Today is a monumental day for mixed couples. Loving Day-celebrated because of a ruling in 1967 that allowed mixed couples to marry.
Interracial marriages have been around for years and only became illegal in the US in 1664, but making it illegal didn’t stop people from continuing to get married. http://listverse.com/2011/01/25/10-fascinating-interracial-marriages-in-history/
In recent months, mixed couples appeared on TV advertisements and people responded negatively. Seriously? You can’t go anywhere without seeing mixed couples. What’s the difference if it’s on your TV? Don’t like what you see? Change the channel. 🙂
Another area of progress is books. In my teenage years, many moons ago, few stories existed about mixed couples, and none shown on book covers. Today, everyone is writing interracial stories. Why? Because love knows no boundaries, whether there’s a difference in race, color, or social background. The characters in my books are of color and their love interest from another race. In a small way it’s a testament of my experiences with love, and the diversity around me.
I’m not only the product of a mixed marriage, but in a mixed marriage myself. Mixed marriages are nothing new to me as most of my family are in mixed marriages, so it wasn’t strange to me growing up as a child. Being part of two worlds was challenging, but ended up being a positive thing in my life, teaching me tolerance, and appreciating our differences.
Not even fifty-years have passed since interracial marriages became legal in the US. Change is never easy and usually takes a few generations, but no matter the population’s personal preferences or belief’s, those who find love will do as couples in the past did. Live, love, and marry whoever they damn well please.
Photo is of my husband and I on our wedding day May 17, 2009.
You two are such a beautiful couple! Love you both and the little munchkins! Happy Loving Day! <3
Thanks, Pam! We love you too! 🙂
Beautiful photo. Lovely couple. Happy Loving Day to you!
-R.T. Wolfe
Thanks so much, R.T.! One of my favorite photos from our wedding.
Happy Loving Day! A beautiful photo.
Thanks, Michelle! One of my favorites.
I didn’t realize there was a Happy Loving Day – that’s awesome! Love the photo of you and your hubbie – he’s very handsome and you look like you are having an absolute BLAST at your wedding! Would love to see a full-length shot of that snazzy dress – it looks beautiful!
Thanks for hopping on the Hump Day Blog Hop, Elke. Cheers!
Me either, Julie, until about two years ago. The dress was stunning and believe it or not the very first one I tried on. There’s a full-length picture on my Facebook page, Julie.
Our wedding was wonderful! I planned it to be as stress free as possible. Thankfully I was successful. 🙂
A belated Happy Loving Day! You know, I didn’t even realize there was such a thing. Imagine – there had to be a ruling to permit mixed couples to marry! Crazy. Let’s look forward to a day in which no one will celebrate Loving Day – because no one will even notice interracial couples any more.
Thanks, Lori! I agree!
Gorgeous photo, Elke! It’s hard to believe that some people still have issues with interracial couples. I welcome the day when we are all so intermixed that no one can tell what race we are, and maybe a lot of this nonsense will go away. Happy Loving Day!
Thanks, Shelly! Crazy, right? Me too!
My gosh – the only thing here which shocks me is that society still treats this as a big deal.
Your post made me realize that I didn’t know the history of this in the UK, where I grew up – it seems that while there was never a law there, social tolerance was not always to be relied on. But Wikipedia points out that after World War I, there was a lack of available ‘white’ men, which may have been a catalyst in forming mixed relationships in Britain.
And I agree with others – that wedding pic is lovely.
Thanks, Pauline! I was surprised too, Pauline. There’s a lot of fascinating history in quite a few countries. One good thing is they make for interesting stories. 🙂
Thanks for pointing out this special day, Elke. Lovely photo! And I agree with Pauline–astounding that this is still an issue. Here’s hoping we get our act together and overcome it–the color of our skin should be inconsequential.
Thanks, Jayne! Things are changing, so that’s the most important thing.
What a great post, Elke. I’m glad we’ve made so much progress, but we have a long way to go and a lot of people are still intolerant, unfortunately. The negative responses to images of mixed couples in the media alway sadden me. So thank you for celebrating the beauty of all love here and sharing your beautiful wedding picture!!! 🙂
Thanks, Patricia! Change always takes time, but at least we’re on our way.
Hard to believe that anyone even blinks about this topic anymore. To a lovely couple! May you have many more ‘Happy Loving Days’!
True, Lee Ann! Thanks so much!