June 12 will be a very special day for my family. That is because it will be the first year we celebrate Loving Day.
On June 12, 1967 the Supreme Court of the United States legalized interracial marriage with its decision in the case of Loving v. Virginia. As ridiculous as it was, before that it was a felony which carried a penalty of one year in prison to be in an interracial marriage in Virginia. The Lovings were actually arrested in their own home while sleeping.
The fact is that many states had laws at one time or another against interracial marriage and interracial relationships in general. There was also an attempt to pass a constitutional amendment to ban interracial marriages. The last such law, although rendered unenforceable by the Loving case, was an Alabama law which was only removed from the books in 2000!
Issue of prejudice, fear and hate still exist in this country and worldwide and Loving Day is just one way to fight back through education and . . . love.
As I have written in past posts, there really is no such thing as race. It is a construct of society that has come about because of prejudice, hatred and fear. This is a chance to express to the world a value system that includes treating all people as individuals and as equals with respect and dignity. This is a chance to celebrate multiculturalism. This is an opportunity to build a strong sense of community among people of all backgrounds, cultures, genders, religions, sexual orientations, and anything else that artificially separates us.
If you are in Los Angeles, check out the Japanese American National Museum, They have an exhibit called “Mixed: Portraits of Multiracial Kids” by Kip Fulbeck. Mr. Fulbeck will speak along with President Obama’s sister Dr. Maya Soetoro-Ng. To find a celebration in your area or, better yet, to publicize one you will be hosting, visit lovingday.org. They even provide a celebration kit if you are interested.
I encourage all those who value equality to share in the celebration. Whether it’s a talk with your kids or a large shindig, please join my family in spreading the love.
Through the Eyes of Babes 