Take a look at this dreadful beauty—it’s a voter “literacy
test” from Louisiana in 1964.
This is what faced black and white prospective voters in the
Pelican State who couldn’t prove they had at least a 5th grade
education.
Except, of course, some election officials (all white)
sometimes forgot to administer the test to some white folks who wanted to vote….
This kind of absurd discrimination was outlawed by the 1965
Voting Rights Act. For the moment, let’s not even bring up today’s version,
namely, photo IDs….
Folks who wanted to vote had 10 minutes to complete this
so-called “literacy test,” and one wrong answer meant failure.
I wonder how many Louisiana election officials could read
this document in 1964, or explain each item in clear English….
You’re literate. Give this a try.
Set the timer for 10 minutes.
Copyright © Richard Carl Subber 2014
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