ThatTheyMayB1: Understanding the Financial Crisis

ThatTheyMayB1: Understanding the Financial Crisis

Mildred Loving Dies; Interracial Marriage Survives

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) ― Mildred Loving, a black woman whose challenge to Virginia's ban on interracial marriage led to a landmark Supreme Court ruling striking down such laws nationwide, has died, her daughter said Monday.

Peggy Fortune said Loving, 68, died Friday at her home in rural Milford. She did not disclose the cause of death.

"I want (people) to remember her as being strong and brave yet humble - and believed in love," Fortune told The Associated Press.

Loving and her white husband, Richard, changed history in 1967 when the U.S. Supreme Court upheld their right to marry. The ruling struck down laws banning racially mixed marriages in at least 17 states.

"There can be no doubt that restricting the freedom to marry solely because of racial classifications violates the central meaning of the equal protection clause," the court ruled in a unanimous decision.

Her husband died in 1975. Shy and soft-spoken, Loving shunned publicity and in a rare interview with The Associated Press last June, insisted she never wanted to be a hero - just a bride.

"It wasn't my doing," Loving said. "It was God's work."

Mildred Jeter was 11 when she and 17-year-old Richard began courting, according to Phyl Newbeck, a Vermont author who detailed the case in the 2004 book, "Virginia Hasn't Always Been for Lovers."

She became pregnant a few years later, she and Loving got married in Washington in 1958, when she was 18. Mildred told the AP she didn't realize it was illegal.

"I think my husband knew," Mildred said. "I think he thought (if) we were married, they couldn't bother us."

But they were arrested a few weeks after they returned to Central Point, their hometown in rural Caroline County north of Richmond. They pleaded guilty to charges of "cohabiting as man and wife, against the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth," according to their indictments.

They avoided jail time by agreeing to leave Virginia - the only home they'd known - for 25 years. They moved to Washington for several years, then launched a legal challenge by writing to Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, who referred the case to the American Civil Liberties Union.

Attorneys later said the case came at the perfect time - just as lawmakers passed the Civil Rights Act, and as across the South, blacks were defying Jim Crow's hold.

"The law that threatened the Lovings with a year in jail was a vestige of a hateful, discriminatory past that could not stand in the face of the Lovings' quiet dignity," said Steven Shapiro, national legal director for the ACLU.

"We loved each other and got married," she told The Washington Evening Star in 1965, when the case was pending. "We are not marrying the state. The law should allow a person to marry anyone he wants."

After the Supreme Court ruled, the couple returned to Virginia, where they lived with their children, Donald, Peggy and Sidney. Each June 12, the anniversary of the ruling, Loving Day events around the country mark the advances of mixed-race couples.

Richard Loving died in a car accident that also injured his wife. "They said I had to leave the state once, and I left with my wife," he told the Star in 1965. "If necessary, I will leave Virginia again with my wife, but I am not going to divorce her."

(© 2008 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

Naija woman + Oyibo Man Movies???

Yes! I too did a double take. It is true. The movie is called "Through the glass". I think? This is a Nigerian movie starring non other than Stephanie Okereke. It looks to be very good and high quality. I cannot wait to see it. Check out the preview below.

I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS!

A Little on the movie:

"Jeffrey [Garret Mckenchnie] lives the ultimate bachelor's life through numerous non committed relationships, but struggles to excel at work and gain his father's love and acceptance.Jeffrey's life gets more intriguing when life deals him a card that stops him in his track. On a typical day, he returns from work to find a note "take care of your responsibility" Left on top a baby abandoned on his doorstep. In nothing short of what is scary, confusing and comedic, he turns to his Nigerian neighbour, Ada [Star actress Stephanie Okereke] who he has a secret crush on to help him."

What happens to the baby and what about his crush on Ada? Will he become commited? That readers will have to wait till you see the move. Enjoy the preview though

ABEG GET THE WORD OUT!! Maybe I should just travel to LA to show my support...

Random Nonsense!

i just wanted an excuse to share this photo!

Nigeria: Me, Sister and 2nd Cousin dad's side


Me! Ist California Visit! How time flies...


My Oh so awesome little brother

The boys and I.. I am the oldest. Can you tell


Funtimes. My friends representing @ my sis' party

Friendship from waaaay back


You already know!

Black Women & IR (Interracial Relationships)

It's happening and I LOVE IT iLove it I love it!

The media is shinning some light on it and people are becoming more and more exposed to it!

Most people who know me know that I am a big supporter of interracial relationships. I am in one and I have always been attracted to men outside my race! There was once a time when it was hard to find information on black women dating outside of their race. It was a topic that was just not talked about. I am pleased to see many blogs, groups, google images about black women and IR.

