The most inspiring moments in history are those sparked by ordinary folk. That's the case of the history that unfolds in "The Loving Story" (9 tonight, HBO), an inspiring documentary that tells the story of the couple who got interracial bans overturned in 16 states in the U.S.

It is the story of Richard Loving and Mildred Jeter; he was white, she was African-American and Native American. They married in Washington, D.C. in 1958, then returned to Virginia, their home state. There, they were jailed and then convicted of miscegenation. They were told that if they wanted to avoid a year-long jail sentence, they would have to leave the state and they could only return separately.
 

This month marks the 50th anniversary of a landmark moment in this country's civil right era, the 1961 Freedom Rides, during which more than 400 Americans traveled through the South on buses to challenge Jim Crow laws.

"Freedom Riders" (UNC-TV, 9 tonight) recounts this story, powerfully, retracing each arduous, inspirational, painful ,and ultimately successful step  on a journey that tested the notion of non-violent activism.

The documentary isn't always easy to watch, mostly because those interviewed have such vivid memories of what they experienced, what they lived through. Thus, the hatred, the fear, the courage, the determination, the moments of clarity and triumph feel so present. That also makes it a must watch.