Sammy Davis Jr. & May Britt
A marriage America would not forgive
The Black entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. and the Swedish actress May Britt married in 1960, when interracial marriage was still banned in much of the US; they faced threats and blacklists but loved in full public view.
01Why it matters
Their wedding was a national scandal that advanced the debate on interracial marriage, seven years before the Loving case.
02The conflict
Racism, threats and pressure on their careers.
03The iconic moment
Sammy withdrawing from a Kennedy event so his marriage would not harm the campaign.
04What survived
The Rat Pack; their place in civil rights history.
05Frequently asked questions
Why is the story of Sammy Davis Jr. & May Britt famous?
Their wedding was a national scandal that advanced the debate on interracial marriage, seven years before the Loving case.
How does the story of Sammy Davis Jr. & May Britt end?
Sammy withdrawing from a Kennedy event so his marriage would not harm the campaign. The Rat Pack; their place in civil rights history.
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