Interracial Couple Evicted Because of Race

One couple in Mississippi just learned that while the law protects against racial discrimination, not everyone is law-abiding. Erica Flores Dunahoo, who is Hispanic and Native American, says landlord Gene Baker asked her family to leave his Tupelo RV park after learning that Dunahoo's husband, Sgt. Stanley Hoskins, is a black man.

Supposedly, Baker himself has no problem with mixed-race couples but doesn't want to deal with the criticism of his family, other tenants, or his church, where it is said that interracial couples are more than welcome to attend but are not allowed to be members.
While the Civil Rights Act of 1964 made race irrelevant in terms of housing, according to the USA Today, Baker says he plans to close down his RV park to prevent such further instances.

Full story.

Here's the unstated part of this story:

Without a doubt, the couple is protected by the law. They did NOT have to move simply because they were asked to do so. And because Baker says he is going to close the park to prevent more cases like this one doesn't negate the fact that he broke the law and could still face prosecution. These are facts. However, there are other facts.

It is a fact that no one wants to be in a place where they are unwanted, where they could stand the possibility of harassment, vandalism, negative remarks made towards their children, etc. While this incident is appalling, to say the least, it is also indicative of the fact that race relations in this country may be improving, but there is more of a tolerance than an acceptance. Based on the statement that the couple could attend church but wouldn't be allowed to join is blatant prejudice and ultimately hypocritical. How can a group of people who expect forgiveness, love, grace, and mercy in spite of their faults prohibit others from sharing in that? "You can worship with us, but you can't be one of us." In essence, you can believe in the same theology and principles and assemble with me, but you cannot play a part in serving this local congregation. Of course, this would mean that you represent me in some part, and I just can't have that.

As sad as it is that this case even exists, Baker probably did the couple a huge favor. Not only did he save the couple a lot of unnecessary stress, but he also afforded them the opportunity to not give their money to him. It would be nice if all who dislike a particular group would voice their opinions head of receiving money from those unwanted parties. Without a doubt, their business would suffer. Unfortunately, however, it's quite disheartening that many would rather lose business (such as Baker, who is completely closing his park) than to love those that are unlike them.

For those who think that the fight for equal rights is over, that all people have the same liberties and same opportunities, let this serve as a lesson-- a lesson many of us already knew. It's not the law that's the issue.  The problem is in the heart of man, and when you'll go so far as to allow hate to limit your finances, that's a special kind of hate. Many business owners know the same hate; they just aren't dumb enough to voice it.