Loving: 50 Years Later

As June 2017 comes to a close, let us take time to honor the momentous U.S. Supreme Court decision passed down 50 years ago this month and revel in the legacy of Loving vs. Virginia all these decades later. In the time that ensued since the victorious resolution of their case, the Loving family settled down to the peaceful life they'd sought, until Richard's untimely death in 1975, after which Mildred kept the flame of their historic romance burning until her final days. Their last surviving child, Peggy, lives her life just as quietly as did her parents, and this is a testament to the idea of a very low-key couple and family who were reluctant warriors, but who, with this quiet determination, paved the way for families across America to take for granted their existence and has brought forth a new generation of biracials that has proudly taken up the responsibility of continuing Richard and Mildred's hard-won fight by utilizing modern media to speak up about their experiences and lives in the biracial sphere. So 50 years on there's much to celebrate and here's to 50 and beyond!

Biracial in Trumpville

 

Hello again my lovely readers. It's been many a day, but the election of Donald Trump to the highest and most sacred office in the land has turned my spirit nearly to mush and manifested in an inability to transmit my thoughts to blog.  In his short time in office, this destructive force of a person has, among many things, fostered a still-mysterious association to an autocratic Eastern European leader forged yet another (currently suspended) attempt to ban Muslims from the country, and tried to sell us a cruel healthcare bill.  Amongst this smorgasbord of national security concerns and discrimination, my thoughts and concerns have focused in particular on the ever-present faultline of racial relations that has currently exploded in an earthquake of division, especially regarding the biracial space in which I live. When I began this blog in 2008, in the dawn of the Obama era of hope and change, I was quite inspired by having a leader in the White House who, even though his path of identity diverged from my own, lived his life with one white parent and I endeavored to give a glimpse into what's it like existing in this particular truth.

 It was and still is my thought that discussing how two historically opposing backgrounds operate together in reality would allow some insight that, although people such as myself don't represent the saving grace of race relations in America or exist in "the best of both worlds", that it might be understood that to be half-black half-white is to have a kaleidoscopic vantage point of both the complexity of embodying two sides of a very fraught American story, and the beauty of feeling the warm embrace and sense of home each culture offers, bringing a unique sense of one's place in the American fabric.

In Trumpville, those such as myself and others in my particular community would be, quite literally, illegal. The beautiful coming together of two communities who've been at odds since this country's very founding would've failed at the steps of the US Supreme Court on a June day 50 years ago. In an environment where the bodies and  souls of black and brown folk are under constant threat, all of us, including those of us who dance in between, must continue to stand, shout out our right to exist as who we are and keep up the good fight so that the diversity that this country has always struggled with but strived towards will truly lead to a more perfect Union.

Very Important Biracial: Ruth Negga

 

 

 

 

 

 

With this weekend's NY and LA release of Loving, let us get to know a bit about Ruth Negga, the actress portraying Mildred Loving. Ms. Negga was born in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Abba to an Ethiopian father and Irish mother. Raised in Limerick Ireland since early childhood, she began her career in theatre, her screen debut coming in the lead role of Irish film Capital Letters. Recognizing her talent, director Neil Jordan reworked the Breakfast on Pluto script to include her. In addition to a burgeoning film career, Ruth worked steadily on BBC, including her role as Welsh singer Dame Shirley Bassey. As well as continuing to work on stage, Ruth has done voice work and in 2013 appeared in 12 Years a Slave and took on the role as Tulip O'Hare in the popular AMC series Preacher. With her latest feature film role in in Loving  and the talent she's displayed thus far, Ms. Negga will surely shine for many years to come.

 

 

Very Important Biracial: Ruth Negga

With this weekend's NY and LA release of Loving, let us get to know a bit about Ruth Negga, the actress portraying Mildred Loving. Ms. Negga was born in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Abba to an Ethiopian father and Irish mother. Raised in Limerick Ireland since early childhood, she began her career in theatre, her screen debut coming in the lead role of Irish film Capital Letters. Recognizing her talent, director Neil Jordan reworked the Breakfast on Pluto script to include her. In addition to a burgeoning film career, Ruth worked steadily on BBC, including her role as Welsh singer Dame Shirley Bassey. As well as continuing to work on stage, Ruth has done voice work and in 2013 appeared in 12 Years a Slave and took on the role as Tulip O'Hare in the popular AMC series Preacher. With her latest feature film role in in Loving  and the talent she's displayed thus far, Ms. Negga will surely shine for many years to come.

Very Important Biracial: Tim Howard

After having played a combined 13 years with both Manchester United and Everton Football Clubs, goalkeeper Tim Howard returned to MLS,  joining his Colorado Rapids teammates on the field as he conducted 2 saves in the process of a 0-0 draw against the Portland Timbers. In his nearly 400 appearances with two of England's most fabled clubs, he won the hearts and adoration of the English fanbase with his talent and humility, once even refusing to celebrate what he felt was an unearned goal. Throughout his illustrious career he has gained worldwide respect, even garnering a temporary Wikipedia entry as Secretary of Defense during the last men's World Cup. Mr. Howard, the son of a Hungarian mother and black American father, his re-entry to the playing fields of the US has been met with great excitement and the New Jersey native, whose last stateside team is now known as the New York Red Bulls, will surely earn more accolades for his fine character and remarkable skills.

Sing Street: Young, Gifted and Black in Dublin

I love Ireland, everything Irish and being a child of the '80s. So it was with great excitement that I recently went to see a movie that satisfied these interests. Sing Street is set in 1985 Dublin and focuses on a teenager discovering his place in the world and finding first love in the process. In these pursuits, he forms a band with his schoolmates, one of whom is a kid named Ngig, who is black. Although aspects of Ngig's journey would likely diverge in one of the most geographically and culturally isolated places on Earth, where running into a person of color is rare, in other regards, there isn't much difference, as he goes about playing his keyboards in his friends' burgeoning band and traveling down the same emotional road, as has many a teenager throughout the history of modern humanity. Along with the nostalgic music, it made the heart and spirit of this biracial girl leap with joy to know that at least in this darling film,  there is goodness and harmony in this complicated world.

Old Navy, We Salute You!

Well, dear readers, Old Navy, best know for its well-priced fairly cool clothes, has done society proud and put an interracial family in one of their recent ads. Despite protestations from people with archaic mindsets who are apparently against being stylish, saving money, and love and happiness, there's been mostly a positive response, including interracial families rallying on Twitter with their own portraits under the hashtag #LoveWins. Indeed it has and I extend a hearty kudos and an enthusiastic round of applause to Old Navy for joining the burgeoning list of companies showing representation to families such as mine who are an integral part of this beautifully diverse nation.