Black voting rights have been a constant struggle throughout American history. Following the Civil War and the passage of the 15th Amendment in 1870, which granted Black men the right to vote, there was a brief period known as Reconstruction where African Americans were able to participate in the political process. However, as Reconstruction ended and the Jim Crow era began, Southern states implemented discriminatory practices such as poll taxes, literacy tests, and intimidation tactics to disenfranchise Black voters.

The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s brought renewed attention to the issue of voting rights for African Americans. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a landmark piece of legislation that aimed to overcome legal barriers at the state and local levels that prevented Black people from exercising their right to vote. The Act prohibited literacy tests and other discriminatory practices, and authorized federal oversight of elections in areas with a history of voter suppression.

Despite these gains, voting rights for Black Americans have continued to face challenges in more recent years. In 2013, the Supreme Court decision in Shelby County v. Holder weakened key provisions of the Voting Rights Act, leading to the reemergence of voter suppression tactics such as strict voter ID laws, voter purges, and reductions in polling places in predominantly Black communities. Efforts to combat these forms of voter suppression continue to be a focus of civil rights activists and organizations dedicated to protecting and expanding voting rights for all Americans.