Interracial marriage was legalized throughout the United States on June 12, 1967, by the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Loving v. Virginia. The court ruled that laws banning interracial marriage were unconstitutional under the 14th Amendment, affirming marriage as a basic civil right regardless of race.
Background and Details
- The case involved Richard Loving, a white man, and Mildred Jeter, a Black and Native American woman, who were arrested in Virginia for violating the state's ban on interracial marriage after they married in Washington, D.C.
- The Supreme Court's unanimous decision reversed their conviction and invalidated similar laws in 15 other states.
- Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote that denying interracial couples the right to marry was "directly subversive of the principle of equality" and deprived citizens of liberty without due process.
- This landmark decision marked the full legalization of interracial marriage in all 50 states.
Social Impact
- Public approval of interracial marriage has risen dramatically since the decision, from about 5% in the 1950s to over 90% in recent years.
- Interracial marriages have increased as a proportion of new marriages in the U.S., reflecting changing social attitudes and greater racial diversity.
