Peter Wallenstein, Tell the Court I Love My Wife: Race, Marriage, and Law - An American History Review

Overall Rating

Tell the Court I Love My Wife: Race, Marriage, and Law - An American History
Peter Wallenstein
Palgrave, Jan 2004, $16.95
ISBN: 1403964084

With the debate over gay marriage impacting the presidential race, Peter Wallenstein provides a timely history lesson focusing on the previous matrimony taboo: interracial marriage. In 1958, a Virginia couple was arrested for violating state law on interracial marriage. In 1967, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the law was unconstitutional, thus outlawing miscegenation laws some as old as three centuries. Mr. Wallenstein points out that the laws on interracial marriage tied very closely to social attitudes on race throughout the nation's history and in many cases back to colonial times

He eloquently and interestingly points out the history of interracial couples and miscegenation laws. The author makes the case that the more you allow the state to dictate about adults, the more everyone loses. Imagine what that means with an amendment. TELL THE COURT I LOVE MY WIFE: RACE, MARRIAGE, AND LAW - AN AMERICAN HISTORY is a well written, thought provoking, and perfectly timed look back at a black eye on the nation's heritage. Readers who see the dots connected to the current debate will want to read Jonathan Rauch's strong dissertation in support of GAY MARRIAGE.

Harriet Klausner