I grew up in a little town in South Central Virginia called Altavista. When I turned 18 in 1960, my civic-minded dad encouraged me to register to vote. Since there were no elections coming up soon, I thought he was rushing me, but I followed his wish. He gave me the name and phone number of the person that I would need to see to register. I called and made the appointment.
When I arrived, I met the registrar. As we were walking back to his office, he said something to the effect of, “Well, you look pretty white to me, so I don’t think I need to give you a literacy test,” while giving me a knowing smile. I knew that literacy tests were used in the South to deny Black people the right to vote. I hadn’t known they were used in my hometown. They weren’t really literacy tests. They were tests designed to be impossible to pass in order to block people of color who were attempting to vote.
Immediately after the Civil War, there was a window of time when Black men were allowed to vote, and Black people were elected to office throughout the South. But that window of opportunity was soon slammed shut by those determined to make the culture of the South as much like the system of slavery as possible in the post-war period. It became very dangerous for Black people to vote, as threats, night riders, lynchings, mob, and economic intimidation were used to intimidate Black voters. The dangers of attempting to vote increased after the election of 1876, after which Reconstruction ended, and Union troops were removed from the South.
In 1900, North Carolina adopted a constitutional amendment establishing a literacy test with the purpose of blocking Black people from voting. In 1901, Alabama adopted a new state constitution, which also included a literacy test. Other states enacted similar measures along with poll taxes and property requirements with the same purpose of blocking Black voters. Intimidation and violence were still used.
The right to vote was one of the major goals of the civil rights movement. After enormous suffering, courageous struggle and sacrifice, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 finally came into being. It was one of the major accomplishments of the civil rights movement. It helped to transform not only the South but the country. Many of us experienced it as helping to move us toward being a land of the free and home of the brave. It boosted us toward being a country of the people, by the people and for the people. It moved us toward the belief that all people are created equal. It was one of the most important legislative accomplishments in our country’s history and moved us a step closer toward rectifying the centuries of enslavement and racism.
Last week, the Supreme Court eliminated important provisions of the Voting Rights Act. The court had already weakened other parts of the act. When one puts that action in the context of our country’s history, this is a huge blow not only to Blacks, but to all of us who have a vision of living together in a country in which all of us are valued.
To say it clearly, this court and this administration’s vision for the country is White Supremacy. I went to register to vote 66 years ago, and the registrar gave me a little knowing smile after telling me I wouldn’t have to take a literacy test. The court and this administration are not giving us a wink and a smile. They are boldly telling us that their vision of being great again is of white people having as much power as possible, and people of color being second-class citizens.
Those of us who have a different vision for the country are saddened and discouraged. But we remember all those through the centuries who struggled, suffered and sacrificed for equality. We fall in behind those courageous people and “keep on walking” toward a vision of Diversity, Equality and Inclusion.
Gray Fitzgerald lives in Concord and is the author of “Capitalism Converts Christianity,” found at Gibson’s Bookstore and online.