James Earl Jones had already become one of America’s most respected actors when he fell in love with Cecilia Hart. But when he went to ask her family for permission to marry her, Cecilia’s mother had a concern that had little to do with his career or character. She worried about the children they might have together. Jones was born in Mississippi in 1931 and grew up during segregation. He would eventually rise to the top of his profession, becoming famous for his acting and for a voice recognized by millions. Yet the country was still dealing with the legacy of racial prejudice. The two met through their work and decided to marry in 1982, more than a decade after the Supreme Court had struck down laws banning interracial marriage. When Jones approached Cecilia’s parents, her mother hesitated. As a white woman she was troubled by the thought that her daughter might have mixed-race children. Jones replied, “You know what? My children are gonna be black either way. What you’re worried about is your grandchildren.” He later explained that his decision was never about making a political statement. He married Cecilia because he loved her. The couple kept much of their family life private. They welcomed their son Flynn and built a life together that lasted for decades. Flynn eventually became Jones’s assistant and later built a career narrating audiobooks. Cecilia died of ovarian cancer in 2016, aged 68. James Earl Jones died at his home in Pawling, New York, in 2024, at the age of 93. Their marriage had lasted more than three decades. The prejudice that concerned Cecilia’s mother did not define their marriage. Their love did.