The Lovings

 

Mildred and Richard were married in Washington, D.C. and their marriage was considered legal there; however, in 1958 after only 5 weeks of marriage they were arrested in their Virginia home for violating the 1924 Racial Integrity Act. The Racial Integrity Act was an act which forbid interracial marriage. At this time Virginia was 1 in 20 states which still had this law in effect, Mildred was of African American and Native American descent and Richard was of Irish and English descent. 

Although they were arrested, Richard was released on a $1,000 bond a day after but Mildred was kept in jail for 3 nights before being released to her father’s custody. The couple was then seen in court and pleaded “guilty” but the judge offered them 2 choices: leave Virginia for 25 years or go to prison. The Loving's left and moved to Washington, D.C. which was only 2 hours away from their home in Virginia. Living in exile they wanted nothing more than to return home and to live a simple life. At this time the Civil Rights movement was going on which inspired Mildred to write to Robert F. Kennedy  and asked for his advice.  She was referred to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the case went to the Supreme Court. In 1967 the judges unanimously ruled in favor of the Loving's and Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote “the freedom to marry has long been recognized as one of the vital personal rights essential to the orderly pursuit of happiness by free men.” This ruling was seen as the end of segregation laws in America. 

After 9 years, Richard and Mildred were able to return home and live their lives without fear of loving each other. In 1975 they were in an accident which took Richard’s life. Mildred lived privately for the remainder of her life but in 2007 she was asked her thoughts on gay marriage and after some thought she gave a  statement, “I believe all Americans, no matter their race, no matter their sex, no matter their sexual orientation, should have that same freedom to marry. Government has no business imposing some people’s religious beliefs over others. Especially if it denies people’s civil rights.”

Richard and Mildred left a legacy of love and that love has allowed so many others to be able to freely express their own love. 

Sources: 

https://www.theguardian.com/books/gallery/2017/mar/29/the-lovings-in-pictures

https://www.biography.com/news/richard-mildred-loving-story

https://www.history.com/news/mildred-and-richard-the-love-story-that-changed-america

Photo Details: 

Richard and Mildred Loving and their Children 1967 - Fair Use