Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Loving v. Virginia
Today marks 50 years since Loving v. Virginia ruled that it was unconstitutional to legally prohibit interracial marriage. So, where are we now? Does our society embrace interracial dating or are we still enforcing this prohibition de facto?
According to the Pew Research Center, more than 12% of people marry outside of their race. For Blacks in particular, nearly 19% have a spouse from another race. Another study found that 20% of cohabitating relationships are interracial or interethnic and about 1/4th of Americans have a close relative in an interracial marriage. According to one Georgetown Law professor, “interracial love is saving America.”
But at what cost? Does the growing rate of interracial marriage also signal a blurring of cultures or cultural norms? You be (or don’t be) the judge.
It was not until 1967 that anti-miscegenation laws were considered unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. In Loving vs. Virginia, the Court found that the laws violated the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. Richard Loving, a white man, and Mildred Jeter, a Black woman, had traveled to Washington D.C. to legally marry. Upon returning to Virginia, Richard and Mildred were arrested for defying the state’s anti-miscegenation laws and sentenced to one year in jail.
According to the trial judge, “Almighty God created the races…and he placed them on different continents. And but for the interference with his arrangement, there would be no cause for such marriages. The fact that he separated the races shows that he did not intend for the races to mix.”
In spite of his opinion, the Lovings avoided jail time and set a new standard for the legality of interracial marriage in the U.S. In 2016, Loving, the cinematic depiction of this love story and case was nominated for an Oscar, two Golden Globes, and either nominated for or won over eighty other awards.
Though it took until 1967 to outlaw the practice, interracial dating wasn’t anything new – even at the time of the Loving decision. Despite widespread narratives concerning racial “purity” and the taboos of racial mixing, couples historically defied social norms and laws in the pursuit of love.
Laws targeting the mixing of races date back to the 1600s. The first laws to criminalize marriage (or sex) between whites and African Americans were enacted during the colonial era in Virginia and Maryland. These regulations pertained specifically to whites marrying enslaved Africans or indentured servants and threatened exile for white perpetrators. In 1691, Virginia expanded upon these sanctions by forbidding whites from marrying free Blacks and set the precedent as the first law that relied solely on race rather than class or status of servitude to dictate who one could marry. “Anti-miscegenation laws,” as they would later be deemed, were explicit intended to bar interracial marriage and interracial sex.
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While anti-miscegenation laws prohibited whites from marrying any person who was non-white, they were really targeted at preventing whites from marrying anyone of African descent. As colonies gained their independence, anti-miscegenation laws were enforced through the state and the punishment for breaking one of these laws became even more severe. Individuals could be charged with felony adultery and fornication with a minimum sentence of one year in prison. Additionally, the law’s advocates made several attempts to introduce U.S. constitutional amendments to make interracial marriage illegal on a national level. Though more than two-thirds of the states possessed anti-miscegenation laws, no attempt for a nationwide ban was ever successful.
And now, even with heightened racial tension over issues of police brutality, xenophobia and both implicit and explicit bigotry, interracial marriage continues to rise. Is this a strategy towards racial justice? Some say love heals all – and, perhaps, only time will tell.
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The post Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Loving v. Virginia appeared first on PushBlack.
While today African-Americans make up close to 20 percent of the U.S. military, there was a time when that number was zero.
After Congress enabled Black men to join the army in the late 1800s, creating the “Buffalo Soldiers,” it became a chance for many who had known nothing but enslavement to experience a new way of life.
But what did this mean for Black women? Would you believe us if we told you there was, in fact, one female Buffalo Soldier?
Although women were not allowed to join the military, the legendary Cathay Williams had a trick up her sleeve. She was destined to secure a spot in the army in spite of the law and her gender.
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Shortly after the onset of the Civil War, her hometown in Missouri was raided by Union troops and all captured enslaved Blacks were forced into working as cooks, laundresses, and nurses.
Unsatisfied with her role as a cook, Cathay experienced several battles from afar, grew particularly fond of military life, and dreamed of becoming a full-fledged soldier.
It is hard to believe that anyone could sneak into the military, but that is exactly what Cathay did.
After her stint as a cook ended, she had the bright idea to rearrange her name to “William Cathay” and pose as a man in order to enlist in the army. Given there was no medical check at the time, she, being healthy and tall (5’9”), was deemed fit for service.
With this courageous and rebellious decision, Cathay became the first Black woman in the Army and the only one to be a part of the Buffalo Soldiers nearly 70 years before President Truman would sign the Women’s Armed Service Integration Act.
Cathay’s reason for joining the forces is the most compelling and heartwarming part of her story. Coming from 17 years of enslavement and full reliance on her master’s resources, she refused to ever be dependent upon another person again.
Tasting freedom in the military rid her of any “slave mentality” and led her to go as far as compromising her own identity to build a life for herself.
