June 12 was “Loving Day.” Did you miss it? It is not a designated federal holiday, but I like the concept of having a day not devoted to just one group or another, but a day dedicated to showing love toward all. June 12 is not actually a day about love as an emotion, but the day the US Supreme Court struck down state laws prohibiting interracial marriage. Richard and Mildred Loving were an interracial couple who had traveled to Washington, DC to get married in 1958. Their home state of Virginia had passed legislation banning interracial marriages. When they returned home, thinking they had a valid marriage license, albeit from another state, they were forcefully evicted from their bed in the middle of the night and jailed for unlawful cohabitation. A court trial found them guilty, and banned them from residing in the state of Virginia for 25 years. They eventually returned to Virginia after 25 years passed, and spent the remainder of their lives finally reunited with their families.
The story doesn’t end there, though. Mildred Loving contacted Attorney Robert F. Kennedy who, along with the ACLU, facilitated getting the case heard by the Supreme Court. The judgment against Richard and Mildred Loving was overturned on June 12, 1967, making bans against interracial marriages unconstitutional. This story has resonated with many, eventually becoming immortalized in the 2016 movie “Loving.”
The word “Loving” ends up with many interpretations. Richard and Mildred had the kind of love that transcended social barriers. Their story is about overcoming racism, but it is, to me, also a story about enduring love. They moved to another state rather than live apart. They endured 25 years of separation from their loved ones. But they eventually made big changes to the legal framework of our country, all done through quiet perseverance. Caring behaviors can lead to big changes, as shown by the story of the Lovings. But even small actions can demonstrate caring, loving, attitudes toward humanity. Find ways to show you care, like caring enough to maintain that 6 feet and wearing a mask. Support a charitable foundation. Call or text your neighbors and friends to make sure they are doing well. Give blood. Support a local business that may be struggling. And take care of yourself.