Members of the Congressional Black Caucus speak outside the U.S. Capitol after arguments were heard on the Voting Rights Act at the Supreme Court in Washington on Oct. 15, 2015. —AP PHOTO/MATT BROWN
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Our country is at a major crossroads. We must ask ourselves: are most people, regardless of race, gender, age, economic class, or political persuasion, fully aware of how our nation is changing before our eyes?
On one front, we have the current Supreme Court case *Louisiana v. Callais*, which threatens to dismantle what remains of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA). The VRA already suffered a major blow from the 2013 Supreme Court decision in *Shelby County v. Holder*. That decision invalidated Section 4(b) — the preclearance provision that required jurisdictions with a documented history of racial discrimination to obtain approval from the U.S. Department of Justice or a federal court before changing any election laws.
With the Supreme Court dismantling this preclearance safeguard, states are now free to implement discriminatory tactics without federal oversight to stop them.
Good-willed Americans need to honestly confront the truth about the racial history of this nation. They must acknowledge the persistence of white supremacy, intolerance, and its declining support for American democracy.
Racial discrimination has always been entrenched in our nation, and it will likely remain so in the future. At times, intolerance towards “others” may seem contained, but discrimination against Indigenous, Black, Latino, and Asian-American communities has never fully disappeared — not to the extent that safeguards like the VRA and the Civil Rights Act are no longer necessary.
These safeguards have worked effectively, which is why ill-intentioned people and groups want them removed.
The VRA was a hard-fought byproduct of the sacrifices of those who gave their lives, and in many cases died, to obtain full citizenship and political representation for people of color. It became the legislative enforcement of the 14th Amendment.
Today, the VRA remains the primary mechanism for protecting minority voting power, but it stands in serious jeopardy. The Supreme Court’s conservative majority appears ready to strike down or severely restrict yet another critical section.
Section 2 of the VRA is now in the Court’s crosshairs. This key provision prohibits voting practices and redistricting plans that discriminate on the basis of race.
Why is this important?
If the Court eliminates or guts Section 2, states will no longer be required to consider race when drawing congressional districts. Under new maps, Republican-controlled legislatures could redraw boundaries to dilute Black and Latino voting strength, potentially flipping 12 to 19 congressional seats towards Republican dominance.
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The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) has long been a leading voice and the conscience of Congress on racial justice and equity. If Section 2 is gutted, the CBC could lose as many as half its members as majority-Black districts are eliminated nationwide through Republican redistricting efforts.
Republicans are becoming bolder and more aggressive. For example:
– The congressional districts represented by Reps. Greg Casar, Henry Cuellar, and Vicente Gonzalez are set to shift significantly to favor Republican candidates in Texas’s redrawn map.
– In Missouri, Republicans are considering redrawing congressional lines to add another red House seat, likely targeting and pushing out Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver’s Kansas City-based district.
– In South Carolina, the Republican nominee for governor has pushed for redistricting, saying Democrat Jim Clyburn is “not the kind of representation South Carolina needs.” Clyburn has represented South Carolina for nearly 33 years.
– In Indiana, Republican redistricting efforts threaten Rep. André Carson, whose seat has been held by a Black House member for over 20 years.
The VRA was designed to ensure that elected officials reflect the multiracial electorate they serve. Its purpose is to prevent states from manipulating electoral boundaries to entrench the power and dominance of one party over another.
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Good-willed Republicans must ask themselves two important questions:
1. Do they sincerely understand why millions took part in the global No Kings protests, essentially against President Donald Trump and his administration’s policies?
2. Do they fully grasp that the nation is under authoritarian rule and that Donald Trump has effectively turned the Republican Party into the “American Fascist Party”?
Most Black voters have aligned with the Democratic Party for several reasons, historically grounded in the pursuit of justice and the preservation of human dignity.
During Reconstruction, it was the Republican Party that fought for full citizenship for newly freed slaves and the 14th Amendment. At that time, the Democratic Party was the anti-Black party.
Later, the Republican Party adopted the Southern strategy—seeking electoral support among white voters by appealing to their racism against Blacks. This shift transformed the Republican Party’s identity.
With Democrats becoming the progressive party fighting for fairness and human dignity, Black voters realigned politically.
If Republicans succeed in their latest power grab, their dominance will represent authoritarian dominance.
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Today’s crossroads depends on good-willed Republicans. As their party changes, will they follow the course of Black voters and align themselves with the party promoting fairness, justice, and true democracy?
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**About the author:**
David Marshall is the founder of the faith-based organization TRB: The Reconciled Body and author of the book *God Bless Our Divided America.*
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**Spotlight:**
Misty Copeland broke barriers as the first Black female principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre. Now, through her nonprofit, she is making dance more accessible for children of color.
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