As a community, we have a cultural legacy of fending for ourselves by any means necessary. Cathay Williams’ journey from plantation to distinguished soldier exemplifies the ethics of self-reliance and self-sufficiency that resonate so deeply within Black history and embodies our collective progress towards independence.
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Octavius Catto may not be a household name, but his fervent leadership in the fight for equal rights never went unnoticed. In fact, he was so influential that his lifework ultimately got him killed in 1871.
Catto was the progeny of a quite privileged set of parents. His father was a minister and mother descended from one of the richest mixed-race families (the DeReefs) in South Carolina. This status allowed him educational opportunities beyond reach to even most whites at the time.
As valedictorian at the Institute for Colored Youth, now known as Cheyney University, Catto was adamant about finding ways to bridge the gap between Blacks and whites and would dedicate his future military, political, and athletic careers doing so.
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It turns out that the Civil War brought drama directly to his Pennsylvania doorsteps and spawned his participation in the military. He saw the war as a viable opportunity for African Americans to prove themselves as equals so, in addition to joining himself, he launched a campaign seeking Black volunteer troops.
This was a clever strategy because it was a definite way for enslaved Blacks to acquire their freedom and also gained Catto notoriety within the political community of folks pushing for emancipation legislation. With the passage of the 15th Amendment, he relinquished his military duties and traveled throughout the North educating Black people on the voting process.
His increased political activism fostered strong ties with the Republican party, which he believed to be the primary vehicle through which Blacks would gain civil liberties and equal rights. His professional network included other organizations such as the 4th Ward Black Political Club and the National Equal Rights League, where Frederick Douglass served as President.
Catto was definitely a jack of all trades. In addition to his military and political prowess, he was a star athlete and co-founded the nation’s second all-Black professional baseball team--Pythian Baseball Club.
Despite his charm and charisma on and off the field, many Democrats feared political upheaval as Catto vowed to get droves of newly eligible Black voters to vote Republican. On election day, Catto was murdered in cold blood by Frank Kelly who was a staunch Democrat and closely linked to the party’s figurehead.
Despite multiple eyewitnesses, Kelly was acquitted of the crime by an all-white Philadelphia jury and never brought to justice for his inhumane act. Catto clearly intimidated whites who feared educated Blacks, yet it is still remarkable all that he was able to accomplish in just 32 years of life.
If you'd like to learn more about Octavius Catto, pick up a copy of Tasting Freedom: Octavius Catto and The Battle For Equality In Civil War America.
NAACP Is Ruffling Some Feathers
In November 2017, the California chapter of the National Association For the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) sent out a resolution to support the removal of the “Star Spangled Banner” as the U.S.’ national anthem, noting the racist language in parts of the song not commonly sung. They want the anthem replaced with a different song.
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Here’s What They Said
"This song is wrong … It should never have been there, and just like we didn't have it until 1931, it won't kill us if it goes away." - NAACP California chapter president Alice Huffman.
Here’s What The Anthem Says
In the third stanza, the lyrics read: "no refuge could save the hireling and slave from the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave."
Some scholars have interpreted this line as a reference to the enslaved Black people who fled slavery during the war of 1812 to fight against America alongside the British, who promised freedom if they won the war. Some believe the author of the Star Spangled Banner, Francis Scott Key, included these lyrics to mock those Blacks who fought for their freedom.
Here’s Why It Matters
When former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick began protesting during the national Anthem in 2016, he made it clear that he was protesting police brutality and racial injustice. Although he was not protesting the anthem itself, his actions caused people to pay attention to what the song was actually saying.
Now, more people are realizing the contradictory nature of what America claims to stand for and the words of the national anthem. Many agree that it is quite disturbing for crowds of people to sing a song that celebrates the deaths of Black slaves who fought to escape the horrendous conditions imposed on them by America.
The NAACP is currently seeking legislative sponsors in Congress to support the resolution.
For more on the racist history of the national anthem, check out PushBlack’s article “Did You Know The Word Slave Was In The National Anthem?”
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Meet Chef Patrick Clark, the Black man who turned down a job as the White House Executive Chef. Bill and Hillary Clinton personally invited Chef Clark to the prestigious role after they tasted his remarkable food at the historic Hay-Adams Hotel in Washington, D.C. But as we know, money talks and the White House was unwilling to match his current $100,000 salary so he declined the position.
While Clark seemingly made a mistake by not taking the job, the rest of his career proved that he was, in fact, too good for the White House. In 1994, Chef Clark won the James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef Award for the Mid-Atlantic region, becoming the first African-American chef to receive this honor. This would have never been possible had he decided to work at the White House as it is not considered a restaurant.
Patrick Clark was the standard way before celebrity TV chefs. As restaurant-going became a social pastime in NYC, Clark rode a huge wave of popularity. A big man full of personality, he effortlessly attracted the attention of customers and his food never disappointed. His casual yet sophisticated French cooking astonished guests and gained him tremendous notoriety within the community.
