June 12 is Loving Day in the United States. It celebrates the anniversary of the day that the US Supreme Court ruled that banning interracial* marriage was unconstitutional. This year marked the 43rd anniversary. That means that less than a decade before I was born, marriages were illegal between black people and white people in the US.
Until 2 days ago, I had no idea that this day existed or that Mildred and Richard Loving fought for their love and life together. I learned about Loving Day on Twitter and it doesn’t really surprise me that I had been unaware of it. One obvious reason is that I am Canadian and US laws and Supreme Court rulings don’t apply.
After a quick internet scan, I was unable to find any information about similar laws that existed in Canada. That is not to say they didn’t exist, though. The Indian Act, for example, laid out specific implications for First Nations people (specifically women) who married anyone without status.
Even as a Canadian, I deeply appreciate what this couple went through, fought for, and sacrificed for their right to be together. Couples like them have paved the way for my family – for my relationship with Mr. T.
I am very glad to have learned of this story and to share it with you.
*I am not a fan of this word for a number of reasons but am using it for lack of a suitable alternative
As a fellow Canadian I find many of the US Court rulings fascinating. Rulings on things that would never even occur to me since they are so common-sensical have to be written out and argued. So strange. I do have to say that my daughter, who turned 11 on the 12th will be thrilled to know her day is “loving day” as she is the most loving little girl. She’ll be tickled! Thanks for the info
Very interesting, I had not heard of Loving Day either. Very fitting that their name was Loving! It’s wonderful that they fought for their love and for others, but sad that they even had to. 43 years is not very long ago!
Thanks for the info, and Happy Loving Day!
I live in the States and I was a history teacher for many years, but I have never heard of this couple or this particular Supreme Court decision. Thanks for the lesson today, Sarah!
Yay! So glad to be able to bring light to such an important day.
Sarah, thank you for this enlightening post. I, too, have never heard of Loving Day.
It’s hard to believe that it wasn’t that long ago when we allowed legal bigotry, or perhaps more appropriately let bigotry interpret the law. I am thankful for the Lovings. Without them, my husband and son would render illegal as products of interracial relationships.
I can’t think of a more apt title to commemorate this monumental day. Coincidence that the couple had that last name?
I think it was fate.
So fitting, right?! Now, we just need to have bans on gay marriage to be ruled unconstitutional. Someday, I hope there is a day to commemorate that – with just as fitting a name!
I love this, that you shared it here and what it stands for. We’ve come so far and yet not, right? Still so far to go. But when we celebrate the successes it makes it worth it, renews my faith in humanity.
Wow – I didn’t know about this. But then again, we have many things we commemorate here that I don’t know about so it doesn’t surprise me. But I’d like to thank you for bringing light to this. They’ve paved the way for some of us, and more than that, these are things we take for granted these days and it’s good to know, and humbling, that we enjoy our freedom now because of the hard-fought battles, big and small, of a few brave and spirited individuals.
It’s not something I’ve come across either, thank you for posting this.
I had no idea about that either. But given the US’s history, it does make sense that there was a law. Glad we’ve moved past that. Visiting from Bigger Pic Blogs.