NAACP Civic Engagement
African American and Voting
African American voting disenfranchisement has a long and sordid history. Although the U.S. Congress ratified the 15th Amendment in 1870, guaranteeing the right to vote to African American men, literacy tests and poll taxes systematically denied African American people their constitutional rights. Nearly 100 years later, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 allowed African Americans to step forward and participate in the American political process. Although the act did not eliminate all of the evils of racist opposition to blacks’ participation in the process, it represented a large step forward. The election of Barack Obama in 2008 marked monumental gains for African Americans and demonstrated the power of the black vote.
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1-866-OUR-VOTE
Tips for Election Day
Download Materials
• NAACP Training Manual
• Membership Application
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4805 Mt. Hope Drive
Baltimore MD 21215
Toll Free:
(877) NAACP-98
Local:
(410) 580-5777
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