Racial discrimination in voting has been a significant issue throughout Black history in the United States. Following the abolishment of slavery after the Civil War, Black Americans faced numerous barriers and obstacles when trying to exercise their right to vote.

One of the most infamous forms of voter suppression was the implementation of literacy tests, poll taxes, and grandfather clauses, which disproportionately affected Black voters. These tactics were used to prevent Black individuals from registering to vote or casting their ballots.

Additionally, violent intimidation, fraud, and disenfranchisement were commonplace in many Southern states, where Jim Crow laws enforced segregation and white supremacy. The Ku Klux Klan and other white supremacist groups often targeted Black voters and political leaders through threats, intimidation, and physical violence.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a crucial milestone in the fight against racial discrimination in voting. This landmark legislation aimed to eliminate barriers such as literacy tests and poll taxes and enforce the Fifteenth Amendment, which prohibits the denial of the right to vote based on race or color.

Despite the progress made through the Voting Rights Act, voter suppression tactics continue to impact Black and other minority voters today. Efforts to restrict voting access, such as voter ID laws, gerrymandering, and voter purges, disproportionately affect Black communities and undermine their political power.

The fight for voting rights and against racial discrimination in voting is an ongoing struggle in Black history, highlighting the importance of protecting and expanding access to the ballot for all Americans.