After 60 years of the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965 holding strong, the Supreme Court is now leaning towards weakening it. The court has slowly but surely been revisiting the historic cases, including Roe v. Wade and Affirmative Action. Given the court’s recent track record, the potential end of the Voting Rights Act has many Black Americans scared.
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The shocking revelation came after the Supreme Court heard arguments on Louisiana v. Callais, the case concerning voting districts in Louisiana. Lawyers claimed the state acted unconstitutionally when it drew a second majority Black voting district. The state argued the district was in direct accordance with the Voting Rights Act… And now, here’s where things get tricky.
What Is At Stake?
These discrepancies have opened up the flood gates regarding the effectiveness of the voting law, which has been weakened over time. Justice Brett Kavanaugh even called for time limits on “race-based remedies.” Now, reports determined the court is likely to gut Section 2 of the voting act, which will directly impact Black political representation in southern states.
This wouldn’t be the first time justices have moved to axe the historic act. In fact, the loudest voice against the law is that of Chief Justice John Roberts, who’s been advocating against the act for decades, POLITICO reported.
The law itself has led to unthinkable progress in the nation. Since its passing, the number of non-white Congressmen and women has increased. And who can forget the election of the first Black president, who received 95 percent of the Black vote in 2008? Fast forward to 2025 and political leaders are raising alarm about the current administration and the fate of the voting act.
What Happens Without the Voting Rights Act?
“I’m really worried that, given the political climate that we’re in and the conservative nature of this court,” Ala. Rep. Terri Sewell told ABC News. “And then rolling back affirmative action and giving more executive power to the president [Donald Trump], that this will not end well for us.”
Getting rid of the law will throw voting regulation completely to the states. This means local politicians can enforce provisions similar to that of the civil rights era, making voting harder for certain Americans.
President Lyndon Johnson once called the act “a triumph for freedom as huge as any victory won on any battlefield” while signing it into law. It was designed to undo discrimination legalized in several states by Jim Crow. By definition, it prohibits any American from disenfranchisement based on their race. Conservatives now say the country is past the need for such a decree, Mother Jones reported.
What Are Black People Saying?
On social media, Black Americans expressed their frustrations. “Our ancestors were beaten, raped, and lynched to fight for what little political representation we have,” @GeauxGabrielle said on X. “The Voting Rights Act was Black people fighting for the rights of EVERYONE. It was ensuring the disabled are able to vote. The poor and disenfranchised.”
@deaunteee tweeted, “We’re so f****d like our activists are arguing about taylor swift while the supreme court is thinking about overturning the voting rights act.”
Another user, @trouble_man90, blamed Black Americans for being complacent. “The truth is, over the past 15 years our enemies have been locked in and we simply have not,” he said. “Yall played games, yall allowed right wing propaganda to distract you… There’s no quick turnaround for this, it’s going to be a long haul to undo the damage.”
Straight From 
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