'Loving' this Valentine’s Day

The Tulane Center for Public Service and the Office of Multicultural Affairs invite the Tulane University and broader community to celebrate Valentine’s Day by enjoying a free screening of Jeff Nichols’ critically acclaimed film Loving. Presented by the New Orleans Loving Festival, the movie will be followed by a discussion hosted by members of the Welcome Table New Orleans Carrollton Circle, a branch of Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s multicultural community building initiative.

“This is Tulane’s first time partnering with the festival,” said Amanda Buberger, assistant director of academic community engagement at the Tulane University Center for Public Service.

“This screening is the continuation of a popular event series that we started last fall,” said Buberger. “Before the winter break, we talked about doing this particular screening as a special Valentine’s Day event.”

“I hope students and other community members attending the screening and dialogue leave with a better understanding of history and a renewed interest in having conversations concerning these sensitive and often uncomfortable topics.”

— Amanda Buberger, assistant director of academic community engagement at the Tulane University Center for Public Service

The film chronicles the courageous story of Mildred and Richard Loving, who were sentenced to a year in prison for marrying. The Loving’s wedding violated Virginia’s Racial Integrity Act of 1924, which prohibited interracial marriage at the time. In 1967, the case led to a landmark civil rights decision denouncing the act as unconstitutional, subsequently ending race-based legal restrictions on marriage within the United States.

Since 2009, the annual New Orleans Loving Festival has honored the historical decision by hosting film screenings and other special events, encouraging locals to engage in dialogue exploring racial issues and hoping to inspire collaboration for projects focused on racial justice.

Buberger said she hopes students attending the screening will leave with a better understanding of the case's historical significance.

The screening takes place Tuesday (Feb. 14) at 6 p.m. in the Lavin-Bernick Center’s City Diner. It is free and open to the public.

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