New York City is widely known as a food mecca so it comes as no surprise that fierce competition exists among chefs. Nevertheless, Clark rose as the “cream of the crop” as soon as he stepped on the food scene. At age 25, as the original Executive Chef at The Odeon in Tribeca, Clark became the first NYC chef to merge the bistro-style with fine dining.
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What made Clark so special was his ability to fuse flavors and cooking techniques in ways that no other chefs could at the time. A Brooklyn native, Clark grew up in a household filled with the spirit of cooking. His father was an accomplished chef in Manhattan who often allowed his son to visit his kitchens.
By age 10, Clark was already experimenting with his own recipes under the direction of his mother, who also had a knack for creating fine dining experiences at their home. Those childhood experiences, combined with his classical training in England and France as an adult, made Clark a force to be reckoned with in the kitchen.
Unfortunately, Chef Clark’s culinary pursuits were cut short by the onset of congestive heart failure, resulting in his untimely death in 1998. Clark’s life work paved the way for future Black chefs by expanding upon standard European techniques to create entirely new styles of cuisine and defying the stereotype of Black people only being able to cook “Black food.”
As a historical side note, Chef Clark was not the first Black Chef to turn down a job cooking for the President of the United States. During the 18th century, one of Thomas Jefferson’s former slaves, James Hemings, also rejected an offer to serve as the Executive Chef at Monticello after Jefferson became president. Hemings, as a slave, had the rare opportunity to undergo culinary training in Paris for 5 years. Upon returning to America, he successfully negotiated his freedom. Read more about his story here.
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The post Food So Good, He Wouldn’t Bring it to the White House appeared first on PushBlack.
In 2013, CaShawn Thompson popularized the phrase “Black Girl Magic” as way to celebrate the power and resilience of Black women, as well as to praise their accomplishments. But as we know, Black women have been magic forever. Renee Powell, the greatest African-American female golfer of all-time, is no exception to this rule.
For decades, events produced by the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) were exclusive to whites. But in 1961, the organization lifted its “Caucasian-only clause” and allowed players from all racial backgrounds to participate. Six years later, Renee Powell became the second African American female to take part in a LPGA tournament preceded by Althea Gibson. This year represents the 50th Anniversary of Powell’s professional gold debut.
Athleticism ran in Powell’s family. Her father, William Powell, was the first African-American to design and build a golf course–the extraordinary Clearview Golf Club in Canton, OH. At the age of three, Renee was already swinging golf clubs and receiving instruction from her father who nurtured her into becoming the Black female golfer of the future.
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Throughout her 13 year career, Powell competed in 250 professional golf events with a major win at the Kelly Springfield Open in Brisbane, Australia. When not competing, Powell spent time in Africa and Europe teaching golf to women before returning to her home in Canton.
Despite her achievements, Powell did not always get the recognition or treatment she deserved. While associated with LPGA, she frequently received death threats, was denied access to country clubs, had reservations “lost” at hotels, and even wasn’t served food at restaurants. Nevertheless, she continued to maintain an optimistic spirit about her well-earned spot in the sport of golf.
Since retirement, Powell has received the highest possible honor in golf – honorary membership into the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews. In 2015, she became the first and only African-American woman to receive this prestigious distinction in history. Other notable members include Louise Suggs, Arnold Palmer, and Jack Nicklaus.
Renee Powell is an exceptional example of Black women’s influence, capabilities, and dominance. There are no bounds on the breadth of Black women’s successes and we hope they continue to #pushBlack.
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The legend of Yasuke is not one you would have found in your high school textbooks or heard your grandma talking about at the family dinner table.
In fact, most people would never believe you if you started talking about a Black samurai as if it was some fictive character from a movie. However, the truth is that he was real!
Yasuke was a 6’2” enslaved African who landed in Japan on a missionary trip with his master in the late 1500s.
He quickly became a human spectacle to all the locals who had likely never seen a Black man before. His presence caused such a commotion that people were trampled trying to get a glimpse of his impressive stature.
The most powerful Japanese warlord, Oda Nobunaga, caught wind of Yasuke and wanted to see the man himself. In pure disbelief, citing that he had never seen a man with skin the color of an “ox” or “charcoal,” he forced Yasuke to strip down naked and scrub his skin to prove it was not ink.
After this degrading act, Yasuke quickly became a local celebrity in the savage tradition of Blacks being presented as exotic and unnatural. In this particular case, Yasuke benefitted from his differences and was openly embraced by this foreign community for his physical strength and unyielding loyalty.
Samurai is considered one of the most enduring symbols of Japanese culture, and Yasuke is the only recorded Black person ever bestowed this honor. He was given a place of residence and his own Katana blade, invited to eat with Nobunaga, as well as fought and won many battles alongside the warlord.
It is difficult to imagine what it feels like to go from being enslaved to becoming a respected samurai warrior. This unique story builds on the cultural footprint we have left on the world and helps reveal the true breadth of the Black experience.
We are a people with a rich history and it is imperative that we embrace it by continuing the tradition of passing down our stories from generation to generation.