Whatever holiday you celebrate or don’t at this time of year I wish you a season of peace and joy.
Shalom, Rochelle
The next photo is the PROMPT. Remember, all photos are property of the photographer, donated for use in Friday Fictioneers only. They shouldn’t be used for any other purpose without express permission. It is proper etiquette to give the contributor credit.
PHOTO PROMPT © Trish Nankivell
Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100
A DAY FOR LOVING
“Gonna to be the best Christmas ever.” Mildred wrapped the last of the children’s presents. “I was beginning to fear hope was gone.”
She would never forget that night nine years ago. Beside Richard, she woke to a blinding flashlight and a gruff voice. “Whatcha think you’re doin’?”
She pointed to the District of Columbia marriage license on the wall. “I’m his wife.”
“Not here you ain’t.” The Caroline County sheriff snarled. “Here it’s illegal for white to marry colored.”
“Thanks to the U.S. Supreme Court,” Richard Loving circled his arms around Mildred and kissed her, “I can love my wife.”
*
*
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Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
I guess we’ve made some progress, m’lady, but not nearly enough.
Merry and Happy whatevers to you and yours.
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Happy whatevers to you, too, CE.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Once, their marriage would have been shocking. Today, we’re almost at the point where the law is what’s shocking
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Dear Neil,
Perhaps we’re not easily shocked any more and that’s the problem.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Isn’t it astonishing to us now in 2020?
Happy Christmas, Rochelle.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Dear Susan,
I’m glad this story is astonishing to us today. We’ve come far but have so far to go. Happy Christmas to you, too.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hard to credit it, these days. Nicely done, and have a very happy holiday.
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Dear Sandra,
Biracial marriages feel normal to me these days. The heart wants what the heart wants. Thank you and a happy and healthy holiday to you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A story to remind us all there is hope and things can change and get better. We need more of those stories for 2021! Happy Holidays Rochelle, hope you have a safe and peaceful time.
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Dear Iain,
Let’s hope that 2021 is better and there will be more stories like these. Thank you for your kind words.
A happy, healthy and safe holiday to you!
Rochelle
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It just blows the mind that such hateful laws were still on the books such a short time ago. And that some of the hatreds still exist. ‘Tis the season for peace on earth and goodwill to men (and women). Hopefully that sentiment lasts the entire year so these hatreds will become 100% in the past.
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Dear Trent,
Red and Yellow, Black and white they are precious in His sight. Why can’t we practice and learn from this. Thank you for adding your voice. .
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks for another year of Friday Fictioneers Rochelle. Hope you can enjoy the holiday season, in safety x
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Dear Trish,
Here’s to another year of Friday Fictioneers. Hope you liked where I went with your unique photo. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Well, all’s well that ends well 🙂
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Dear Bernadette,
In the Lovings’ case it did end well. 🙂
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
How serendipitous their last name is Loving, don’t you think? And, while there is still so much to be done, their win was a first (oh so late) step in the right direction.
Love is love is love… Beautifully done, as per!
Happy Christnukkah!
Dale
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Dear Dale,
I do enjoy the irony of their name. It’s all they wanted was to be allowed to love each other. And we do have a long way to go. Thank you.
Shalom and Happy Merry HanaKwanzaChristmukkah,
Rochelle
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Honestly. You can’t plan these things! Love. Remember when we thought it could conquer all? It feels like such a battle sometimes…
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Perhaps it doesn’t conquer all but it might ease the slings and arrows of life some. 😉
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That’s for sure. We used to have a fun television show called “Slings and Arrows” about a theatre company and starring our very handsome Paul Gross – who has the wrong last name!
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That very thing, white supremacy, is why Trump’s followers like him. They feel he thinks as they do. The Neo-Nazis and KKK love him because they’re white supremacists and feel he agrees with them.
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😦
Merry Christmas and Shalom, Suzanne.
