Love is Love

For modern audiences, one of the fascinating aspects of William Shakespeare's tragedy Othello, is how seemingly progressive the play is in its portrayal of an interracial marriage. While Othello and Desdemona's relationship certainly causes controversy and distress in the play, the fact that the relationship exists at all is somewhat remarkable.

This is even more amazing to think about when we know that our own culture's comfort level with interracial relationships, and black-white relationships in particular, has only really evolved in the past forty to fifty years. It might be shocking for my students to know that it was only in the year 2000 that Alabama officially removed the law making it illegal for an interracial couple to get married! In fact, anti-miscegenation laws were only ruled unconstitunional by the Supreme Court in 1967.

This court case and the story of the Lovings (I mean, what a great last name, right?) who were the couple behind the case has been made into a movie that will be released in theaters soon. For this week's blog prompt, I want students to read this article about The Lovings and their case (written a few years ago about a documentary that was also made about the couple). Then I want you to talk about why you think interracial relationships were so taboo for so long. Is it strange for you to read something like this article or even Othello in a day and age where you have essentially grown up where interracial relationships are much more a part of the social norm? What parallels might we make between the challenges Othello and Desdemona face and the story of the Lovings?