--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Presidential elections and the voter…" description: "\"Presidential elections and the voter experience have long been fraught for black people. From racist poll taxes to made-up literacy tests to the egregi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f8/patrisse-cullors-5946_american-democracy_presidential-elections-and-the-voter-exp_1081586.jpg" --- # Presidential elections and the voter experience have long… ![“Presidential elections and the voter experience have long been fraught for black people. From racist poll taxes to made-up literacy tests to the egregious rollback of voting rights over the past 50 years, American democracy has, at times, felt like a weird and failed social experiment.” quote by Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f8/patrisse-cullors-5946_american-democracy_presidential-elections-and-the-voter-exp_1081586.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f8/patrisse-cullors-5946_american-democracy_presidential-elections-and-the-voter-exp_1081586.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f8/patrisse-cullors-5946_american-democracy_presidential-elections-and-the-voter-exp_1081586.jpg) > “Presidential elections and the voter experience have long been fraught for black people. From racist poll taxes to made-up literacy tests to the egregious rollback of voting rights over the past 50 years, American democracy has, at times, felt like a weird and failed social experiment.” [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Black Americans have faced systemic barriers to voting, making democracy feel experimental and broken. **In simple terms:** Black voters face historic voting obstacles. Key Takeaway Recognize and fight voter suppression. Themes civil rights voting racial injustice democracy activism Mood determined hopeful serious Type activist political historical When to use this quote - election campaigns - community organizing - legal challenges - policy advocacy Key Concepts systemic racism voter suppression historical oppression Questions to Reflect On - How can we protect voting rights today? - What role does community activism play? A Different Perspective Progress can be slow and face entrenched opposition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-democracy/) [Black people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-people/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Voter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voter/) [Voting rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voting-rights/) ## Related quotes > [Voting rights is how we address the deepening divides in our country, by ensuring every eligible voter's voice is heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-warnock/voting-rights-is-how-we-address-the-deepening-divides-in-our-country/) [Raphael Warnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-warnock/) > [Let America Vote will make the case for voting rights by exposing the real motivations of those who favor voter suppression laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-kander/let-america-vote-will-make-the-case-for-voting-rights-by-exposing-the/) [Jason Kander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-kander/) > [When it comes to voting rights, Democrats push voter protection while Republicans shout voter fraud in a crowded polling place. Democrats think anyone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-pelosi/when-it-comes-to-voting-rights-democrats-push-voter-protection-while/) [Christine Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-pelosi/) > [“I was astonished, bewildered. This was America, a country where, whatever its faults, people could speak, write, assemble, demonstrate without fear. It was in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/i-was-astonished-bewildered-this-was-america-a-country-where-whatever/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [The Black Lives Matter National Network and the movement at large are sophisticated. We're not easily won over by talking points and campaign trail…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/the-black-lives-matter-national-network-and-the-movement-at-large-are/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [The movement for black lives isn't just about black people. Black liberation has never just been about black people. It's been about a fight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/the-movement-for-black-lives-isn-t-just-about-black-people-black/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [Black Lives Matter was born out of our unwavering love for black people and our undeniable rage over a system that has historically dehumanized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/black-lives-matter-was-born-out-of-our-unwavering-love-for-black/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [Wherever black people are in America, criminalization exists. Wherever there is a white-dominant space, deep racism exists as well - no matter how progressive.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/wherever-black-people-are-in-america-criminalization-exists-wherever/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [No one questions the validity, the urgency, the essentiality of the Voting Rights Act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-kennedy/no-one-questions-the-validity-the-urgency-the-essentiality-of-the/) [Anthony Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-kennedy/) > [The Time Off to Vote Act would allow Californians to make their voices heard without the added burden of missing work or pay. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laphonza-butler/the-time-off-to-vote-act-would-allow-californians-to-make-their/) [Laphonza Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laphonza-butler/) > [Racial discrimination in elections in Texas is no mere historical artifact. To the contrary, Texas has been found in violation of the Voting Rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/racial-discrimination-in-elections-in-texas-is-no-mere-historical/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [Voters went to the polls in record numbers in 2020 to make their voices heard, and it's crucial that Congress takes action to protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-ray-lujan/voters-went-to-the-polls-in-record-numbers-in-2020-to-make-their/) [Ben Ray Lujan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-ray-lujan/) > [“Felon disenfranchisement laws have been more effective in eliminating black voters in the age of mass incarceration than they were under Jim Crow…These figures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-alexander/felon-disenfranchisement-laws-have-been-more-effective-in-eliminating/) [Michelle Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-alexander/) > [I spent many years working for voting rights, but we still see sophisticated efforts, led by white officials, to disenfranchise black voters in local…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-brooke/i-spent-many-years-working-for-voting-rights-but-we-still-see/) [Edward Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-brooke/) > [“Later that year, the Voting Rights Act opened the door for thousands to register for the first time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junius-williams/later-that-year-the-voting-rights-act-opened-the-door-for-thousands/) [Junius Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junius-williams/) ## More by Patrisse Cullors > [I think our work as movement leaders isn't just about our own visibility but rather how do we make the whole visible. How do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/i-think-our-work-as-movement-leaders-isn-t-just-about-our-own/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [I've been an activist since I was a teenager. I was always curious about what we would now call social justice. I remember just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/i-ve-been-an-activist-since-i-was-a-teenager-i-was-always-curious/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > ['The Story of Us with Morgan Freeman' is a reminder that people across the world are rebelling against norms and forging new paths for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/the-story-of-us-with-morgan-freeman-is-a-reminder-that-people-across/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [Racism has its boot squarely wedged on the neck of black communities, and we don't want to be