When the history books are written about "race" relations in the last half of the 20th century, I expect 1967 to be a big year. Today, we might remember 1967 because Thurgood Marshall became the first "black" Justice of the Supreme Court, or because of the terrible "race" riots that broke out across America. But, 1967 marks a turning point in America's race relations, a turning point as important as the Three-Fifths Compromise, the Emancipation Proclamation or King's "Dream." In 1967, the Supreme Court ruled in Loving v. Virginia that laws forbidding "interracial" marriage were unconstitutional.

The significance of this ruling cannot be overstated. Throughout the 20^th century, scientists told us that "race" is a human invention, and that it does not represent a natural biological division between humans. Nevertheless, Americans continued to divide people along "racial" lines. Until 1950, we only allowed "whites" to become naturalized American citizens. During World War II, we interned thousands of Americans of Japanese descent, ostensibly to prevent them from fomenting a rebellion on behalf of Emperor Hirohito. And, of course, we put the might of the state behind the (in)famous dictum, "separate but equal."

By mid-century, however, cracks began to appear in our racial lines. The Warren Court affirmed what we already knew: separate never was equal. But progress only came in fits and starts. While the University of Georgia opened its doors to Charlayne Hunter, Wallace proclaimed his undying belief in separate and unequal. Even our nation's venerable Court could only proceed "with all deliberate speed."

Rev. King moved Kennedy, and then Johnson, to pass the Civil Rights laws that we currently observe. But, these merely broke down the artificial barriers between the "races." A number of states still maintained the fundamental barrier-they forbade "black" and "white" people from marrying.

That is why Loving is so important. After Loving, people began to ignore the government's racial lines. Individuals whose skin color didn't match began to date, marry and have children in ever-increasing numbers. The effect was difficult to see at first. There were many who gasped when the University of Georgia's star running back, Herschel Walker, had a white girlfriend. Today, though, the cable network E! may ask Tiger Woods and Joanne Jagoda, Julia Roberts and Benjamin Bratt and Maury Povich and Connie Chung about their love lives, but not because they are "interracial" couples. Sober observers of race relations today recognize the fundamental sea changes at work. Later this month the Jerome Levy Institute is sponsoring a conference devoted to "multiraciality."

By 1993, the Census Bureau could no longer ignore the tremendous change wrought by Loving. Ironically those who today claim to wear the mantle of the Civil Rights movement were the most vigorous defenders of maintaining the existing system of racial classifications. But, as Harvard sociologist Orlando Patterson recently wrote, "By the middle of the next century, the social virus of race will have gone the way of smallpox."

It is easy to lose sight of the powerful effect the "interracial" community is having on America today. While the NAACP won some significant battles in the last decade, they are now paddling against history. In California today, there are more children born to "interracial" couples than are born to two black parents. As the Hispanic and Asian diasporas continue, the "California trend" will become the American trend. By 2070, perhaps sooner, "black," "brown," and "white" will be historical concepts. Café-au-lait will be reality.

Does this mean we can relax, that the war is ended? Unfortunately, no! The defenders of our nation's racial lines recognize that the odds are against them, and they are determined to win by any means necessary. While in the midst of these battles it is often difficult to see, but we are winning. We must not let up.

We are on the cusp of the age that forgot "race." Today's young children will never understand "race" like their parents. Their playgrounds are "interracial." The skin of their friends and classmates represent every hue imaginable. We are finally nearing the summit, when the government will stop stuffing the richness of our common humanity into their stifling "race" boxes.

The transition from a "race" paradigm to one in which there is no such thing as "race" will not be easy. There is no road map to get us there. Political obstacles will emerge at every step of the way, because of those who hold that "race" is one of those "self-evident truths." Because certain Americans look roughly alike, they must be members of the same "race," so the argument will go. We must induce the scientists to step forward and refute the myths of "race."

Our language must be modified to reflect more appropriate ways of identifying people other than "African-American," "Asian," and "Hispanic." We must argue for the abandonment of terms such as "minority" to reflect the reality that Americans are not part of any socially defined "racial" groups. Thus, there is no "majority" or "minority."

More Americans must be encouraged to acknowledge the "diversity" of their backgrounds. When more "African-Americans" readily and proudly acknowledge the diversity" of their backgrounds -- the fact that they are the product of America's melting pot -- then the concept of "race" will disintegrate faster than George W. Bush's lead over Al Gore.

Once social outcasts because of their defiance of social conventions, interracial people can and must now be leaders in preparing our nation for the future. We are truly one people, a merging of those who believe in a colorblind society, who are willing to act on those beliefs in the things that matter most. Now is the time to step forward, to be counted, and to show what a Loving America really is.

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