Did you know that a mere 53 years ago, interracial marriage was still illegal in 5 states? Not only was interracial marriage illegal, but if an interracial couple married somewhere legally (say Washington, D.C.), and then moved somewhere where it was illegal (say Virginia), then they faced the very real possibility of being arrested. The Case for Loving: The Fight for Interracial Marriage, by Selina Alko, illustrated by Alko and Sean Qualls, tells the story of Richard and Mildred Loving’s fight for legal marriage and the ensuing Supreme Court Case Loving v. Virginia (1967) which legalized interracial marriage.
*** Affiliate links used.
I have been meaning to post The Case for Loving all summer (after all, June 12, or Loving Day, represents the Lovings’ love, this wonderful Supreme Court decision, and love that we can all show each other), but better late than never, right? Rather than a big in-depth review, I’m going to leave you with two quick facts about why you should read this insightful book and learn along with your children about Loving v. Virginia.
- My 4.5-year-old daughter is obsessed with this book. Without exaggeration, she flips through this book on her own every single day and asks me to read it to her most days. She tells me she loves Richard and Mildred’s story and how happy it was, as well as the illustrations. She obviously has no understanding of how recent these events were, but I’m thrilled that she’s learning about this aspect of the fight for equality.
- Alko and Qualls, the author and illustrators, are an interracial couple happily married in 2003, living out the legacy of the Lovings’ victory. I thank them for sharing their story and for educating us all on the Lovings’ story, helping both adults and children gain a better understanding of both racism and injustice in our not-so-long-ago history.
Take my word on this one and read it with your children. You’re all going to love it!
childrenslitlove.com 