7/8 Social Studies

 

  In the 1960s the state of Alabama used literacy tests in order to prevent African Americans from registering to vote.  Examples from one such test include questions like, "Are you now or have you ever been a dope addict or habitual drunkard?" and "Have you ever been legally declared insane?" as well as tricky questions about government operations.  The full literacy test can be found here.  These tests were designed to cause people to fail and thus be prevented to vote.  Voter suppression like this was common in the Jim Crow South.

 

  It is important for students to study examples of institutionalized racism like this in order to see two things.  First, students should be aware of how much progress has been made in the 50 years since the Civil Rights Act was passed.  Second, students should make connections from "literacy tests" like these to modern day attempts at voter suppression, such as voter IDs laws being passed in many states.  If students can make those connections, we will continue to make progress toward true equality, rather than take steps backward toward a divided society.