Monday, May 05, 2008

Hard to believe, isn't it?


Did you catch this story?
Mildred Loving, matriarch of interracial marriage, dies
By DIONNE WALKER, Associated Press Writer 2 hours, 33 minutes ago
RICHMOND, Va. - Mildred Loving, a black woman whose challenge to Virginia's ban on interracial marriage led to a landmark Supreme Court ruling striking down such laws nationwide, has died, her daughter said Monday.
Peggy Fortune said Loving, 68, died Friday at her home in rural Milford. She did not disclose the cause of death.
"I want (people) to remember her as being strong and brave yet humble — and believed in love," Fortune told The Associated Press.
Loving and her white husband, Richard, changed history in 1967 when the U.S. Supreme Court upheld their right to marry. The ruling struck down laws banning racially mixed marriages in at least 17 states.
"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," the court ruled in a unanimous decision.
Can you believe there was a time when people worried about who married who? What an amazing love this couple must have shared to face the Supreme Court to defend their marriage.
I'll bet there was an amazing reunion in heaven between the two. RIP Mildred.

3 comments:

Mary said...

Terri,

This is a beautiful tribute to Mildred. I'm glad that she and her husband had the strength and wisdom to go before the supreme court to have the law struck down. I feel that all races should be allowed to marry who they choose. Thanks for posting this.

Blessings,
Mary

Paula said...

She was one strong woman to fight for what she believed, and beautiful to boot.

Church Diva said...

Terry-

Yes, I remember it all. Just to let you know, Larry and I were married May 14, 1965 in Springfield, MA

Sandy