54 - Voting Rights Act of 1965
As organizations have been posting things to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment, there are many comments noting that this did only benefit white women. In light of the protests this week, it is an ideal time for me to educate myself on why this is the case. And the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is at the core of this.
The Nineteenth Amendment allowed women to vote. The wording of the order fell prey to the current social issues of not addressing “all” women. This wording left many women from the polling booths. Only white women and a small number of northern states that already allowed women of race to vote in 1920.
On August 6, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act (VRA) of 1965 into law. This allowed millions of people, men and women, to register to vote. State by state laws could no longer disenfranchise African Americans to vote, typically done with poll taxes, literacy tests, and violence at polling stations.
States like Mississippi rose in voter registration by more than 50% by 1967 and represented a massive shift in politics.
In 2013, the Supreme Court ruling of Shelby County v. Holder changed Section 4 of the VRA to remove some of the restrictions of the Voting Rights Act to make it more difficult for the Federal Government to manage the 14 States identified in Section 4 as being an issue for their constituency. This Section provided the “formula” for the government to use in known history of discrimination. Though nothing has changed the laws enough to indicate disproportionate equity between genders, races, or other differences, it can happen. Congress has the right to update and rewrite the formula but has not yet.
Why this?
This week has been the most trying of my life. Deep in the throws of quarantine, remote from the inspirational people of my life, I am constantly sifting news that changes by the minute with people’s lives on the line. Not just from Covid-19, but from the things that have been plaguing America for decades. In particular, police militarization and brutality. It is making me take heed of my thoughts and beliefs. As I am here alone, I have to use myself to process the questions. I am real with myself. “I don’t do that.” “Is that really that bad to believe?” “Have I made someone feel like that?” I have a lot of questions for myself.
The most important thing I am trying to focus on is the listening. Listening to the voices that don’t get to talk, or tend to not be as loud. Listen to the chants at the protests that are mere feet from my home. Listen to the voices as breath is being taken from their lungs. I have a lot to hear.
Coming up to the end of this project for me, my biggest reflection that I will explain more soon is the amount of things I have learned about women as leaders, fighters, supporters, athletes... so much. They are inspiring and so many times have fought past their boundaries.
Now that things are starting to populate sharing the celebration of the 100th (yay!), comments have frequently noted this did not give ALL women the right to vote. And it is important to note for this study. I am proud to know women got the right in 1920, but did they really if it was segregated still?
The Nineteenth Amendment allowed women to vote. The wording of the order fell prey to the current social issues of not addressing “all” women. This wording left many women from the polling booths. Only white women and a small number of northern states that already allowed women of race to vote in 1920.
On August 6, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act (VRA) of 1965 into law. This allowed millions of people, men and women, to register to vote. State by state laws could no longer disenfranchise African Americans to vote, typically done with poll taxes, literacy tests, and violence at polling stations.
States like Mississippi rose in voter registration by more than 50% by 1967 and represented a massive shift in politics.
In 2013, the Supreme Court ruling of Shelby County v. Holder changed Section 4 of the VRA to remove some of the restrictions of the Voting Rights Act to make it more difficult for the Federal Government to manage the 14 States identified in Section 4 as being an issue for their constituency. This Section provided the “formula” for the government to use in known history of discrimination. Though nothing has changed the laws enough to indicate disproportionate equity between genders, races, or other differences, it can happen. Congress has the right to update and rewrite the formula but has not yet.
Why this?
This week has been the most trying of my life. Deep in the throws of quarantine, remote from the inspirational people of my life, I am constantly sifting news that changes by the minute with people’s lives on the line. Not just from Covid-19, but from the things that have been plaguing America for decades. In particular, police militarization and brutality. It is making me take heed of my thoughts and beliefs. As I am here alone, I have to use myself to process the questions. I am real with myself. “I don’t do that.” “Is that really that bad to believe?” “Have I made someone feel like that?” I have a lot of questions for myself.
The most important thing I am trying to focus on is the listening. Listening to the voices that don’t get to talk, or tend to not be as loud. Listen to the chants at the protests that are mere feet from my home. Listen to the voices as breath is being taken from their lungs. I have a lot to hear.
Coming up to the end of this project for me, my biggest reflection that I will explain more soon is the amount of things I have learned about women as leaders, fighters, supporters, athletes... so much. They are inspiring and so many times have fought past their boundaries.
Now that things are starting to populate sharing the celebration of the 100th (yay!), comments have frequently noted this did not give ALL women the right to vote. And it is important to note for this study. I am proud to know women got the right in 1920, but did they really if it was segregated still?
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