An Examination of the Power and Impact of the Black Vote in American Politics

The right to vote is arguably one of the most important and fundamental values in American democracy. Voting is often referred to as the “cornerstone of democracy” and is important in implementing leaders and policies that represent the interests of the American people. Even though there is an emphasis on voting and the importance of it, there is a huge disparity in which groups are given the proper resources to vote. For hundreds of years, Black Americans have been fighting for the equity that was once promised to them, and have been able to go from a small group of citizens that politicians kept at arm’s length to now being one of the most impactful groups in our political system. The growing power held by Black Americans has historically been met with voter suppression efforts. Some tactics are more blatant in nature, like closing voter polling stations in urban neighborhoods. But there are other tactics, like prohibiting felons to vote, that are less noticeable but just as powerful in suppressing the voices and votes of Black Americans. Despite many of these efforts, Black Americans in states like Georgia are credited with changing the face of politics during the 2020 election.