The Struggle Of Interracial Relationships Before Racial Integration In The Documentary The Loving Story

The documentary, “The Loving Story,” reveals the struggle of interracial relationships before racial integration was accepted. In 1958, an African American woman, Mildred Loving, and a white man, Richard Loving, were married and arrested for engaging in an interracial marriage (The Loving Story). During the time of racial segregation, the material culture and non-material culture influenced many values than the ones practiced today. According to the textbook, Introduction to Sociology, material culture refers to “the objects or belongings of a group of people,” and non-material culture refers to, “the ideas, attitudes, and beliefs of a society” (Openstax, section 3.1). The documentary, “The Loving Story,” provides many examples about the idea of material culture and non-material culture.

The documentary, “The Loving Story,” provides many examples about the idea of non- material culture. In 1958, Mildred and her husband Richard decided to get married (The loving Story). Living in Virginia, the Lovings were not granted the right to get married; they later decided that getting married was worth the risk. Only weeks after their marriage, Mildred and Richard were startled by someone entering their home; a police officer had arrived to inform the loving’s that they could no longer remain married, for it was against the law (The Loving Story). The Loving’s had been denied the right to get married because of their different races. The belief that one race is superior, as represented by Mildred and Richard’s segregation, serves as an example of non-material culture during the mid twentieth century. This idea of racial segregation was a common idea during the fifties and sixties, which could also be considered a contributing factor to the non-material culture of that time. This example of racism demonstrates the concept of non-material culture and the diffusion of culture that is shared with society.

The documentary, “The Loving Story,” also provides many examples about the idea of material culture. According to the documentary, The Loving Story, Richard Loving often spent his spare time fixing up cars and drag racing, alongside him, people of the opposite race that also shared the same hobby (The Loving Story). Richard was well-known for befriending people of different races, disregarding the contrasting beliefs of the society that he resided in (The Loving Story). Many people during this particular time found interest in cars and often put money and time into the pastime. The cars that Richard and his friends worked on were considered a physical entity that was shared by many, which is defined as material culture (Openstax, section 3.1).

In conclusion, the documentary, The Loving Story, provides numerous examples of the meaning of material culture and non-material culture. According to the textbook, Introduction to Sociology, material culture is defined as, “the objects or belongings of a group of people,” and non-material culture is referred to as, “the ideas, attitudes, and beliefs of a society” (Openstax, section 3.1). An example of material culture in the documentary, The Loving Story, is the idea of racism and segregation. Mildred and Richard were not allowed to get married as a result of the color of their skin (The Loving Story). This belief during the mid twentieth century could be defined as a factor of non-material culture because it stood as a concept that many believed and lived by. An example of material culture found in the documentary, The Loving Story, is the cars that Richard Loving worked on and drag raced in. A connection that is linked between the cars and the material culture of the mid twentieth century happens to be the goods that are valued by a class. The documentary, The Loving Story, thoroughly emphasized the meaning behind material culture and non-material culture in society during the nineteen-fifties and nineteen-sixties through the examples of racial segregation and the cars that people took interest in.