got married - how wrong and barbaric! i hope mrs loving's days are now peaceful and one day she'll be reunited with her prince charming!

[l8c6]

jerryomara, I agree that this once viewed nation of progress is really sliding of the old world ways which is consistent with what Bush calls it " new world order" . This country is being dragged back to an old system and is steadily having more in common with the middle east and the far east than countries in Europe though those places aren't free of those who would take their societies backwards if they had a chance.

The cons here refer to "isolationism" but they merely are referring to their wild wild west "free market" of ruthless profiteering. The anti-social cons pushing for such things are the true social isolationists and would be content sitting in their castles and palaces relating to only a few of their gentry.

[antoniof123]

What a great story but this is how so many want to unite the USA through hate.

Take a look at your selves before you cast stones. My Mother was born in Europe before the raise of Facism. When she saw what has been happening here she said it reminds her of that time. So for those of you who think you can bring Facism here to this country I warn you we will not let that happen. Take your Facist ways and leave this country before you really **** off America.

[l8c6]

seems2me, Yeah, and here you are the example of what they say today. This is exactly what was said about interracial marriages at the time and they believed their rationale for putting up barriers to interracial marriages as soundly as you believe what you submitted today. If you base this notion on the christian bible did you forget the passage that reads, in heaven there will be no male or female? Such a child of this world you must be, a child of the flesh, no spiritual vision of transcendence. Locked in your earthly body that will abandon you as it ages an dies.

[sonpowered]

Faith in Christ, not skin color, is the Biblical standard for choosing a spouse. Interracial marriage is not a matter of right or wrong, but of wisdom, discernment, and prayer.
The Old Testament law commanded the Israelites not to engage in interracial marriage (Deuteronomy 7:3-4). The reason for this is that the Israelites would be led astray from God if they intermarried with idol worshippers, pagans, or heathens. A similar principle is laid out in the New Testament, but at a much different level: %u201CDo not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?%u201D (2 Corinthians 6:14). Just as the Israelites (believers in the one true God) were commanded not to marry nonbelievers, so Christians (believers in the one true God) are commanded not to marry unbelievers. So, the Bible does not say that interracial marriage is wrong.
Many scholars guess that Moses%u2019 wife Zipporah might have been black since she was a Cushite (Numbers 12:1). Cush is an ancient name for an area of Africa.
So, if it is NOT wrong in the Bible....who are we to say differently?

[emark4]

To janem4 at 10:30 AM : Jun 11, 2007,
Obviously it is you who is in need of a history lesson, not liberals.
The Dixiecrats and the Grand Ol' Party of the Civil War/Civil Rights era were nowhere near the same as the Democratic and Republican parties of today. As a matter of fact, they're almost complete opposites. The South used to be dominated by the Dems, until many constituents realized the party platform was beginning to evolve into what we associate with the modern-day Democrats. Once they realized this, all those racist/sexist/misogynist/homophobic/reactionary ex-klan members defected and joined... wait for it... The Republican Party.
Go check the voting patterns of the South from 1950-2000. Notice who was in power then, who's in power now, and what happened in between to **** people off and make them change parties to maintain the status quo. *End US History 101*

[cryonbrian]

sonpowered

you do no here any mention of someone white in the bible until God turn 2 people WHITE as snow for stealing form the church!

White folks are so confused? While Presidents and political leaders slept with underage black slave women secretly, they would pass laws openly prohibiting it!

[cryonbrian]

john97068

Great news, sorry it took so long.

I have noticed educated black women are often times going outside of their own race for a partner. I cannot blame them.

So all them white woman with black sports figures, do you blame them?

[wadyaknow]

I find it almost amusing to see the bible-thumpers now say "oh there is nothing in the bible against interracial marriage" when they used the bible for years to justify such bigotry. Now it is ironic that are doing it again - with the help of bible-thumping African-Americans - to deny *** the right to marry or even adopt. What kind of writer do we have here who can't even draw the parallel with today's situation!!? Virginia may be the most anti-gay state of all. See the article below from this weekend - Baltimore Sun.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-te.md.adopt10jun10,1,1716689.story

[wadyaknow]

Why did they *** the word g a y s in my comments???

