Current mood: 
hopeful
hopefulI was saddened to hear of the death of Mildred Jeter Loving on May 2. She and her husband, Richard Perry Loving, were the focus of the 1967 U.S. Supreme Court case which struck down laws which forbade a black from marrying a white.
As I stated in a blog entry from last year, I had a small but very visible part in the June 1992 commemoration of the decision: I made the 38-foot banner that covered the front of the stage. (I still have it, too, rolled up in my basement.)
It's amazing to think that as late as 1912, there was a formal proposal for a U.S. Constitutional Amendment forbidding interracial marriages. It's just as amazing to realize that the last of the (unenforceable) state constitution clauses was not removed until 1998 (South Carolina) and 2000 (Alabama). Even then, a sizable minority (15 to 20%) of voters opposed their removal. Old ideas die hard.
Why is this important? Because we haven't yet beaten down these rotten ideas. Why? Because it's in the Bible. Read especially the Old Testament and you will find many rules against intermarriage of races (Gen. 28, Num. 36, Joshua 23:12, Ezek. 44:22) plus more in Catholic versions (2 Esdras 13:27). Even more objections can be found under the realm of differing religions (Exodus 34:10-16, 2 Cor. 6:14, Deut. 7). I could go on and on, but the bottom line to me is this:
Love conquers all.
Rest in peace, Mr. and Mrs. Loving. The world is better for your having been here.
June 12 has been proclaimed Loving Day. More info at http://www .lovingday .org
2 comments:
I can no longer count how many interracial couples I know. Few if any would have been possible were it not for this one pair of heroes.
Comments on the original 2008 post:
Rhiannon Weller
The interracial laws in the bible were meant to stop jews from marrying Non-jews. It had more to do with religious affiliation than skin color.
The problem i see is that many want to read into the Bible what they want it to say rather than reading it for what it says.
Stuart Strickland
Yup, you got that right. Now just try convincing anyone else of that.
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