Voting rights have been a crucial and hard-fought issue throughout Black history in the United States. African Americans have faced significant barriers to voting, including poll taxes, literacy tests, and violent intimidation meant to suppress their vote.

After the Civil War, the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was passed in 1870, granting African American men the right to vote. However, despite this constitutional guarantee, many states in the South implemented discriminatory practices to prevent Black Americans from voting, such as grandfather clauses and white primaries.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a landmark piece of legislation that sought to address these discriminatory practices. This act outlawed literacy tests, poll taxes, and other barriers designed to disenfranchise Black voters. It also authorized federal oversight of elections in states with a history of voter discrimination.

The fight for voting rights continues today, as issues such as voter ID laws, gerrymandering, and the closing of polling places disproportionately affect minority communities, including African Americans. Organizations like the NAACP and the ACLU continue to work towards ensuring equal access to the ballot box for all Americans.