The Voting Rights Act Then and Now

August 4, 2025

The article reflects on the significance of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which President Lyndon Johnson signed after decades of civil rights struggle and resistance. It specifically highlights the role of the late Representative John Lewis, who suffered brutal beatings during protests in Selma, Alabama, that helped push the legislation forward. Journalist Allison Davis interviewed three former staffers of Lewis to discuss his civil rights legacy, and also spoke with Cornell William Brooks, a former NAACP leader who now teaches at Harvard's Kennedy School, about current social justice challenges.

Who is affected

Black Americans and their allies in the civil rights movement
The late Representative John Lewis
John Lewis's former staffers
Voters protected by the Voting Rights Act

What action is being taken

Allison Davis is conducting interviews with John Lewis's former staffers about his civil rights legacy
Davis is also interviewing Cornell William Brooks about present-day social justice challenges
Cornell William Brooks is teaching as a professor of public leadership and social justice at Harvard's Kennedy School

Why it matters

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a landmark legislation that protected voting rights after decades of struggle
John Lewis's personal sacrifice and leadership were instrumental in the civil rights movement
The article connects historical civil rights achievements to contemporary social justice issues
It preserves the memory of the violence and resistance that accompanied the fight for equality

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint