Racial discrimination in voting has been a significant issue throughout Black history in the United States. Following the Civil War and the Reconstruction Era, African Americans gained the legal right to vote with the passage of the 15th Amendment in 1870. However, Southern states implemented various measures, such as poll taxes, literacy tests, and grandfather clauses, to disenfranchise Black voters and prevent them from exercising their rights.

This widespread voter suppression persisted for decades, with African Americans facing intimidation, violence, and other discriminatory tactics at the polls. The landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965 aimed to address these injustices by prohibiting racial discrimination in voting practices, such as literacy tests, and requiring federal oversight of states with a history of voter suppression.

Despite these advancements, voter suppression tactics continue to impact Black voters today, such as voter ID laws, gerrymandering, and the closure of polling places in predominantly Black neighborhoods. Efforts to combat these discriminatory practices and protect the voting rights of African Americans remain ongoing challenges in the fight for racial equality and justice.