WEEK 1: VOTING

TODAY'S CHALLENGE: THE HISTORY OF VOTER SUPPRESSION

Today, we examine the history of voter suppression - how people of color were systemically kept from the ballot box, and the challenges they had to overcome to exercise their right to vote.

This will provide much-needed context for tomorrow's challenge where we will illustrate how voter suppression has changed over time and how it continues to disenfranchise marginalized communities today. 

WE CHALLENGE YOU TO TAKE...

Print out and complete this literacy test which was designed to disenfranchise people of color (white men were exempt). These tests were a prevalent requirement to vote from the 1890's to the 1960's. You would have been given 10 minutes to complete this test, so make sure to set a timer before you start!
View this interactive timeline of the history of the Voting Rights Act and see how access to voting was expanded and restricted over time.
Read this article highlighting the role that the Voting Rights Act played in protecting Asian Americans' voting rights. Until 1952, federal policy barred immigrants of Asian descent from becoming U.S. citizens and denied their right to vote.
VOTING WEEK ACTION ALERT

LEVEL 1: Take YWCA USA's pledge to participate in the upcoming U.S. Census.

LEVEL 2: Re gister to vote   in the 2020 general election or assist someone else in registering.

LEVEL 3: Volunteer with Rock the Vote and help register new voters.
DID YOU KNOW? Only 9 percent of Foundation grants are allocated to communities of color.

Make a gift to the YWCA South Hampton Roads today and support our mission to eliminate racism and empower women in our community.