Mixed-Race Marriage Illegal in the US Until 1967

美国跨种族婚姻直到1967年才合法

This case goes all the way back to the 1691. At that time, the colony of Virginia said people of different races could not get married. Restrictions against interracial marriage remained in effect well into the 20th century.

这起案例可以追溯到1691年。当时，弗吉尼亚州殖民地宣称，不同种族的人们不能结婚。对跨种族婚姻的限制一直到进入20世纪仍然有效。

The restrictions did not prevent two Virginians, named Richard and Mildred, from falling in love. Richard's family was white. Mildred's was a mix. In 1958, Richard and Mildred went to Washington, D.C. Interracial marriage was legal there, and the couple wed. Then, they returned to the small town in Virginia where they lived.

这些限制并未能阻止名为理查德和米尔德里德的两位弗吉尼亚人坠入爱河。理查德是白人，米尔德里德是混血儿。1958年，理查德和米尔德里德前往了华盛顿特区，在那里跨种族婚姻合法，这对情侣结了婚。然后他们回到了自己居住的弗吉尼亚州的小镇。

Five weeks later, police came into their house in the middle of the night and took them to jail. Richard and Mildred were ordered to leave Virginia.

五个星期之后，警察在半夜闯入了他们家，并把他们送进了监狱。理查德和米尔德里德被命令离开弗吉尼亚州。

The couple settled in Washington, D.C., and had three children. But they missed their friends, family and home. So they took their case to the Supreme Court.

这对夫妇在华盛顿特区定居，并生了三个孩子。但是他们想念他们的朋友、家人以及家乡。所以他们将官司打到了最高法院。

Richard's argument was simple. He said, "I love my wife, and it is just unfair that I can't live with her in Virginia."

理查德的理由很简单。他说，“我爱我的妻子，禁止我和她住在弗吉尼亚州是不公平的!”

The justices all agreed. They struck down laws banning interracial marriage, saying the U.S. Constitution permitted individuals, not the state, to decide whom to marry.

法官们也都认同。他们废除了禁止跨种族婚姻的法律，并称美国宪法允许个人决定跟谁结婚，而不是由州来决定。

By the way, the couple's last name? Loving. The case is known as Loving versus Virginia.

顺便说一句，这对夫妇姓什么?他们姓洛文(Loving)。这起案件被称之为洛文告弗吉尼亚州案。

This case goes all the way back to the 1691. At that time, the colony of Virginia said people of different races could not get married. Restrictions against interracial marriage remained in effect well into the 20th century.

The restrictions did not prevent two Virginians, named Richard and Mildred, from falling in love. Richard’s family was white. Mildred’s was a mix. In 1958, Richard and Mildred went to Washington, D.C. Interracial marriage was legal there, and the couple wed. Then, they returned to the small town in Virginia where they lived.

Five weeks later, police came into their house in the middle of the night and took them to jail. Richard and Mildred were ordered to leave Virginia.

The couple settled in Washington, D.C., and had three children. But they missed their friends, family and home. So they took their case to the Supreme Court.

Richard’s argument was simple. He said, “I love my wife, and it is just unfair that I can’t live with her in Virginia.”

The justices all agreed. They struck down laws banning interracial marriage, saying the U.S. Constitution permitted individuals, not the state, to decide whom to marry.

By the way, the couple’s last name? Loving. The case is known as Loving versus Virginia.

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Words in This Story

interracial - adj. involving people of different races

versus - prep. used to indicate the two groups that are opposed to each other in a legal case?