Comparison Of Loving V. Virginia 'And Desiree's Baby'

Throughout history, racism has affected different races from African Americans to Native Americans, and Mexicans Americans.In “Loving v. Virginia” and “Desiree’s Baby” there is a common relation between each article. They both highlight events on interracial marriages and how the relationship were affected.

In these articles, the reader finds a similar topic of interracial marriage, and how it affects family dynamics. In the article “Loving v. Virginia,” the couple is separated because of racial differences, while in “Desiree’s Baby”,Armand and Desire’s relationship is broken as Armand requests her to leave because the baby is a “mixed” child. The article provides factual evidence when it mentions “the Lovings were woken in their bed at about

2:00 a.m. and arrested by local sheriff.” It also adds that the couple was sentenced to one year in prison, for violating Virginia’s anti-miscegenation law. Within “Desiree’s Baby,” there is a similar way where the family is broken apart. For instance, when Armand finds out that his baby is mixed, he is discontented and no longer loves her. Desiree then asks Armand if he’d want for them to leave, and he replies “Yes, I want you to go.” In these texts, there are similarities between the main topic and interracial marriages.
A primary difference between the texts is the tone.

The tone in “Loving v. Virginia” is factual. It provides facts about the court case. For example, “The Lovings began their legal battle in November 1963.” During this time, segregation was very harsh and there was many instances of racism. In this text, it is also pointed out, “the justices found that Virginia's interracial marriage law violated the 14th Amendment to the Constitution,” and that on “June 12- the anniversary of the Loving v. Virginia decision is now commemorated each year as ‘Loving Day.’” In contrast, the tone in “Desiree’s Baby” is passionate. The tone is evident in the following example: “He coldly but gently loosened her fingers from about his arm and thrust the hand away from him.” The reader can infer through these words that the character’s emotions are intense. Another textual evidence that emphasizes tone states “He thought almighty God had dealt cruelly and unjustly with him;and felt, somehow, that he was paying Him back in kind when he stabbed thus into his wife’s soul.” In spite of his emotions, he recalls that he has hurt his wife by not loving her anymore. In the story, as Desiree departed, she said “Good-by, Armand,” but there was no response.” That was his last blow at fate.” This tone gives the reader an understanding of no regret of what the character has

done.
Another difference between these articles is the purpose for which it is written.

The article “Loving v. Virginia” uses informative facts about the court case and informs the reader that it was against the law to have interracial marriages. To emphasize, “In 1963 a desperate Mildred Loving wrote a letter to U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy asking for assistance.” Robert F. Kennedy was, at that time, fighting for civil rights. During this court case, segregation affected these marriages:”more than half the states in the union-including every state in the South-still had laws restricting marriages by racial classification,” thus signifying that these union states did not accept these marriages.Unlike in “Desiree's Baby”,it is written as a short story. It explains in a light and short way how there interracial relationship slowly fell apart. The author notes that “Desiree was miserable enough to die.” because of the way armand absented himself from her and the

baby.

Between these texts, there are similarities and differences. They both provide the reader with the topic of interracial marriages. The readings also present the characters’ emotions and effects brought to the family due to their separations; therefore, throughout these articles, the reader learns the highlights of the events of interracial marriages and how relationships are affected.