This is a true story about a man who called his wife “Beanie” on account of her string-bean figure. The soft-spoken, dignified lady loved her man and all his endearments.

The love story of Richard and Mildred Loving made history.[1] Richard, a white man, had married his beloved Mildred, an African-American woman. After two-years of dating, the couple was overjoyed to be married. Their families were pleased. Their community accepted them with open arms. But in the Commonwealth of Virginia, inter-racial marriage was against the law.

Richard and Mildred grew up together. They were neighbors. They had no idea that “mixed” marriages were outlawed. Just a few weeks after the wedding, the local sheriff enforced the law. In dark of night, he entered the Loving home. The law man woke the couple right in their bedroom. With bright flashlight beams blinding them, the sheriff arrested them on the spot.

The Lovings were found guilty of a felony and sentenced to prison, but they were not jailed. They were exiled from their country home and forced to leave their friends and families. With only each other to lean on, they lived in ghetto-like conditions in Washington D.C. They battled unemployment. They coped with the unfamiliar surroundings of our nation’s capitol. Loneliness was not a stranger to the Lovings.

Despite it all, Richard said he would never divorce Mildred. He’d suffer banishment all-over again, if he must, and go where ever they had to so long as they could live together. But they didn’t need to. After 9-years of exile, the Supreme Court ruled in their favor. They went home at last, free to love each other and raise their three children.[2]

After the Loving v. Virginia Supreme Court decision[3], all other states that banned inter-racial marriage over-turned those laws—including our state, Oregon.

The Bentari Project sends this Happy Valentine’s Day wish to everyone with Love, Peace & Happiness for All!

Image: Photo of Richard and Mildred Loving, June 12, 1967[4]

[1] See ABC News coverage on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaHhZ4IbVYY

[2] Learn more about the Lovings in the HBO documentary, see: http://lovingfilm.com/about-the-film/ (teacher’s guide available)

[3] Supreme Court opinion Loving v. Virginia at: http://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/388/1/case.html

[4] Found on Wikipedia at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mildred_Jeter_and_Richard_Loving.jpg photo is believed to be copyrighted and is used here without permission for educational purposes in honor of Black History Month and Valentine’s Day