Customer Reviews

Virginia Hasn't Always Been for Lovers: Interracial Marriage Bans and the Case of Richard and Mildred Loving

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A thoroughly researched and interesting account of one of the under-examined mileposts in the still on-going civil rights struggle. Ms. Newbeck evokes the Loving case, as well as its antecedents and successors, in their historical, political and very personal contexts. As noted in the book description, this is also a particularly timely book in light of the current controversies regarding gay marriage.

A lot of people think that the struggle with blacks not having rights ended with the 1964 civil rights act, and the voting rights act of 1965. Just as important is the case of Loving v Virginia. until june of 1967 it was against the law for a black to marry a white in 16 states. if you did, you could be fined and put in prison. this book talks about the history of blacks and whites and what was done to prevent marriage. talks about the laws before and after this ruling, and the life of the Lovings and those involved. it is an excellent book. a very important book that everyone needs to read.

This book was not bad from the standpoint of the information that was provided. But, I was expecting that the slant of the text would be towards Mr. and Mrs. Loving and their family dynamics. The author does state at the beginning that this was her intent but that she received very little input from the family due to Mildred Loving's disinterest in revisting that time in her life. The family has continued to respect these wishes and other than a short statement by the Loving daughter nothing else from their perspective is included in the book. Instead the author relied on the statements or testamonies of other individuals involved in the court case. She interviewed legal staff who argued from both standpoints. She also interviewed other individuals in the Lovings' community who were still alive or willing to comment. However, be well aware, it does not include any statements from the Loving family other than the short statement made by the daughter, Peggy. Any statement attributed to Richard or Mildred Loving is from the time period when the case was argued in the 1960s. Not bad but not what was expected based on the book description online.