North Carolina - leading the country in enlightened marriage amendments since 1875.

4/16/2012

"Intermarriage of whites and negroes forbidden."

Amendment to Article 14, Section 8, NC Constitution, passed 10/11/1875.

Text reads: The Constitution of N.C. Sec.-, All marriages between a white person and a negro, or between a white person and a person of negro descent to the third generation inclusive, are hereby forever prohibited. Read three times and ratified in open Convention, this 11th day of October, A.D. 1875. M.Ransom, President of Convention.
Johnstown Jones, Secretary. W.M. Hardy, Assistant Secretary.

Intermarriage
of whites and negroes forbidden.

It took over 90 years to overturn this one. Maybe we could save a century and just not pass the one against gay marriage on the May 8th ballot.

Vote AGAINST the Constitutional Amendment on May 8th, 2012, in Wake County, NC.
The amendment defines any marriage or domestic union in NC as invalid, unless it is between a man and a woman.

A look at the amendment as it will appear on the ballot.

For more information about this proposed amendment, and ideas about how to help fight against it, visit Equality NC or Protect All NC Families.

3 Comments

Vincent Hammerstein

4/16/2012 09:04:14 am

Not being from NC and only hearing about this dreadful proposal, it's quite chilling to see the ballot image and to realize this is for real, it actually exists, is something actually being contemplated and that in a short time, there will be actual votes cast on it.
It appears fairly clear to me at least that the concept is unconstitutional anyway, that as the 14th Amendment to the US constitution guarantees the same rights to all, that any law anywhere that prevents rights enjoyed by some but denied others cannot stand.
But it's really a lot bigger than that isn't it? It's the idea that since some people have a problem with a particular mode of living that they can deny a fundamental and beautiful facet of life to those they have a problem with.
One of the things I often think about is not unique, that most people's problem with gay marriage is based in the Bible, but that we allow or tolerate many, many other things that are forbidden or opposed in the Bible.
For example, as for the deeper meanings behind the Bible's messages, what is the moral or spiritual difference between homosexuality and that of divorce?
With homosexuality, it's become a national nightmare with people proclaiming that rightness of both sides. Though not all, most laws concerning homosexuality are designed to prevent the free exercise thereof, to limit it, discourage it set it aside and presumably in some people's mind, to prevent or change it.
With divorce, there are legal provisions made to allow it, regulate it and really to make its process as fair and even as simple as possible.
Why have we chosen homosexuality to demonize?
The only thing I can think of, and begging the allowance of a humorous word in an issue where there's little, the only thing I can understand is that there are a lot of people who have the heebiejeebies over it!
Or in other words, with no intention of insulting anyone, it's because since people have a personal problem with homosexuality, they like to outlaw it.
Is this true? Can anyone else shine any other light on this??
Vincent

Art link

4/17/2012 12:13:14 am

Not much to argue with here except the headline. While it sounds good, it is not really accurate. NC is far from leading the nation on this. In fact, NC is the only state in the South that does not have such an amendment.

Oddly enough, it is probably quite the opposite. With more states passing gay marriage, I imagined NC will be one of the last states to try this. I am not sure if that makes it better or worse, but it is clear that for all the talk about NC Democrats being conservative, they kept this from happening for many years. The NC legislature is a scary body right now.

And great comments, Vincent. My own mother is one of those people who uses religion to justify her own uncomfortableness with homosexuality.

Julie link

4/17/2012 12:31:57 am

You're right Art, in that we don't have the amendment on the books yet. The subject line was more a nod to the old anti-miscegenation law, and its line of reasoning coming back around to haunt us again. We were one of the last states to let it go, clinging to it even after the Loving decision, so that it was still against state law into the 70's, which is so jarring to me.

On The Harvard Crimson website, there is a fascinating article from 1963, written in the journalistic style but subtly reflecting a progressive viewpoint. (http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1963/12/17/race-marriage-and-law-pamerican-racism/)

In any case, I hope your positive take bears out on May 8th. I do think there is a huge contingent of liberal voters in NC. My neighborhood is no lefty enclave and the yard signs against the amendment are everywhere!

Vince, loved your thoughtful post.