The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is a seminal piece of legislation in American history that aimed to overcome legal barriers at the state and local levels that prevented African Americans from exercising their constitutional right to vote as guaranteed by the Fifteenth Amendment. The Act was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on August 6, 1965.

The Voting Rights Act aimed to combat discriminatory practices such as literacy tests, poll taxes, and intimidation tactics that were used to disenfranchise Black voters. It authorized federal oversight of elections in jurisdictions with a history of voter discrimination, such as certain states in the South. The Act also prohibited discriminatory voting practices and required certain jurisdictions to get approval from the federal government before making changes to their voting laws.

In 1970, the Voting Rights Act was amended to lower the voting age from 21 to 18, allowing more young people, including young African Americans, to participate in the electoral process. Subsequent amendments to the Act have extended its provisions and protections, ensuring that all citizens, regardless of race, have equal access to the voting booth.

The Voting Rights Act remains a crucial and powerful tool in the ongoing struggle for voting rights and racial equality in the United States, and its impact on Black history and the civil rights movement cannot be overstated.