Rochelle
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Happy Holidays, Rochelle. Shalom. 🙂 — Suzanne
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It’s hard to believe this was 1967. For some of us, that wasn’t so long ago. I was already 2 years into my Naval career and was stationed on an Aircraft Carrier out of Norfolk Virginia. We had many different races on our ship and I wasn’t aware of a race problem at that time. We had Filipinos, Hispanics, Afro-Americans & some I wasn’t aware of, working, living and playing hard right beside each other. No problems. Although times are better now, there is still plenty of room for change. I wish we could all could live, work & play as we did back then. Good, eye opening story M’Luv.
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Dear Jan,
If you felt differently we’d have a difficult time being married. Why can’t we all just get along? Thanks, m’luv.
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It was okay for white plantation owners to have black mistresses, though. Just don’t marry them.
I never cease to be amazed at the innate hypocrisy of mankind.
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Dear Linda,
Those are things that make me cringe. Thank you for coming by.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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We’ve come a long way in a short time, but there’s still a fair way to go. Season’s Greetings Rochelle.
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Dear Keith,
Here’s hoping for a better future that learns from the past. Happy Holidays.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Your stories always remind me of what we share in our humanity, whatever race or creed, the good, the bad and the ugly, and that the darkness has not overcome the light: a wondrous truth!
Shalom,
Dora
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Dear Dora,
I take that as very high praise indeed. Thank you so much.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Racial bigots are still around even now! Great story for the festive season.
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Dear Liz,
Sadly I don’t foresee a disappearance of racial bigots anytime soon. More’s the pity. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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:::smh::: Can you imagine waking up with a flashlight shining in your eyes and being jailed for being married to what the state has deemed the “wrong” person? The grace with which these two faced the cameras of the public is staggering. God Bless Them.
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Dear Lisa,
Waking up to someone shining a flashlight like that would have me questioning democracy. I’m pleased their story had a happy ending. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, you are welcome.
Shalom,
Lisa
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Coincidentally, I just saw a trailer for a movie about this. I don’t know if it’s specifically about this couple, but it seems likely. It’s in my queue. Now, I’m more interested in watching it.
The whole concept of race frustrates me. Its sole purpose is to make some feel superior and others inferior. If we could just lose the concept, which is a human construct for labeling and categorizing, and exist as the human race, the world would be a much better place.
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Dear Nobbin,
The movie Loving is based on this case. It’s the reason I wrote this story. After watching the movie I watched the documentary on which it was based. Both were wealth worth the time.
As far as I can tell, I don’t see that one race has superiority over another. There are amazingly gifted people in all shapes, sizes and colors. I so wish we could appreciate each other for our differences and similarities.
Thank you for reading and leaving such wonderful comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I think that’s the movie in my queue. I’ll have to watch it, then look out for the documentary.
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So glad that got sorted out. Had such crazy laws remained, Shey and I could never have married.
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Dear Eric,
For yours and Shey’s sakes I’m glad the laws changes. Happy holidays.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Here’s mine Rochelle.
Wishing you peace and happy holidays.
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And mine’s right here. 😉
Merry Christmas, Di.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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🙂 keep safe.
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A dreadful law. I admire the diligence with which you expose such iniquity.
Happy Hannukah!
Shalom
Penny
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Dear Penny,
I couldn’t ask for a better compliment. It means a lot to me.
Happy Christmas to you and yours.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh, my goodness, “racial integrity act?” I’m so glad you write these stories to remind us where we were and where we are today. It does give a measure of hope for the future. Wishing you joy & peace as well, Rochelle!
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Dear Brenda,
It is mind-boggling in a country where we are constitutionally all created equal that there would’ve been a “racial integrity act?” Doesn’t sound like integrity to me. I’m hoping for a better future. Thank you. Merry Christmas.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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looks like we’ve gone a long way, but there are still many more miles to go.
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Dear Plaridel,
As long as we can keep moving ahead rather than backward. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Love, love, love this story, both the true story and your take on it. Thanks for the much-needed smile boost. ❤
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Dear Anne,
I’ll take 3 ‘loves’. 😉 Thank you for the smile in return.
