In addition to classroom crafts and chocolate exchanges, Valentine’s Day provides a unique opportunity to discuss love in the context of Black History.

This is a review of The Loving Story, a documentary covering the Loving v. Virginia case, which takes viewers on a journey of an interracial couple simply fighting for the right to live together as a married couple in their home state.

The documentary depicts the racial landscape in Virginia at that time and the obstacles the Lovings encountered in ultimately receiving a unanimous decision from the Supreme Court of the United States, in their favor.

Middle school and high school classrooms can learn and discuss how the Loving v. Virginia case demonstrates why a marriage, not typically considered a revolutionary act, inadvertently resulted in a significant civil rights win.

In the mid 20th century, many Americans were not allowed the personal liberty of choosing a spouse if they were from a different race/ethnicity. Nearly half of all U.S. states, including Virginia, enforced anti-miscegenation laws; these laws criminalized interracial marriage and cohabitation between different races. They were based on white supremacy, racism, and misguided ideas that sought to prevent interracial children from being born.

The trailblazers in this arena were Mildred and Richard Loving—an interracial couple from Virginia. Mildred was a woman of African American and Native American descent, at that time often referred to as ‘colored’, while Richard was a white man. In 1958 Richard and Mildred legally married in Washington D.C and returned home to Virginia. Their decision to marry incited several years of turmoil involving multiple arrests with felony charges.

Check out the free documentary below and share with your middle school aged students and above.

The Loving Story (Trailer on Youtube)

Documentary: The Loving Story

Classroom discussion (ideal for 8th grade and higher)
After viewing the documentary, facilitate a conversation among your students using the thought-provoking questions above for an interactive exploration of the topic, while also tying in present-day civil rights concerns and challenges. Alternatively, the following questions can also be applied to a written assignment.