Amy and Jamie....living and loving in 2010
Mildred and Richard.....living and loving in 1967
There are days when I simply forget how far we have come because I'm just living, and there are days when I realize how far we still have to go. However, there is one day that will always be special to me, and that is..."Loving Day." Yes you read it right..."Loving Day!" I'm sure there are many of you out there that don't even realize what Loving Day is or what it represents, but to me it represents my heart, my marriage, my love. So what is it? It's the anniversary of the June 12th, 1967 Supreme Court decision....
Loving vs. Virginia ~ "There can be no doubt that restricting the freedom to marry solely because of racial classifications violates the central meaning of the equal protection clause."
Richard and Mildred Loving, a mixed race couple....(how PERFECT is their last name by the way...REALLY, that is their last name!).....were forced to leave their home state of Virginia after they married, because back in the late 60's their union was still illegal in 16 states! Yes..illegal! :( They had two options....go to jail, or leave Virginia. They packed up and moved to WA, D.C. and the rest, as they say, is history. They didn't just move, they fought, they won, they LOVED! Bravery, courage, determination, and true love won out. How cool is that!?! Because of this amazing couple my husband and I are free to live and free to love! I can't imagine having to fight for the right to marry the man I love. I would though...no doubt...no question in my mind! I would fight like a lion! It still boggles my mind to even think that it was illegal for two people to marry solely because of the color of their skin. This was during my lifetime no less. How insane were "we" back then!? This is why it is so important to always fight for what is right. If we stay quiet and do nothing, then nothing happens. If we speak up, and teach tolerance, then everything can happen! Sometimes laws might be changed and sometimes minds might be changed.....either way, we move forward, and that my friends is a good thing! So to Richard and Mildred Loving, a brave couple who stood up for the their love and their rights, here's to you, from all of "us"....thank you Loving's for giving us the RIGHT to live in LOVE!
For more information about this special day and this amazing couple visit:
For more information on their struggle:
http://www.lovingday.org/the-loving-story
PS....
I want to send a special shout out to one of my readers. Her name is Heather and she is putting on a Loving Day photo essay in her home state of Missouri. The photo essay will include interracial couples that Heather knows from around the country. My family will be one of the featured families in her essay. I just want to say thank you Heather for including us in your celebration all the way in Missouri! Very cool!
15 comments:
I remember reading about this couple and watching a movie about them too with Lela Rochon and Timothy Hutton playing The Lovings. It is amazing on what trials and tribulations interracial couples have had to go through to be able to openly love whomever they want. Thanks for bringing Loving Day to the light.
Daryl,
Oh my gosh I so want to see the movie! This couple made it possible for all of us....and yes it is amazing and crazy the things we go through. Thank goodness it's not like it used to be even though we have a long way to go. =) Hugs sent to Bama!
Amy
wow... I just started reading and Love the story. I must get the kids up for school now, but I can't wait to come back to your blog and read everything.
Your newest follower:
-Buffi
Amy,
Thank you for making a post just for Loving Day. I hope more and more people become aware of it so we can make this a "Hallmark Holiday." :)
The big day is tomorrw and I am excited about it, several interracial couples I know will be there for sure. Liz and Thulani will be there at some point, of course, and many of my co-workers at my second job are coming.
My friend, Ronnie, who also sits on the Council with me, brought me a book today that looks great. It's called "Love In Black and White" by William S. Cohen and Janet Langhart Cohen. I will take it over there with me tomorrow and put it in the display. (And maybe get a chance to read a few pages myself!).
And, Thank YOU for sending me your family photos and being part of this special day here in mid-Missouri.
Heather
Are you and your family attending the Loving Day celebration in San Diego?
Heather
Buffi!
I am so glad to see you on my blog! I am your newest follower as well. The "Loving" story is amazing isn't it!? Thank you so much for reading. I love, love, love to write and love it even more when I can share it with others!
Keep writing and get published!
That is my next project as well....getting there! =)
Hope to see you back here soon and I can't wait to see what happens with your book!
Amy
Heather,
I am looking so forward to hearing what happens tomorrow! I wish you much success! I just opened my email and saw that I have emails and photos from you! I can't wait to see the collage! I will email shortly. You have worked so hard to make this a special day in your town....keep it up! Have a beautiful celebration tomorrow! Thank you again for including us!
In regards to the SD celebration... we actually have a baby shower to go to so we can't go. We have reconnected with an old friend and get to share in her new joy!
I will be attending YOUR celebration in spirit!! =)
Hugs and love....Amy
PS....I just saw the pic on Loving Day of the "From San Diego to Miami" photos! Love it!! So so cool!
I am NOT into blogging, nor my space, nor face book, but I am hooked on Amy's blog because of what she and her husband stand for and what her blog means and
how important it is.
Peace and Blessings,
Nay K.
Nay K.,
I am so excited to have connected with you via Loving Day and my blog! I am so happy that you are enjoying the blog. It makes my heart sing to know that you are taking the time to read it when you normally don't blog! So thank you!
Cheers...Amy
How wonderful to come across your blog! I love it. My name is Laura and I have a blog at
http://iamtheglue.blogspot.com/
I have an interracial family also.
I am the co-founder of
The Interracial Family Organization
www.interracialfamily.org
Please come visit us. We'd love to feature your family and even have you guest blog for us!
email-team@interracialfamily.org
Laura,
I am so happy you found me as well! I am going to go check out your blog and your foundation as soon as I'm done commenting. I love all the wonderful people I am meeting through blogging! It's fantastic! I would be thrilled to be a guest blogger on your site! My passion is writing and and my love is my family so anytime I can share both...well, that's just icing! Thank you for reading and I look forward to reading your blog and checking out your organization.
Cheers! Amy
Hi; I stopped over here because I enjoyed your post on She Writes.
I remember seeing the movie about this couple and it was so sad. I am not in an interracial relationship just married. I am so glad that hopefully we as people are moving in the right direction and Love can just mean Love. I am so sorry you have been going through such hard times I know the stress of legal hassles and the strength it takes to keep the problems separated from the relationship. Good luck to you; I am a dreamer and in my dreams the good people always win.
Doreen,
Thank you so much for stopping by. I love She Writes and am meeting so many wonderful people on the site.
It's so funny that I haven't seen this movie...I must rent it! I am hoping with my blog and others like it that love WILL just be love one day. We are getting there slowly but surely. My husband and I are living proof that it works and it works even through the worst of times! That is LOVE!!
I too am a dreamer, and have even been called Tinkerbell because of how much I believe right will always prevail. Karma...it does, and will come around, there is no doubt!
I am going to pop over to your blog now and read yours. Thanks again for stopping by and I hope to hear much more from you.
Amy
Hi, I found you on SheWrites. I'm ashamed to admit I did not know many states excluded inter-racial marriage in the late 60s. No accident I think that they were the "Lovings". Thanks for sharing this and opening my eyes to a piece of history I was not aware of. Beth
Beth,
Welcome to my blog!! I am glad you were able to learn something new as well! =) I am amazed at how many people don't know the Loving Day story. I am even more amazed that my Hubby and I were "illegal" in the 60's! Thank goodness for this strong couple!
Thanks again for stopping by! I just accepted your friend request on She Writes so I will check out your page this afternoon. I am loving that site and all the new connections!
Cheers...Amy
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