The Numbers
America has evolved from a country deeply divided along racial lines to one which democratically elected an African-American president. In the decades since 1965, other minorities such as Hispanics and Asians have entered the playing field in bigger numbers.
Increase in voter registration
"The law had an immediate impact. By the end of 1965, a quarter of a million new black voters had been registered, one-third by Federal examiners. By the end of 1966, only 4 out of the 13 southern states had fewer than 50 percent of African Americans registered to vote."
- ourdocuments.gov "A Look at the Voting Rights Record."
Source: The Washington Post Wednesday January 1972: A22. Print. |
Source: United States Department of Justice Civil Rights Division
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The Diversifying Electorate
"A higher percentage of African-Americans than whites voted in a presidential election for the first time in history last year during the matchup between President Obama and GOP nominee Mitt Romney." - Dan Mercia, CNN, May 9, 2013 |
Source: The Diversifying Electorate,United States Census Bureau, May 2013
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African-Americans in office
"The 1965 Voting Rights Act is one of the most significant pieces of civil rights legislation ever enacted. Its passage and enforcement have been responsible for substantial increases in the number of blacks registered, voting, and elected to office in the seven Southern States covered by the act."
- The Voting Rights Act 10 Years After, 1975
- The Voting Rights Act 10 Years After, 1975
Source: "Black Americans in Congress" - Mapping Congress, U.S. House of Representatives
The number of African-Americans elected in the confederacy states increased since 1961, but has hit a plateau since 1993.
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African-Americans in Congress across the nation
Source: "Black Americans in Congress" - Mapping Congress,
U.S. House of Representatives |
Election/Re-election of President Obama
"There is a direct connection between that effort [ the voting rights act] and the election of Barack Obama, and in fact the effort of Hilary Clinton to gain the presidency."
- Email Interview, Charles Cobb, Former field secretary, Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, December 12, 2012
- Email Interview, Charles Cobb, Former field secretary, Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, December 12, 2012
Source: Time Magazine Cover, November 19, 2012
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"The movement [Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), leading voter registration drives] created the opportunity for there to be an Obama," Bond said. "[King] would be proud as punch to see Obama be president." - Julian Bond, co-founder, SNCC, January 21, 2013 |
Growing Hispanic influence
Source: Time Magazine Cover, March 5, 2012
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"2010 made abundantly clear that racial and ethnic minorities, especially Hispanics, are dominating national growth and will for decades to come...minorities are going to matter in November. The new demography of the electorate guarantees it" - William H.Frey, Senior Fellow, Metropolitan Policy Program, May 2012 |