[condumism]

Southern Confederates on this board defend the actions of the Repuglicons of the 1800's as though they were the party of life, liberty, and happiness? Fact is, the Repuglicons of the 1800's eventually became the Democrats of the 1960's and beyond. This is well documented in that the Southern Confederate States voted straight Democrat until Lyndon Johnson introduced the Civil Right Act in 1964. Southerners immediatley became Repuglicons forever thereafter. Please Southern Hypocrits, tell us again how the Repuglicon Party is the party of life, liberty and happiness? HOw about the party of Nazi loving Fascists?

[preacherbob1]

The replies to this well documented and well written article are inane. I was the pastor of a very small Methodist Church is Ladysmith, VA in the early 1960's. Milford, where the Lovings lived, was only about 15 miles away. Hey, I was there! They had a hard time at best. Who was to blame? Democrats, Republicans or Christians?

All the reply quoting the Bible, or misinterpreting it as well as the foolish comparisons of the Democrats and Republicans then and now are, like the old boy said, like "spitting" in the wind!

[bookwerm314]

The only "race" is the HUMAN RACE!
There is no "marrying out of your race" until we start mailing aliens!
When you have a baby, and they ask what "race" he is, do as we did, write in "HUMAN", and don't check ANY other box.

[klifton2-2009]

God does not segregate. The evil within men (and women) in the name of God is the root of all that is bad and evil. In God's name, many atrocities have been committed and are being committed. There is nothing wrong in inter-racial marriage, in fact the off springs have the best of both worlds. God bless them all.

[wordamus]

The real news here is not news at all.

A man and a woman is a man and a woman and love it love. When love smacks you to the ground, you are done...d-o-n-e...done!

You can be black and white, Jew and Muslim...whatever and whatever. It doesn't matter...when love smacks you, you are done.

[newsboy17]

As cryonbrian already put it:
Great News, sorry it took so long!

I am very happy for Milderd and her three children that love was able to overcome such bias and prejudice.

[illady]

God is very clear on what is right and wrong and you cannot find any scriptures where He ever forbid marriage between races. He did forbid marriage between His people and pagan worshippers. Solomon is a perfect example, he was drawn away from God by his pagan wives and their beliefs. Just proves the color of skin does not matter, what matters is the heart and thinking of a person.

[kansas1946]

Looks like it was the same "anti-family" right-winger bigots throwing a fit, arresting these two decent people, that are attacking gay families today. Those bigots never go away. They just go underground until some other thing comes up that they can rail against in the name of God.

[raramage]

I have been hearing an awful lot from people that keep trying to impose THEIR will on people by saying they are "doing the Lord's work".

Now, as far as I know God is the Supreme Being, HE calls all the shots down here and in Heaven. I am a minister, and I would never claim to KNOW what God's will is for me or anyone else. Certainly not what God has planned for the world.

If you will recall, God created man in HIS own image. I find absolutely no racial distinctions in the Bible, just we are ALL brothers and sisters in God's eyes. So what makes US think we have been endowed with the power to change the Bible to suit OUR needs?

Personally, I think God has a pretty good handle on things, and I have been ordained to act as a guide for Him and His Word, so that EVERYONE has the opportunity to learn God's word and come to accept Jesus as their Saviour. NO QUESTIONS, NO DISTINCTIONS OF ANY KIND. Just accept by faith that this is what God wants from us.

Now, why doesn't the media just get on with reporting on the really important things in life? You know, when teens do good things to help others, or the many great deeds of kindness that are being done on a regular basis each and every day. I just wonder how many more people would love to hear news reports like those? I would hazard a guess that there are a vast number more than ANY OF YOU would care to admit to.

Thank you, now go out and find the good news.

[spadefinger]

"If you will recall, God created man in HIS own image. I find absolutely no racial distinctions in the Bible, just we are ALL brothers and sisters in God's eyes."

raramage,

You say this and yet claim to be a minister. Have you not read Exodus or Deuteronomy (or nearly any other Old Testament book)? I seem to recall God telling the Hebrews to destroy everyone in the "promised land" (you know, the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites and Jebusites).