I am such a big supporter of interracial love. I think it is beautiful when black women get together with white men, asian men, indian men, hispanics! I just like the fact that love is more than skin deep and the fact that 2 people who come from different backgrounds can have so much in common.

Some Misconceptions

As I immerse myself in this fun surfing adventures of BW interracial topics I can't help but notice a certain rhetoric. There is a lot of talk that black women date outside their race because they have a stereotypical view of black men. While I cannot speak for other black women, I must say that this is not the case for me. I have the privelege of growing up in an environment with positive black male. My father loved his family. Infact, I am who I am because of my black father. He was educated, hardworking, respectful, responsible, God loving. It is funny because the white man that I am dating reminds me so much of my father and that is a good thing! I have 2 very good looking, wonderful, inspiring, college educated brothers and so many great black male friends. In short, for me I love my black brothas but I just seem to be romantically attracted to white male. I don't think that my attraction should take anything away from my views that their a many good brothas out there. All I am saying is, don't take it personally.

Some Concerns

Although information is good. I fear a trend. I do not want BWWM IR to become just a trend. IR need to be carefully entered into because by nature it tends to bring 2 people from 2 different backgrounds together. Relationships are already hard because human beings are selfish and very flawed. Relationships take a lot of commitment, work and "dying to self." IR is no different. Infact IR has it's own unique challenges because of the multi-background tendency. Not only are you blending 2 individuals you are blending 2 backgrounds, different upbringing, different views of the basic things in life.

CONCLSION

I am a strong supporter of love. I pay more attention to topics about black women in love because I am a black woman and these issues are close to my heart. I support black women in IR because it is different and it is beautiful. I hope to see many black women in IR staying together, getting married and commiting to a forever after with their hobbies. I pray that more people will find God because his value system far exceeds any other value system you can find. I believe that any relationship that puts God 1st will succeed. SO HAPPY LOVE!

My Nigeria

Nigeria, my home, my country of birth, the country of my father. I am an Igbo girl with a passion for my people! I eat rice almost every day and I can roll the biggest garry. I used to compire my garry with my father's and they used to remind me that I am a girl and I soundn't swallow fufu like a man. They said I will develope an adam's apple. The memories...

I wish people will understand my love for my country, my culture and my heritage. I wish the world will look at my history and realize that it would be almost impossible to snatch the Igbo girl out of me.

I understand how people coluld assume that being in an intercultural relationship could draw someone away from their culture but I shall argue that it is just perception. There are many factors to consider when it come to culture retention. It is not a one dimentional thing. Marrying into another culture does not automatically a person from their culture.

I believe that it is very important for people to remain true to themself in life, in love etc. For me this means remaining true to my values, my love for Christ, my love for my family and my love/passion for Nigeria.

Self induced heart burn...

FOOD: Sometimes I go Overboard!

I have a love/hate relationship with food. Sometimes I can manage it and other times... well I eat a whole pint of Ice-Cream by 8:30pm for no reason what so ever! Tonight was one of those days.

I was doing good too! I had a sensible dinner with lots of green and lots of lean protein. I was satisfied with my days meal consumption but then I got bored. I decided to make a quick dash to walmart and ended up with a pint of Ben & Jerry's 280*4 calories of bliss and destruction. Knowing fully well that I would eat the whole thing and it will do much damage to my health.

I am a believer in indulge once in a while but too much of a good thing is bad, oh so very bad. Oh wells! What can a woman do? I cannot beat myself up after the fact. That, my friend, is pointless.

I must say I enjoyed every bit but I now have a heartburn show for it. Thanks akpiri (apetite)! I hope I remember this feeling the next time I feel the need to INDULGE.

My Interracial Relationship

Where do I start? I will start with a little overview.

I am in love with a great man! We have been together for a little over a year and have known eachother for a little longer than that. We are in a "bit", ok a long distant relationship but hopefully all that will change very soon.

Although from different backgrounds, we get along very well. He is a caucasian American and I am a black African. More specifically, I am Nigerian by birth, parents, everything! I consider myself a true Igbo girl, born, bread and buttered! My Naija folks will understand that last sentence.

Some of you might ask; what is a "true Igbo girl" doing with an Oyibo (American/white) man? My response is: why not? We get along very well and I am very thankful to have him in my life.

I felt the need to shine a little light on my relationship because I will be posting some blogs about some of our experiences on this blog. I am excited about opening up on our relationship because is not much information about IR among Nigerian or African. I hope to help people with my experience and I hope to learn more from people who have been there and done that.