Mildred and Richard Loving
April 1965
Photo credit ~ Grey Villet
Mildred and Richard LovingApril 1965
Photo credit ~ Grey Villet
Mildred Loving
Photo credit ~ Grey Villet
Mildred and Richard LovingApril 1965
Photo credit ~ Grey Villet
Mildred and Richard LovingApril 1965
Photo credit ~ Grey Villet
Mildred and Richard LovingApril 1965
Photo credit ~ Grey Villet
Mildred and Richard Loving
April 1965
Photo credit ~ Grey Villet
Mildred and Richard LovingApril 1965
Photo credit ~ Grey Villet
Mildred and Richard LovingApril 1965
Photo credit ~ Grey Villet
In 1958, Richard and Mildred Loving were arrested in a nighttime raid in their bedroom by the sheriff of Caroline County, Va. Their crime: being married to each other. The Lovings — Mildred, who was of African-American and Native American descent, and Richard, a bricklayer with a blond buzz cut — were ordered by a judge to leave Virginia for 25 years. This month, the International Center of Photography is mounting a show of Grey Villet’s photographs of the couple in 1965. That exhibit is complemented by an HBO documentary, ‘‘The Loving Story,’’ directed by Nancy Buirski, which will be shown on HBO on Feb. 14. The film tells of the Lovings’ struggle to return home after living in exile in Washington, where Mildred, gentle in person but persistent on paper, wrote pleading letters to Robert F. Kennedy and the A.C.L.U. Two lawyers took their case to the Supreme Court, which struck down miscegenation laws in more than a dozen states. The Lovings’ belief in the simple rightness of their plea never wavered. Asked by one of his lawyers if he had a message for the Supreme Court, Richard said he did: ‘‘Tell the court I love my wife.’’
Julie Bosman
See slideshow of Richard and Mildred Loving by Grey Villet at the link ~nytimes.com/interactive/2012/01/01/magazine/look-loving-versus-bigotry
Another link for pictures~monroe gallery
Richard and Mildred Loving laughing and watching television in their living room, King and Queen County, Virginia. Photo credit ~ Grey Villet
Mildred Loving
Photo credit ~ Grey Villet
Mildred Loving
Photo credit ~ Grey Villet
Mildred and Richard Loving and childrenPhoto credit ~ Grey Villet
Richard and Mildred Loving and childrenPhoto credit ~ Grey Villet
Mildred and Richard LovingPhoto credit ~ Grey Villet
The love in their eyes is amazing! They found love that so few of us ever will. To stand against a country that would have them deny this love, with integrity, shows that love can stand against anything.
ReplyDeleteMy final thesis in university focused on Mr. and Mrs. Loving. They inspried me in ways I never knew possible. Thanks for sharing these photos with the world!
Hello Vibia,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for stopping by. I get so few comments, that it is always a surprise and treat to find a nice one. I was so moved by the documentary The Loving Story - so much said in their movement, lack of movement, manner, grace and straightforward stand on what they knew to be true for them. Sandra
Read about the Loving family as a child (born in Az) in Ebony and Jet. It was fascinating. For some reason started an internet search today; it was phenomenal to see video look at photographs and read about the details the case. What was a tremendous reward was to learn of the vast and vital love of Mr and Mrs Loving. I watch a seminar that featured Mrs Fortune their daughter and saw this loving passion reflected in their child. Thank you for sharing
ReplyDeleteDenise