Interracial couple torn apart by racist law reunites in an unbelievable twist after 50 years

There was a time when society was prejudiced against interracial couples due to deeply rooted racism. Unjust laws prevented many from leading happy lives together. The heartbreaking story of Howard Foster and Myra Clark highlights this issue. According to The Washington Times, Foster decided to break up with Clark over four decades ago, fearing they wouldn't be able to stay together.

But when they met again in 2013, Howard knew he had to hold onto the love of his life. The couple reconnected that year at Sharon Woods Metro Park where they could freely hold hands in public and chat without any worries of facing racism. “It was that dream you just never thought would come true and there she was,” Foster told the outlet. Foster, who is Black, and Clark, who is white, finally tied the knot in 2015 as what tore them apart five decades ago was no longer an issue with the Supreme Court making interracial marriage legal in 1967.

The historically important court case known as Loving V. Virginia saw the interracial couple, Mildred Jeter and Richard Loving, suing the state of Virginia and winning. Thanks to the law getting struck down, many couples like Foster and Clark could marry each other. The couple, who are now in their 60s, reside in North Side, Virginia. Foster and Clark admitted that they don't have any regrets and are glad things worked out in favor of their relationship. The news outlet mentioned that Foster and Clark met each other in the late 1960s and started dating.

Back then, racial tension and discrimination were at their peak in the area they lived in. The pair attended the Columbus West High School together and they regularly witnessed demonstrations related to race. However, the couple continued to harbor feelings for one another. Foster and Clark stayed up late pretty often to talk to each other on the phone. Even though they hoped to remain together, things changed drastically after they graduated from school in 1969, recalled Foster. 

Both pursued higher education, but Foster faced significantly more difficulties than Clark. He not only faced racism from his professors but also realized he was the only Black person attending Columbus Technical Institute (presently Columbus State Community College) back then. “It didn’t matter how well I did the project, it was always a D,” Foster recalled about one professor’s class. “I had never experienced that type of racism, that way. I said, ’It’s just not going to be good.’ I really thought about her.” That's when Foster knew that a future with Clark was not possible at that moment. He arranged to meet Clark in the Ohio State student union and ended their relationship.

They looked back at each other one last time and bid their farewells. Clark told the outlet that she always had a feeling they would meet again, and that's exactly what happened. “Society wasn’t going to let us be together and she was happy. She’d get tired of the stares. I just thought it was unfair to her,” Foster said of his decision. “Her happiness was the most important thing.” According to the U.S. Supreme Court, there were 16 southern states other than Virginia in America that used to penalize interracial couples in marital union before the law was abolished. The couple were also invited on an episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show to share their story.