Shalom and a Merry Christmas,
Rochelle
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Happy holidays, Rochelle. What a great piece and it just goes to show that there is progress. Things go from being unthinkable to commonplace within a few decades and we don’t even think about them again until you read stories like this. You wrote it wonderfully, as always. 🙂
-David
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Dear David,
Thank you for such a magnificent comment. 😀 A Very Merry Christmas to you and the lovely Leah.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Here’s to progress, every inch of it fought for, some of it numerous times, much of it still at risk, none of it taken for granted. Here’s to love, and the power of.
Hugs to you,
Na’ama
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Na’ama Y’karah,
And hugs back to you. Better a few steps forward than backward. May be keep moving ahead. I’m all for the power of love. May 2021 be flooded with it. L’chaim.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Amen to moving ahead in the direction of BETTER and more humanity and empathy. Amen. xx Na’ama
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Happy holidays to you and yours, dear Rochelle ♥♥♥
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Thank you, Joyful.
Shalom and Happy Holidays,
Rochelle
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People should mind their own business. This couple wasn’t hurting anyone. So many issues in society they could be jumping on.
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Dear Tanille,
Fortunately biracial marriages are more commonplace now. People should be allowed to love and marry whomever they please IMHO. If only people did mind their own business…Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I really enjoyed your reading of the story. YOu’re so good too! To think it wasn’t that long ago that interracial marriages were illegal. I don’t think racism will ever truly end, but we can continue to make progress and hopefully the next generations will be better.
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Dear Fatima,
I fear that as long as there are humans there will be racism. I’m glad racial marriages are more commonplace than they once were. A person should be able to love and marry whomsoever they please. Thank you so much for your kind and affirming words.
Shalom and happy holidays,
Rochelle
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I watched the movie years ago with Timothy Hutton. I’m happy that interracial marriages became legal but as far as racism is concerned, we still have a long way to go.
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Dear Adele,
I never saw the Timothy Hutton movie but I did see the most recent one and the documentary on which it was based. Such a touching story. All the Lovings wanted was to be left alone to love each other. I’m glad their story had a happy ending. Would that we could eradicate racism and be done with it. To see a person for the human soul he or she is. And I could go on forever. Thank you.
Shalom and Merry Christmas,
Rochelle
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Powerful, shocking, sad. I felt all these emotions. All credit to you.
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Dear Michael,
A writer couldn’t ask for higher praise. Thank you.
Merry Christmas,
Rochelle
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Merry Christ-mass, Rochelle & Family. We have a skiff of snow here this blessed morn. I often wonder how life would be if I had been able to marry the wonderful gentleman that family forced me to walk away from. Today, he is a very successful business man with all that goes with that success. He’s still unmarried. We’re still friends and speak often. I will always have a place in my heart for him, my Miche. The family that so opposed him and tortured me for not seeing his color but his heart are all dead, now. He’s often said I’ll always have a place with him if/when my hubby passes. It’s a thought, for sure. I loved this story of yours and often wish I had been strong enough to follow my heart back then.
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Dear Bear.
Your story breaks my heart. Thank you for adding your voice. A belated Merry Christ-mass back to you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Sadly it is what it is…sigh… May covid be ××÷%%%! L’Chaim! In 2021!
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We’re getting there. Very slowly, but we’re getting there.
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Dear Ali,
Some are slower to get there than others. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Their love is true. Screw the law! A good story highlighting the racism of the past.
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Dear Laurie,
I’m glad their love was instrumental in overturning those ridiculous laws. Thank you.
Shalom and Happy New Year,
Rochelle
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https://padresramblings.wordpress.com/2020/12/27/of-hope-deprived/ Thanks for letting me share, and hope (unlike in story) you have a great new year.
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Thank you, Padre. I’m going to add your link to the inLinkz so more people will see your link. Unlike Sammi’s page, my page is for comments on my story which I hope you enjoyed.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What a great story Rochelle! How apt that his name would be Loving.
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Dear Shelley,
His name is a beautiful irony in this case, isn’t it? Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Sad how little progress we’ve made overall. Good story and a nice, happy ending.
Shalom,
Ronda
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Dear Ronda,
I hear ya on progress. May we continue to do better. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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