The right to vote has been a pivotal issue in Black history in the United States. Following the Civil War and the abolition of slavery, the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1870, granting African American men the right to vote. However, despite this constitutional guarantee, many Black Americans faced significant obstacles in exercising their right to vote, including literacy tests, poll taxes, intimidation, and violence.

During the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s, activists fought to secure and protect voting rights for Black Americans. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a landmark piece of legislation that prohibited racial discrimination in voting, including practices such as literacy tests and poll taxes.

Despite these advancements, challenges to voting rights persist, with ongoing efforts to disenfranchise Black voters through voter suppression tactics such as voter ID laws, gerrymandering, and restrictions on early voting.

The right to vote remains a crucial issue in Black history and continues to be a battleground for civil rights and social justice advocates seeking to protect and expand access to the ballot for all Americans.