The Washingtonian<\/a> Hillary Kelly<\/strong><\/a>, Design & Style Editor<\/p>\n An oral history, nearly 50 years later, of the landmark Virginia case<\/a> that legalized interracial marriage\u2014and is the subject of a talked-about movie out this month<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n In June 1958, Mildred Jeter and Richard Loving drove from their home in Central Point, Virginia,<\/a> to Washington, DC<\/a>, to be married. Twenty-four states, including Virginia<\/a>, still outlawed interracial marriage at the time. Mildred was part Native American and part African-American; Richard was white. Their union would eventually result in their banishment from the state and a nine-year legal battle.<\/p>\n On November 4, almost 50 years after the Supreme Court\u2019s 1967 decision that the Lovings\u2019 marriage was valid<\/a>\u2014and that marriage is a universal right\u2014Hollywood<\/a> is set to release Loving<\/em><\/a>, already on Oscar lists. As director Jeff Nichols<\/a> explained when asked why he took on the project, \u201cWe have very painful wounds in this country, and they need to be brought out into the light. And it\u2019s gonna be an awkward, uncomfortable, painful conversation that\u2019s going to continue for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n The movie focuses on Mildred and Richard\u2019s romance. We looked behind the scenes of the struggle itself, talking to insiders including the couple\u2019s attorneys\u2014then just out of law school\u2014to revisit the case. One remarkable aspect: Unlike other civil-rights champions of their era, the Lovings never set out to change the course of history. \u201cWhat happened, we real\u00adly didn\u2019t intend for it to happen,\u201d Mildred said in 1992. \u201cWhat we wanted, we wanted to come home.\u201d<\/p>\n This is the story of how a quiet couple from rural Virginia brought about marriage equality for themselves, and for all…<\/p>\n
\n2016-11-02<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/15128-presscdn-0-60-pagely.netdna-ssl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Loving-opener-1024x576.png\")
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\nRichard and Mildred Loving. Photograph by Grey Villet<\/a>.<\/small><\/p>\n