Essay On Miscegenation

Although the thirteenth amendment, abolished slavery, rights for black weren’t all of a sudden made equal. In the early twentieth century, African Americans in the South and in many parts of nearby border states were banned from associating with whites in a host of institutions and public accommodations such as school, hospitals, waiting rooms, railroad car, and more (Patterson par.1). Eventually facilities were desegregated. However, that does not mean life for all was fairly equal. People began to accepted having a blend of races where ever they go, but when it came to blending sexually, that turned some individuals’ stomachs upside down. In 1958, laws banning interracial marriage was in effect for three centuries; Maryland, Virginia, and Massachusetts had banned intermarriage in 1664, 1691, and 1705 (“What Comes Naturally” par.2). During the Civil War, interracial marriage was giving a new name, "miscegenation". Miscegenation is the interbreeding of people considered to be of different racial types. The Miscegenation laws became the foundation for the system of racial segregation in railroads, schools, parks, and cemeteries

Virginia took place on April 10th of 1967. The case resulted from the appeal of the original arrest. Richard Perry Loving and Mildred Jeter Loving filed an appeal against the state of Virginia because they felt the state’s law was a direct violation of the couple’s right to marry and their marital privacy. The Lovings claimed that the state law desecrated their 14th Amendment rights to pursuit life, liberty and happiness (“Kids” par.3). They changed their plea to guilty at the end of the arguments (Newbeack par.4). They were both sentenced to one year in jail, although; the judge agreed to suspend the sentence if they were to leave Virginia and not return for twenty-five years (“Loving v. Virginia par.1). To prevent going to jail, the Lovings agreed to leave Virginia and relocate to Washington (“Loving Decision