What is Interracial Marriage?

Take a look at your community, family, and close friends. How many of them are dating or married to someone who doesn't quite look like them? How many of them come from two different backgrounds and ethnicity? If you look closely, there are many people dating/married to others who are completely different from each other! But, did you know at one point of time this was illegal? Let’s take a closer look at the history of interracial relationships/marriage and see where it all sprouted.
When Did This All Begin?
The hatred towards interracial dating/marriage dates all the way back to 1692 (2). A long time ago, right? Well, during those times there were laws called 'miscegenation laws' also known as anti-mixed marriage laws. These laws banned people from marrying a white American (2). Back in those days there were very specific about what races were banned in these laws. Some of the many races that were banned from marrying a white American are Asians, Hawaiians, African Americans, Native Americans, and Filipinos (2). Based on your community, how many of your friends and family wouldn't have been together due to this? The answer is a lot!

Loving v Virginia!

Figure 1

But, things took a major major in 1967 in the state of Virginia. You may or may have not heard of the Loving v Virginia case in your history class. It all started with a mixed couple who fell in love, but were banned by their state to be together. Mildred Jeter, a African American women was engaged to a white American by the name Richard Loving (Figure 1). In 1967, they decided to take a step ahead and get married. But, in the state of Virginia miscegenation laws were placed and were taken very seriously. So, they decided to go the state of District of Columbia, specifically the city of Washington, where it was lawfully legal for interracial couples to get married, and got married (3)!

Though they though they did everything right, the Lovings were in very much trouble when they decided to go back to their state of Virginia. For the few firsts day everything was okay, but one early morning the police came busting to their doors and were arrested. According to the judge, they were in the wrong because, regardless of where they got married, Virginia, their home of residence, was a state that prohibited interracial marriage. After their trail, both Mr. and Mrs. Loving were charged for violating the state's miscegenation laws (3). The judge agreed to suspend the sentence if both the Lovings left the state of Virginia for 25 years (3)!
Now...

After this case, many people began to fight for their rights to marry who they want regardless of who they are or what they look like. They believed it should be a natural right, not something that should be decided through the law. Between 1913 and 1948, 30 of the 48 states enforced anti-miscegenation laws (2).

Looking back, out history has changed a lot, don't you agree? Now think about how different our times would be of this would still be illegal? How many of your friends and family wouldn't be together? America has progressed greatly and thanks to the Loving v Virginia case, we can now be with who we want to be with!

TO LEARN MORE THE LOVING V VIRGINIA CASE AND HISTORY OF INTERRACIAL DATING/MARRIAGE VISIT: https://www.oyez.org/cases/1966/395

References

(1. Figure 1) Staff, B. (2018, February 13). Love Conquers All: The Richard and Mildred Loving Story. Retrieved from https://www.biography.com/news/richard-mildred-loving-story
(2.) Miscegenation. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.dictionary.com/browse/miscegenation

(3.) Loving v. Virginia. (n.d.). Oyez. Retrieved October 31, 2018, from https://www.oyez.org/cases/1966/395