A Loving Story: The Effect of the Loving v. Virginia Court Case on Marriage in American Society (2012)
Undergraduate: Zee Lamb
Faculty Advisor: Jordynn Jack
Department: English
In today's society, we are able to marry the person we love, regardless of the color of his or her skin. However, most people do not realize that this has not always been the case. In fact, it was not until 1967 when the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Virginia's Racial Integrity Act of 1924 made interracial marriage legal. By unanimously declaring this anti-miscegenation law unconstitutional, the Supreme Court overturned the famous Pace v. Alabama decision, ending all legal restrictions on interracial marriage in the United States. This decision could not have been achieved without the help of Richard Perry Loving and his wife Mildred Loving, who were of white and African/Native American descent, respectively. The love between these two was so powerful and enduring, that they literally would stop at nothing to be together, hence the outcome of the court case. This desicion was such a monumental verdict for all Americans, it proved that nothing could overcome the power of love. Nowadays, same-sex couples in the United States are using the outcome of the case as a precedent in their own defense, with more and more success each day. Thanks to the empowering bond of the Loving's, it is very likely that there are soon to be no restrictions left on two people who are in love and wish to be married. This abstract will show how Loving v. Virginia has shaped love and marriage in our society.