Perspective: Interracial Relationships
Interracial relationships used to be percieved as a crime just 51 years ago. You were actually percieved as a criminal for falling in love with someone who did not have the same racial background or skin tone as you. I decided to look into America's first interracial couple. Thomas Jefferson and one of his slaves Sally Hemings were in a relationship and Jefferson fathered all 6 of her children.
This then sparked an interest in me to know more about the first interracial marriage in America. Richard and Mildred Loving were the first interracial couple to tie the knot despite the law in their state of virginia. Richard and Mildred coould not get married in Virginia so they packed their bags and went on a trip to Washington DC to get married. When they made it back to their state of Virginia, they were immedietly arrested and sentenced 1 year in prison.
During oral arguments before the Supreme Court, Virginia’s Assistant Attorney General Robert D. McIlwaine III defended the constitutionality of his state’s anti-miscegenation law and compared it to similar regulations against incest and polygamy. Cohen and Hirschkop, meanwhile, argued the Virginia statute was illegal under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, which guarantees all citizens due process and equal protection under the law (Loving v. Virginia).
In the perspective of Virginia, their marriage was percieved as wrong just like marrying a sibling but the lawyer defencded Loving by sharing that the fact that their marriage is "illegal" in the stae of virginia is a violation of the Constitution anyway.
During one exchange, Hirschkop stated that Virginia’s interracial marriage law and others like it were rooted in racism and white supremacy. “These are not health and welfare laws,” he argued. “These are slavery laws, pure and simple.” (Loving v. Virginia)
During oral arguments before the Supreme Court, Virginia’s Assistant Attorney General Robert D. McIlwaine III defended the constitutionality of his state’s anti-miscegenation law and compared it to similar regulations against incest and polygamy. Cohen and Hirschkop, meanwhile, argued the Virginia statute was illegal under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, which guarantees all citizens due process and equal protection under the law (Loving v. Virginia).
In the perspective of Virginia, their marriage was percieved as wrong just like marrying a sibling but the lawyer defencded Loving by sharing that the fact that their marriage is "illegal" in the stae of virginia is a violation of the Constitution anyway.
During one exchange, Hirschkop stated that Virginia’s interracial marriage law and others like it were rooted in racism and white supremacy. “These are not health and welfare laws,” he argued. “These are slavery laws, pure and simple.” (Loving v. Virginia)
I decided what better way to gain the perspective of an interracial relationship then to ask people in an interracial relationship. I talked to my aunt and uncle about their relationship. "Our relationship is just as real as anyone else's." My aunt describes. I based our interview around 3 specific questions: What was my aunts view on my uncle; what was my uncles view on my aunt; and how did they think the world viewed their relationship?
"I don't care what people say." Says my uncle. "I like to be controversal. If someone is uncomfortable then I want to make them even more unconfortable with my PDA."
"I don't care what people say." Says my uncle. "I like to be controversal. If someone is uncomfortable then I want to make them even more unconfortable with my PDA."
Uncles View on Aunt
- Hard working
- Motherly
- My Strength
Aunts View on Uncle
- Hard working
- Strong
- Provider