told that hard work and responsibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/racism-has-its-boot-squarely-wedged-on-the-neck-of-black-communities/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [I don't like how cruel humans can be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/i-don-t-like-how-cruel-humans-can-be/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [Trump is literally the epitome of evil, all the evils of this country - be it racism, capitalism, sexism, homophobia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/trump-is-literally-the-epitome-of-evil-all-the-evils-of-this-country/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [We have to look at queerness as a means towards challenging normativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/we-have-to-look-at-queerness-as-a-means-towards-challenging/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [The unfortunate reality is the alt-right has captured white people's imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/the-unfortunate-reality-is-the-alt-right-has-captured-white-people-s/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [Since his inauguration, Trump has signed numerous executive orders that negatively impact poor, black and brown, queer, Muslim, and other communities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/since-his-inauguration-trump-has-signed-numerous-executive-orders/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [I want to see Black Lives Matter be able to ultimately reduce law enforcement funding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/i-want-to-see-black-lives-matter-be-able-to-ultimately-reduce-law/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [Colin Kaepernick is one of the leaders in the movement for black lives. His role as an athlete and activist is not only motivating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/colin-kaepernick-is-one-of-the-leaders-in-the-movement-for-black/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [White people who voted for Trump decided to invest in a president who underwrites white supremacy in the guise of populism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/white-people-who-voted-for-trump-decided-to-invest-in-a-president-who/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [When I was younger, I had these romantic ideas about the Black Panther Party and what it meant to be a part of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/when-i-was-younger-i-had-these-romantic-ideas-about-the-black-panther/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [I fight to prioritize black mothers and black children because we deserve to live in a world where our healing is centered and our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/i-fight-to-prioritize-black-mothers-and-black-children-because-we/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [Each and every one of us has multiple identities, and this is a fact that should be celebrated. I for example, am a queer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/each-and-every-one-of-us-has-multiple-identities-and-this-is-a-fact/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) [Explore all 100 Patrisse Cullors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) ## More American democracy quotes > [ Elvis \[Presley\] had a stepstool, if you will, to success because he came from the dominant culture. They identified with him. Michael Jackson had… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/elvis-presley-had-a-stepstool-if-you-will-to-success-because-he-came/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [That's what separates out American democracy from dictators and horrible governments across the world and the reason why that works is that we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-chamberlain/that-s-what-separates-out-american-democracy-from-dictators-and/) Charles R. Chamberlain > [This will be the day when we shall bring into full realization the dream of American democracy -- a dream yet unfulfilled. A dream…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/this-will-be-the-day-when-we-shall-bring-into-full-realization-the/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [This has all the appearance of a foreign power trying to undermine structures of legitimacy of an American election. That is a serious matter.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gerson/this-has-all-the-appearance-of-a-foreign-power-trying-to-undermine/) [Michael Gerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gerson/) > [Men like Abraham Lincoln recognized that if the slaveholders were not stopped, it would only be a question of time until they spread their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-cox-richardson/men-like-abraham-lincoln-recognized-that-if-the-slaveholders-were-not/) [Heather Cox Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-cox-richardson/) > [These communities that are losing local news coverage are losing something deeper. They're losing a connection to American democracy. And those connections must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stelter/these-communities-that-are-losing-local-news-coverage-are-losing/) [Brian Stelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stelter/) > [“Today you go into make a modern recording with all this technology. The bass plays first, then the drums come in later, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/today-you-go-into-make-a-modern-recording-with-all-this-technology/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [As a result of the Citizens United Supreme Court decision, American democracy is being undermined by the ability of the Koch brothers and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/as-a-result-of-the-citizens-united-supreme-court-decision-american/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [If everyone on the Court always voted for the prosecution against the defendant, for the corporation against the plaintiffs, and for the government against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-whitehouse/if-everyone-on-the-court-always-voted-for-the-prosecution-against-the/) [Sheldon Whitehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-whitehouse/) > [Political violence has no place in Pennsylvania - the birthplace of American democracy - nor anywhere else across this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-shapiro/political-violence-has-no-place-in-pennsylvania-the-birthplace-of/) [Josh Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-shapiro/) > [The atomic weapons race and the secrecy surrounding it crushed American democracy. It induced us to conduct government according to lies. It distorted justice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-udall/the-atomic-weapons-race-and-the-secrecy-surrounding-it-crushed/) [Stewart Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-udall/) > [I have no doubt that there are Russian efforts to disturb the fabric of American democracy, but they're disruption efforts. They're troublemaking efforts. They're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/i-have-no-doubt-that-there-are-russian-efforts-to-disturb-the-fabric/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [“Still, it strikes me that, taken together, they do make an argument, and it is this: the rise of American democracy is bound up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-lepore/still-it-strikes-me-that-taken-together-they-do-make-an-argument-and/) [Jill Lepore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-lepore/) > [Mr Jefferson meant that the American system should be a democracy, and he would rather have let the whole world perish than that this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/mr-jefferson-meant-that-the-american-system-should-be-a-democracy-and/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [I have no doubt that there are Russian efforts to disturb the fabric of American democracy, but they're disruption efforts. The working theory behind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/i-have-no-doubt-that-there-are-russian-efforts-to-disturb-the-fabric-2/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) [Browse all 168 American democracy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-democracy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Presidential elections and the voter experience have long been fraught for black people. 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