On June 12th, 1967, the Supreme Court made the decision to legalize interracial marriage across the United States under the case Loving v. Virginia. Eight years earlier, Mildred Jeter and Richard Loving were arrested and convicted for violating Virginia’s Racial Integrity Act, which banned interracial marriage. Their decision to fight the justice system led to the Supreme Court’s unanimous vote to allow interracial marriage. This ruling declared these laws unconstitutional under the 14th Amendment and June 12 is now known as Loving Day.
Celebrated across the globe as a day of education, love, community, and awareness that commemorates this landmark decision for interracial marriage and Civil Rights, Loving Day also promotes the understanding and acceptance of diverse cultures and relationships. It not only acts as a celebration for interracial marriage, but also for the loving acceptance of all people that extends to broader aspects of equality, love, social justice, and advocacy.
A decade after Jeter and Loving fought for their right to marry, Evelyn and David Magley met in the fall 1977 at the University of Kansas. While visiting the college to determine if that’s where he wanted to play basketball, David was set up on a blind date at a Jazz concert with Evelyn. For David, it was love at first sight, but early the next morning he was boarding a flight back to Indiana.
“When I got back to Indiana, my brother picked me up at the airport and asked me what I thought,” David Magley said. “I said, ‘Well, I don’t know if I’m going to Kansas, but I do know that I found my wife’ because I had never met anyone that was that pretty, that was that pure, that has such a sweet spirit, and pretty much that’s the story.”
David did end up going to Kansas to play basketball and so he could further pursue a relationship with Evelyn. The Magley’s have been married for 43 years but the 2016 film “Loving” was what enlightened them to the celebration.
“Honestly, I had never even heard of them [the Loving’s] until the movie. The truth of the matter is that our relationship has been one of love and based on faith. We see our children celebrate that day because it gives them identities, but from our perspective, when we started dating, we didn’t know if [our children] will be white or they’re black, but they’ll know they’re loved,” David Magley said. “If I love their mother and their mother loves me, and we stay together…at the end of the day, they’ll know that their parents are in love, and that’s all that matters.”
Although they have seen other relationships impacted by racism—including David’s brother and sister-in-law—Evelyn and David testified that it has not really been their experience and that while they have faced criticism or comments every once in a while, their love has soared above all of it.
“I can’t fathom being with anyone else, other than my husband. He’s my homie. He’s humorous. He keeps me laughing. We always have fun,” Evelyn Magley said. “Love from the heart really shouldn’t be about a color. That’s the whole point: love is bigger than color. And if you’re in a relationship, where the world sees you as colors, let the world see it, but just see yourselves as being in love.”
Indianapolis Loving Day
On June 7, Indianapolis’ International Center is hosting an event to celebrate love in all forms for Loving Day. In collaboration with Pacers Sports and Entertainment and former Mayor of Indianapolis Greg Ballard, this event at Gainbridge Fieldhouse will feature stories from interracial couples including the Magley’s, a keynote by legal scholar Doneisha Posey of Impacto Strategies, strawberry shortcake by Chef Monica Douglas, art from the Latinas Welding Guild Inc., family-friendly activities, and a visit from Indy Pride. It will also include a meaningful vow renewal ceremony officiated by the former Mayor.
More info at www.internationalcenter.org.
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