Historically, the Black vote holds a lot of power.
The federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 ensured Black Americans could head to the polls without fear of discrimination, harassment, unnecessary poll taxes or literacy tests. However, Black Hoosiers were voting in Indiana long before that thanks to the 15th Amendment, which passed in 1870 and prohibited the denial of the right to vote based on race, color or previous condition.
“The attempt to disenfranchise Black voters speak to the way in which Black voters have had such a unique impact on the running of the government, the policies that are passed, and things of that nature,” said Joseph Tucker Edmonds, professor of religious studies and Africana studies at Indiana University Indianapolis.
Indiana also had one of the earliest election riots in 1876, where violent attempts were made to suppress Black voters. However, just five years later, in 1881, the state’s first Black legislator, James Sidney Hinton (R), was voted into office in Indiana.
Black Hoosiers continued to show up to the polls, despite continued attempts to prevent them in the Jim Crow south, such as implementing poll taxes, subjecting would-be Black voters to impossible literacy tests and later attempts to dilute the Black vote through Unigov in 1969.
“We see that the vote — that the Black vote — is critically important, not just because of the numbers of folks that might that come out as a result of the Black vote, but because oftentimes, the Black vote is looking at bread and butter issues that have really impact the vast majority of working class and middle class folks,” Tucker Edmonds said.
Because the power of the Black vote relies heavily on voter advocacy and education, many of the great leaders of the 20th century and voting rights activists were educators, Tucker Edmonds said. Think about Ella Baker, Bob Moses, Mary McLeod Bethune, who were educating people on the importance of voting so they could hold their representatives accountable for the way they wanted their communities and nation to look.
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Now, voter advocacy and education look like Get Out the Vote, which describes campaigns and efforts designed to increase voter turnout.
“We’ve had moments in history in Indiana and Indianapolis that have really shifted, and most of those moments were based upon Get Out the Vote apparatus,” Tucker Edmonds said. “Those were moments where Black voters were really reminded not only of their right to vote, but their right to actually be involved in creating a better city and a better democracy for everyone in the city of Indianapolis and state of Indiana.”
The creation of the Indiana Civil Rights Commission in 1961 resulted in a Get Out the Vote campaign that really allowed for African Americans to take over elected offices in Indianapolis in 1964.
Thirty years later, in 1996, another Get Out the Vote campaign helped Julia Carson win her seat in Congress in Indiana. And again, in 2008, when the state of Indiana voted for President Barack Obama, there was another massive Get Out the Vote campaign.
Then, in 2019, the African American Coalition of Indianapolis created an agenda for Black voters, which included things their communities were most concerned with — such as community violence, homeownership, affordable housing and education, Tucker Edmonds said.
“It was not only Get Out the Vote, but at each of those moments, there was an agenda for how getting out the vote could radically change Black people’s lives,” Tucker Edmonds said. “It could impact their economic well being, it could lead to better schools, it could open up new opportunities for economic and social mobility.”
The NAACP and National Urban League have also dedicated resources to voter education through various initiatives and campaigns aimed at registering voters, recruiting volunteer poll workers and increasing Black voter turnout.
In recent years, Tucker Edmonds said organizations such as Black Lives Matter, the American Voter Project and Live Free are targeting young Black and brown voters — a demographic who often do not believe their voices matter — to encourage them to exercise their rights.
The Indianapolis Chapters of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women and the National Coalition of 100 Black Men have led several voter engagement campaigns since January of this year.
“Voting is our power,” said Tenise Cornelius, president of the Indianapolis Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women. “It shapes our community, our schools and our future. And I think that’s why we cannot underestimate the power of our vote.”
Public policy is at the forefront of the work they do, which encourages their community to vote. The organization advocates for Black women on various pillars, including education, health and economic empowerment. If voting was not a part of that, Cornelius said they would not be able to make an impact.
The 100 Black Women mobilized to hand out postcards during Indy Juneteenth as well as mailing out nearly 500 Get Out the Vote postcards to younger voters in Marion County. On Sept. 16, the 100 Black Women partnered with the 100 Black Men to host a panel discussion where they helped eligible voters register.
“On a national level, we are currently in what we call Mobilized Monday, and that’s a social media campaign,” Cornelius said. “Some of the things that we’ve posted about have been about representation matters, why your vote counts, why it’s important for you to get out and vote. Our votes ensure that our communities are represented at every level of government.”
Each election presents an opportunity for Black Americans to use their voices and advocate for issues that matter most to them, whether that be education, health care, justice or economic opportunity, Cornelius said.
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During the 2020 election, only 61.1% of registered Indiana voters went to the polls, compared to 66.8% of registered voters across the country, according to the 2023 Indiana Civic Health Index Report.
Approximately 7 out of 10 Black Americans are eligible to vote in the U.S., according to a study done by Pew Research Center. In the state of Indiana, Black and African Americans make up 11% of the eligible voter population. Among Black Hoosiers, 64% are eligible to vote.
“When we vote, we honor the legacy of those who fought tirelessly for our rights and ensure that our concerns are represented,” Cornelius added in an email. “Engaging in the electoral process empowers us to build a brighter future, not only for ourselves but for generations to come.”
The number of Black Americans eligible to vote has slowly risen over the last two decades. In 2012, Black voters represented only 13.2% of all eligible voters and 13.5% in 2020. Pew Research Center projected the number of Black Americans eligible to vote will increase to 34.4 million by November 2024, accounting for 14% of all eligible voters in the U.S.
“We know that we are stronger together,” Cornelius said. “Encourage your sisters, your mothers, your daughters and your friends to get out and vote.”
Election day is Nov. 5. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Marion County. For more information about polling locations, visit vote.indy.gov.
Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.
