MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Southern Poverty Law Center's Teaching Tolerance program released a teacher's guide today for the new documentary film, The Loving Story, which tells the story of the husband and wife at the center of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that overturned state bans on interracial marriage 45 years ago.
The teacher's guide is designed to help students in grades six through 12 gain a deeper understanding of this landmark case, Loving v. Virginia, and its role in the civil rights movement. The film will premiere Feb. 14 on HBO.
"Teaching Tolerance is proud to provide a teacher's guide that will help students understand this important chapter of the civil rights movement," said Teaching Tolerance Director Maureen Costello. "The Loving Story provides a powerful example of how two people can bring about powerful social change for so many."
The documentary tells the story of Richard and Mildred Loving, a married interracial couple charged with violating Virginia's ban on interracial marriage in the 1950s. The incident led to a 1967 Supreme Court decision that overturned interracial marriage bans across the country. It also examines the current state of interracial marriage and tolerance in the United States.
The teacher's guide includes four lessons that will help students to understand Loving v. Virginia in the context of the civil rights movement. It is designed to help students understand what life was like for people during this period; recognize that social change takes time and perseverance; and apply their understanding of the story to their own lives and relevant issues, including current issues about marriage rights.
The educational guide will be available at www.tolerance.org/publication/explore-history-loving.
An Augusta Films Production, The Loving Story, was directed by Nancy Buirski and produced by Elisabeth Haviland James and Buirski.
Teaching Tolerance is dedicated to reducing prejudice, improving intergroup relations and supporting equitable school experiences for our nation's children. It produces and distributes anti-bias education resources to teachers across the country through its award-winning Teaching Tolerance magazine, multimedia teaching kits, online curricula, professional development resources and classroom-friendly social justice documentaries. These materials are provided to educators at no cost.
The Southern Poverty Law Center, based in Alabama with offices in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi, is a nonprofit civil rights organization dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry, and to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of society. For more information, see www.splcenter.org .