The picture above was taken at a wedding we went to this past weekend. The significance of the picture and the wedding is pretty amazing considering today's post. Because I write a blog about interracial marriage I pay a lot of attention to things that are going on in regards to interracial relationships and race in general. However, somehow I missed this latest story until it showed up in my inbox from a friend of mine who is also in an interracial marriage. She is Hispanic and her Hubby is black. But first, back to the picture. The wedding that we went to in the picture was also for a mixed race couple. She is white and he is Hispanic. The wedding, and the day, was about a beautiful couple, getting married in a beautiful location, creating a beautiful family. The end. It wasn't about what race they are, it was just about love. Now, back to today's post. Sorry I'm all over the place today, but I think I'm in such shock, and the relevance of an interracial wedding is so ironic, that you will quickly get the picture.
The article below is about an interracial couple in Louisiana who went to apply for a marriage license. When the Justice of the Peace found out they were a mixed race couple he denied the license!!! Yes, you heard me.....denied!!! This is some of what he said....
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091016/ap_on_re_us/us_interracial_rebuff
Keith Bardwell, justice of the peace in Tangipahoa Parish, says, "It is his experience that most interracial marriages do not last long." Bardwell said he asks everyone who calls about marriage if they are a mixed race couple. If they are, he does not marry them, he said. Bardwell said he has discussed the topic with blacks and whites, along with witnessing some interracial marriages. He came to the conclusion that most of black society does not readily accept offspring of such relationships, and neither does white society, he said. "There is a problem with both groups accepting a child from such a marriage," Bardwell said. "I think those children suffer and I won't help put them through it."
Excuse me!!!???? Interracial marriages don't last that long??? The children suffer!!!?? Last I checked I have been married to my husband for 16 years and we are stronger than ever! He is my best friend and the love of my life! Did I not just recently write a post about "The Children" and how amazing it is to have such a diverse background? How embracing all of who you are makes you such a fabulous well rounded person? If that's suffering, well then bring it on! Um, isn't the President of the United States a "mixed race child?" Too bad he had such low aspirations and ended up doing nothing with his life! =) I wonder how he feels about this decision? Last I checked denying a marriage license based on race was outlawed in 1967....why is this man still allowed to marry people? Why isn't he in jail? He is breaking the law based on personal opinion. I'm sorry, how is that legal? I can't stop shaking my head, and have yet to pick my jaw up off the floor because I seriously can't believe this happened in 2009!!! It's one thing to be ignorant and we all know racism is out there, but THIS!!!? Ohhhh heck no! Not acceptable. Discrimination at it's worst. Okay I have ranted enough......soooo Mr. Keith Bardwell, so called Justice of the "Peace," first of all, you should not be allowed to use the word "peace" in your title, you are creating hate not peace. Second of all, next time maybe you should do a little research on interracial couples and you will find that we are all quite happy in our marriages! We might have to go through some things that most people in same race marriages don't, but the reason we have to go through these "things" is because of people like YOU who just keep the madness of racism alive. We are just couples, no different than anyone else. Me personally, I feel sorry for you that you haven't allowed yourself to experience the joy of marrying EVERYONE who is in love. Love doesn't discriminate, maybe you shouldn't either.
11 comments:
WHAT.. THE .. FRIGGIN.. HELL..!
Why does this arrogant pr.. deem it neccesary to intervene in a marriage on the basis of RACE!!!!
This really pi$$es me off to no end. That condescending sonnova.. How DARE he!
Does he even know how many marriages between the same race fail?? Doesn't he understand that "the tragic mulatto" is an invention of a biased media??? Is Tattie unhappy? Failing? Are you two unhappy?? And even if a marriage goes wrong..IT HAPPENS EVERYWHERE...(on the other hand, this is a state that wanter prayer for all schools, aboliishing of the teaching of evolution etc. etc)
I hope they take it to the high court, and this s.c. "justice of peace" has his a$$ handed to him and his licence revoked!!
Un-friggin'-believable. That's America?? a 21st century America???
I hope it gives a riot in "justice-world". I know louisiana isn't exactly an " enlightened" state, but this really takes the bisquit. Those poor people. Wanting to tie the knot, loving each other to be together by law, are denied this by some ancient-minded troglodyte in a court.. This smells of fascism, Germany 1937, when marriages between jews and arians where officially forbidden by law..
I cannot imagine a judge denying my husband and I a marriage license...so ignorant. We've been together 14 years and going strong. My biracial children are blessed to be part of both cultures with all the crazy traditions - which ALLOWS them,by way of life, to be open and experience every other culture they are exposed to without prejudice. I think they are so much more blessed to experience this than I did with two white parents in a white community with only one culture.
Jenn
This is soooo awful right? Read about it yesterday and wanted to vomit!
Sara
Shock, anger, sadness, disgust....the emotions I felt when first reading about this. When I first saw the email with the article attached I thought it was a joke because I knew there was no way that this could happen in 2009! How wrong I was.
Racism, ignorance, stupidity that is what this Justice of the "Peace" seems to be about. The divorce rate in the U.S. is 50% no matter what the races are that are married. Maybe he should invest in a fact checker before he starts spewing idiocy!! What century are we living in that this is the mind of an officer of the court? Shame on him and shame on anyone that allows him to stay in his position.
Amy
Yep, good ol' United States of America... Land of the Free... isn't that what we are, but yet we aren't in some areas and sadly race is one. People have come a long way in all races to get over racism, yet people like Keith Bardwell will never let it die and keep racism alive. Like "J" said, it doesn't matter what the race or races the marriage is made of, failed marriages happens everywhere in every race. Everyone has the right to believe what they want, but when you are an elected official, here to serve the people, you can't do this. Get him out of office now!
Absolutely Outrageous that this would be going on in in 2009! I'll continue to follow this story. I hope real justice is brought down on this "justice of the peace." I will continue to follow this story. Thanks for bringing it to our attention, Amy. I didn't know anything about it. I don't get time to watch much TV or anything. So sad and unbelievable that this ignorance continues even today.
-Heather
I was reading on Yahoo some of the comments on this article. One commenter offered this from the London Guardian about this "justice of the peace" which made me laugh:
"Why is everyone so upset? This is exciting news -- the discovery of a living breathing dinosaur! And in Louisiana of all places. Every effort must be made to capture this specimen alive and intact, so that he may be studied & we can learn what rare and unique conditions made it possible for him to survive into our day and time".
Gotta love that British humor!
-Heather
Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/15/interracial-couple-denied_n_322784.html?page=3&show_comment_id=32963714#comment_32963714
Tonya,
I know that Governor of Louisiana was requesting that he be dismissed from office. It better happen. There is no question here that he needs to be gone! The law is clear.....
The U.S. Supreme Court tossed out any racially based limitations on marriage in the landmark 1967 Loving v. Virginia case. In the unanimous decision, the court said that "Under our Constitution, the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual and cannot be infringed by the state."
It's bad enough that there was ever such a law to keep my husband and I apart but it's appalling that this happened in 2009. Fire him now!
Heather,
The British comment...hilarious!!! He IS a dinosaur! What a great analogy!!! Love it. =) Maybe in the end this story will open people's eye's to the blatant racism that still exists today. Thanks for the giggle in the craziness. =)
Amy
Update.....he resigned last week! Justice or at least a little.
I didn't know if I should laugh or cry about this man and his 19th century mentality!
Rio,
At first I was so mad at this man, but now I just feel sorry someone that is so closed minded. They are missing out on so many wonderful experiences, people, joys, and more. I always think that when someone like him goes through what he went through and made the horrible choice that he did it will be a learning lesson for growth. We can only hope. Thanks for reading....Amy
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