Interracial marriage bans, also known as anti-miscegenation laws, were laws that made it illegal for individuals of different races to marry or engage in intimate relationships. These laws were common in many parts of the United States and were used to enforce racial segregation and prevent the mixing of races.

In Black history, anti-miscegenation laws were particularly harsh and targeted relationships between Black and White individuals. These laws were used to uphold white supremacy and reinforce the systemic racism that permeated American society.

One of the most infamous cases related to anti-miscegenation laws is the landmark Supreme Court case Loving v. Virginia in 1967. In this case, Richard Loving, a White man, and Mildred Jeter, a Black woman, challenged the state of Virginia's anti-miscegenation statute, which prohibited interracial marriage. The Supreme Court ruled unanimously that laws banning interracial marriage were unconstitutional, effectively overturning such bans nationwide.

The abolition of anti-miscegenation laws was a significant step towards racial equality in the United States and marked a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement. Despite this legal victory, attitudes towards interracial relationships have continued to evolve, and challenges and discrimination against interracial couples persist to this day.