I wanted to blog about something, that I meant to blog about on May 2, 2008 and sadly didn't make the time too, but I figure it's never too late. That day I was browsing the internet and stumbled across the headline
"Mildred Loving, matriarch of interracial marriage, dies". Now it immediately caught my attention since Josh and I are interracial. I'm El Salvadoran, and he's Jewish. Two very different cultures. I read the article and tears quickly swelled up inside of me. You see, Mildred Loving and Richard Loving, are the only reason that Josh and I, and hundreds of couples, are now allowed to be legally married and live a peaceful life together. They challenged the Supreme Court against an ancient, and out dated law that stated that races were not allowed to legally be married. They suffered through humiliation after humiliation. Convicted for a one year jail sentence and eventually kicked out of their home state of Virginia. Turned away, unable to rent or own a home due to their relationship. The ridiculing that they must have faced just because they fell in love with each other. I just couldn't imagine, and yet it didn't even enter my mind that Josh and I would of once ever shared such hardships. On June 12th, 1967 the supreme court ruled that the government had no right to infringe on who a person was allowed to marry. Tragically, Richard Loving passed away a few years later in a car accident, and Mildred went into seclusion. But on June 12, 2007 she made a rare statement to the public.
"Surrounded as I am now by wonderful children and grandchildren, not a day goes by that I don't think of Richard and our love, our right to marry, and how much it meant to me to have that freedom to marry the person precious to me, even if others thought he was the "wrong kind of person" for me to marry. I believe all Americans, no matter their race, no matter their sex, no matter their sexual orientation, should have the same freedom to marry. Government has no business imposing some people's religious beliefs over others. Especially if it denies people's civil rights. I am still not a political person, but I am proud that Richard's and my name is on a court case that can help reinforce the love, the commitment, the fairness, and the family that so many people, black or white, young or old, gay or straight, seek in life. I support the freedom to marry for all. That's what Loving, and loving, are all about."
It's funny how sometimes we get so caught up on silly things. What to cook for dinner, the desire of a new ipod, whether you'll have time for a manicure this week, and we quickly forgot the important things in life. To read and learn about such an amazing couple that helped pave the way for so many of us, including some of our brides and grooms, just reaffirms my thought that the human race is an amazing and beautiful race.
Mildred and Richard Loving
P.S. If you would like to read more about them here are some direct links:
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