1) What lessons can we learn from the history of the Voting Rights Act of 1965?
It is a reminder that our history did not always include the rights of ALL Americans and that the rights of Americans to vote was hard fought and still subject to dispute. The fact that the Supreme Court has to decide to uphold a provision of the Voting Rights Act that gives the federal government ongoing oversight of ballot collecting in states with histories of discrimination is evidence that there is still much more for us to learn.
2) When you were a mayor of Atlanta, did you see any reverse migration of blacks from the North into Georgia? Do you think the VRA had a role to play in that and what socioeconomic impact did it have?
There is no question that the New Great Migration back to the South, generally to where economic opportunities were growing was instrumental in encouraging African Americans back. It didn’t hurt that there was job growth, educational opportunities in HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities), lower cost of living and political engagement brought African Americans back to the New South.
3) Were you of voting age when the VRA was passed? What was your reaction when President Johnson signed the VRA?
Yes, I was eligible to vote when the Voting Rights Act was passed. Like a lot of other Americans I never expected a white Southerner to champion voting rights. President Johnson provided courageous and unexpected leadership. I was proud of him and very proud of the Civil Rights leaders who pressed for federal legislation to protect the rights of African Americans.
4) Why did the VRA work when many other prior legislations did not?
While the Voting Rights Act was passed in 1965, today the Supreme Court, and state legislators around the country seemed to be committed to finding new discriminatory practices that will make it difficult at best and a deterrent at least for Americans to exercise their right to participate in a free democracy. It is estimated that some 41 states have already passed laws that attempt to curb minority voter turnout, so I guess I would argue that we are still trying to make the Voting Rights Act work for everyone.
It is a reminder that our history did not always include the rights of ALL Americans and that the rights of Americans to vote was hard fought and still subject to dispute. The fact that the Supreme Court has to decide to uphold a provision of the Voting Rights Act that gives the federal government ongoing oversight of ballot collecting in states with histories of discrimination is evidence that there is still much more for us to learn.
2) When you were a mayor of Atlanta, did you see any reverse migration of blacks from the North into Georgia? Do you think the VRA had a role to play in that and what socioeconomic impact did it have?
There is no question that the New Great Migration back to the South, generally to where economic opportunities were growing was instrumental in encouraging African Americans back. It didn’t hurt that there was job growth, educational opportunities in HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities), lower cost of living and political engagement brought African Americans back to the New South.
3) Were you of voting age when the VRA was passed? What was your reaction when President Johnson signed the VRA?
Yes, I was eligible to vote when the Voting Rights Act was passed. Like a lot of other Americans I never expected a white Southerner to champion voting rights. President Johnson provided courageous and unexpected leadership. I was proud of him and very proud of the Civil Rights leaders who pressed for federal legislation to protect the rights of African Americans.
4) Why did the VRA work when many other prior legislations did not?
While the Voting Rights Act was passed in 1965, today the Supreme Court, and state legislators around the country seemed to be committed to finding new discriminatory practices that will make it difficult at best and a deterrent at least for Americans to exercise their right to participate in a free democracy. It is estimated that some 41 states have already passed laws that attempt to curb minority voter turnout, so I guess I would argue that we are still trying to make the Voting Rights Act work for everyone.