Staff Writer | Jourdan Jefferson
Spring is coming to an end and everyone knows about those romantic summer flings. Many Azusa Pacific students will fall in love over summer camp bonfires, but interracial couples have something special to look forward to.
June 12 is known as Loving day, a day to celebrate the multiracial community.
In 2016, Richard and Mildred Loving made a name for themselves fighting for their marriage. The Supreme Court had prohibited interracial marriage until 1967. The impact was recently made into the 2016 movie known as “Loving.” The movie depicts the story of the couple during their landmark Supreme Court Case, Loving V. Virginia, when the State of Virginia challenged the their marriage.
This June marks the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Loving v. Virginia case.
According to APU’s fact sheet, there is a total of 5,770 undergraduate students, with 52 percent of them being minorities. Diversity continues to grow. As a result, one can assume there has been an increase in interracial couples.
APU’s relationship diversity reflects the national growth. In 1960, only 0.4 percent of marriages were interracial. According to “Intermarriage in the U.S. 50 Years After Loving v. Virginia,” a Pew Research study, “One-in-six U.S. newlyweds (17%) were married to a person of a different race or ethnicity in 2015.”
There have been numerous couples who have paved the way for interracial relationships. These include Ruth Williams Khama and Sir Seretse Khama and Bill de Blasio and Chirlane McCray.
Interracial relationships have come a long way; still, racism exists. According to PBS Black Culture and Connection said, “The last law officially prohibiting interracial marriage was repealed in Alabama in 2000.” That’s more recent than one might assume.
For many people, it is difficult to understand how the color of one’s skin plays a part in who they love.
“I have grown up in a predominately African American neighborhoods where I would see interracial or same race couples,” Ryan Knight said. “Skin tone does not matter to me. Love is love.”
Social media also celebrates this “love is love” ideology. The Instagram account @Interracialduos highlights interracial couples and their journeys. Other Instagram accounts are directed towards two particular races and their love, like @interracial_bwwm (African American women, black men).
“Being a white woman and attracted to African American men does not make me different than anyone else. The heart wants what the heart wants and I have learned to love myself for who I am,” Cassandra Sanabria said.
The impact the Loving’s had on society reverberates today.
John 15:12 says, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”
People should take this verse into full consideration, and always remember one’s skin color does not define who we are. Not only does Loving V. Virginia court case shine light on interracial love, it also goes to show how it can enrich individuals and their relationship. It’s also an example of what it looks like to fight for something, or someone, you love.