The history of Black voter suppression in the United States is a deeply ingrained legacy that has shaped the nation's political landscape. From the days of Jim Crow laws to modern tactics like gerrymandering and voter ID requirements, efforts to disenfranchise Black voters have evolved but remain persistent. The journey of Black Americans reflects their enduring struggle for the right to vote, the strides made, and the significant challenges that persist.

After the Civil War, the 15th Amendment was ratified in 1870, granting Black men the right to vote–not women. However, this legal victory was quickly undermined by the rise of Jim Crow laws across the South. These laws were designed to maintain white supremacy by systematically stripping Black citizens of their voting rights through tactics such as literacy tests, poll taxes, and grandfather clauses. The notorious "white primary" system further entrenched racial discrimination by allowing only white voters to participate in primary elections, effectively excluding Black voices from the political process.

The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s marked a turning point. Activists like Fannie Lou Hamer, a sharecropper from Mississippi, played a crucial role in challenging these injustices. Hamer co-founded the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP) in 1964 to challenge the all-white delegation at the Democratic National Convention. Her powerful testimony about the violence and intimidation she faced for trying to register to vote became a rallying cry for the movement. The Voting Rights Act became law in 1965, which aimed to eliminate many of the barriers to enfranchisement, but the struggle for equal voting rights was far from over.

In 2013, the Supreme Court's decision in Shelby County v. Holder weakened the Voting Rights Act by striking down key provisions that required certain states with a history of discrimination to obtain federal approval before changing their voting laws. This decision opened the door for a wave of new voter suppression measures, including stricter voter ID laws and purges of voter rolls, which disproportionately affect Black voters.

The Lone Star state is a recent example. In 2023, Texas advanced efforts to take control of Harris County's election system, an area around Houston that consistently votes Blue. The Texas House passed SB 1750 in a party-line vote after it cleared the Senate. This bill forces counties with populations over 3.5 million—only Harris County meets this threshold—to eliminate the role of elections administrator, returning election responsibilities to the elected county clerk and tax assessor-collector. Many other states have engaged in these anti-voting rights laws.

Another egregious example is felony disenfranchisement. Across the country, millions of Americans who have served their time for felony convictions are barred from voting. A 2018 ballot initiative in Florida restored voting rights to many formerly incarcerated individuals. Still, the state legislature quickly passed a law requiring them to pay all fines and fees before regaining the right to vote. This "poll tax" has prevented thousands of Floridians, disproportionately Black, from participating in elections. The movement to restore voting rights to formerly incarcerated individuals continues to gain momentum, with activists pushing for reforms that would allow more people to have their voices heard at the ballot box.

Black women have long been at the forefront of the fight for voting rights, and their contributions continue to be pivotal in today's political landscape. Stacey Abrams and LaTosha Brown are two modern-day leaders who have carried on the legacy of Fannie Lou Hamer by educating and mobilizing voters, particularly in the South.

Abrams, a former Georgia gubernatorial candidate, founded Fair Fight Action, an organization dedicated to combating voter suppression and ensuring free and fair elections. Her work in Georgia was crucial in flipping the state blue in the 2020 presidential election and securing Democratic control of the U.S. Senate.

LaTosha Brown, co-founder of the Black Voters Matter Fund, has been instrumental in increasing voter turnout in Black communities across the South. Her organization focuses on building grassroots power and ensuring that Black voters have a voice in the political process. Like Fannie Lou Hamer before her, Brown understands that the fight for voting rights is not just about elections; it's about ensuring that Black communities have the power to shape their futures.

As we look to the future, it is paramount to remember that voting is not just a privilege but a fundamental right that must be protected for all citizens. The history of voter suppression is a reminder that the pursuit of equality is a continuous effort, and it falls on each of us to protect the advancements made and prevent any backsliding.

Clay Cane is a SiriusXM radio host and the author of the New York Times bestseller The Grift: The Downward Spiral of Black Republicans From the Party of Lincoln to the Cult of Trump.