Doesn't that smack of racism just a bit?

[blkindian]

When I was 5y/o I remember the "White and Black" Sections of the Greyhound Bus Station being seperate. Interestingly, I married a German woman when I was in my early 20's. I have a Bi-Racial son. In those days I lived in San Francisco, CA. where most people, (Hippies) were too stoned to even care what color you were. I remember those racist politicians named Strom Thurmmond, Barry Goldwater & the other Garden Variety racists fueling the KKK. However, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and even those so-called Pilgrims were also Racist, Rapists, and Child Molesters. Even by today's twisted "Worldly," Standards, whether you wish to hear it or not! I am Black, Indian, (Shoshone-Cherokee) French & Mexican! So what part of me, did this country NOT "HATE," at one time or another?

[blkindian]

Furthermore, this so-called "Holiday," named "Thanksgiving," that you celebrate, not even being Scriptural, what does it even mean, if you turned around and slaughtered the American Indian? "HATRED," is straight ignorance. So therefore, this country was actually built upon the UnGodly standards of HATRED! My now knowing, the results of non-publicized, exhaustive DNA and Forensics that have been done on "Where Man's Bloodline Began," reveals that Man originated from the black race, in Nimibia, so therefore, anyone who even attempts to look down upon others should ultimately consider this: "Where does all of mankind originate, except from Adam and Eve?

[blkindian]

Even further, who wasn't created from GOD himself?" Have you not seen White Tigers with blue eyes? White Alligators with blue eyes, and other white animals that are NOT albinos, posessing blue eyes! What more evidence do you need? I suggest that the next time a person calls another the "N" word. Well, like that GEICO Caveman in that commercial says it: "Next time do a little research!" Just as the Bible has said, concerning this ungodly world: "Man is dominating man to his own injury!" So, interestingly, Wicked hypocrites in the "World" view themselves as Godly.... and yet GOD sees them as Wicked, and on account of THEIR blatant wickedness, he will arrive in his own time! Those Satanic Attributes of Bigotry & Racism are taught only by those people who posess hatred! It doesn't matter if you call yourself a
"preacher or a priest!" GOD is not partial, so therefore, Racism isn't taught by GOD! Any Questions? That's just Simply Arithmetic.... is it not?

[mrleon69]

Well let me see, my mother is from virginia. Her mother was half african, half cherokee, her father was white. My father is from Pennsylvania. His mother was "nearly white" but may have been assigned the designation of black because her blood was impure. His father looked the same way, I think his father's ancestors were mixed between east indians and french that imigrated from the East Indies to South Carolina in the 1700s and actually OWNED slaves, so what does that make me? I think there are actually some chinese people in their some where. So that makes me 33% european, around a 20% east indian, 25% cherokee indian...my family came to america in the late 1700s, and race mixing was "banned" until when?

[aerodog]

lostngone -

boy, ain't that the truth!! you just can't pick whom you fall in love with.

[kailumego1]

Times are changing, and it is true more educated black women are dating outside their race, for various reasons.

One, in particular, it is difficult to find a black educated male, who is either so stuck on himself, or overwhelmed by his own accomplishments that he can objectively, understandably, and unselfishly support a black female on his level.

Most of the time they are too busy, embellished in their own self-aggrandizement, showcasing their accomplishments and accolades to be a supportive mate.

Does this apply to all educated black males, no, but too many have fallen into this category.


Another reason, besides the egocentrism, many black men have fallen pray to the "underworld", selling illegal pharmaceuticals, gratuitous violence against each other, a system of post-slavery bastardization [breeding relentlessly and abandonment, absentee father], and unproductiveness.

Certainly, racism and discrimination has had a negative impact on the black male/female/family, however, many use this as an excuse to remain stagnate.

I personally understand why some educated black women have chosen to go outside their race, considering, not to postulate men from other ethnicities don't have their share of problems too, but, black women outnumber black men 10-1.

So, why should a black woman cave in to societal pressures and date exclusively within her race, with a man who is obviously not suitable or viable as a good mate, simply because he is black.