Interracial marriage bans, also known as anti-miscegenation laws, were enacted in many states in the United States during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. These laws prohibited marriage between people of different races, often specifically targeting relationships between Black and white individuals.

The primary purpose of these bans was to maintain racial hierarchy and prevent the mixing of races. The legal justification for these laws was rooted in the belief in white supremacy and the idea that interracial marriage would dilute the purity of the white race.

One of the most well-known cases involving anti-miscegenation laws is Loving v. Virginia (1967), in which the U.S. Supreme Court struck down laws banning interracial marriage as unconstitutional. The case involved Richard and Mildred Loving, a Black woman and white man who were sentenced to prison in Virginia for violating the state's anti-miscegenation law.

The Loving v. Virginia decision was a significant milestone in the civil rights movement and helped pave the way for the legal recognition of interracial marriage in the United States. However, it is important to recognize that the legacy of anti-miscegenation laws continues to impact society today, as individuals and families continue to face discrimination and prejudice based on their interracial relationships.