Historic Lecture: Loving v. Virginia
Venue: St. Luke and Odd Fellows Hall, Blacksburg
Organizations: Blacksburg Museum and Cultural Foundation
Date: Tuesday, February 28, 2017
Time: 6:00 - 7:30 PM
Event Types: Speaking Engagements
Cost: Free
Description:
The Blacksburg Museum and Cultural Foundation presents the Historic Lecture "Loving v. Virginia" on Tuesday, February 28, 2017 at St. Luke and Odd Fellows Hall.

In 1958, two newlyweds were hauled out of their bedroom in the middle of the night and taken to the old jail in Caroline County, Virginia. Their crime? Richard Loving was white, Mildred Jeter was not – and a marriage defined as interracial was against the law in Virginia.

Their story and the resulting landmark Supreme Court Case (Loving v. Virginia, 1967) is the subject of the recently released film "Loving." Peter Wallenstein, Professor of History at Virginia Tech who was consulted by the film makers, recounts the story in his recent book “Race, Sex, and the Freedom to Marry.”

During his lecture at the St. Luke & Odd Fellows Hall, Wallenstein will highlight the 9-year saga of the Lovings and their fight for the freedom to marry, and will discuss the broader implications of the landmark case which helped bring a close to the Jim Crow era of segregation. Copies of his book will be available for purchase.

This program is free, however seating is extremely limited so RSVP is required. You can do so at info@blacksburghistory.org or by calling 540-558-0746.

For more information on the Blacksburg Museum and Cultural Foundation, visit: http://www.blacksburghistory.org/ or https://www.facebook.com/blacksburghistory or call 540-558-0746.