Essay outline

Part 1

Today we take voting for granted, most don’t care and others pressure each other to post an “I Voted” sticker on their social media. I believe it is time to understand the importance of our voting power and the fight African Americans went through in order to cast their votes, In order to cast a vote as an African American, certain states, like Louisiana, required literacy tests for African Americans. What I plan to do is distribute the voter’s literacy test from the state of Louisiana to at least five adults and have them share their reactions and experiences with me. I’m really curious to see if they felt there was any cultural bias in the test. Once I gather all that data, I’ll reflect on what I’ve learned. It’s a pretty powerful way to understand the effects of these tests on voting rights. 

For this essay, I will be getting the literacy test from an article titled, “Could You Pass This Voting Literacy Test Designed To Disenfranchise African Americans?”, by Katie Serena. This article, the focus is on the experiences of African American men during the Reconstruction period in the United States. It explores the various obstacles they encountered, such as state-specific voting laws and literacy tests, which were used to disenfranchise Black voters. This literacy test was given in the state of Louisiana. The article also discusses the impact of Jim Crow laws and acts of terrorism on the African-American community. By shedding light on these historical injustices, the article aims to raise awareness about the systemic racism and oppression that persisted even after the Civil War. It underscores the importance of understanding this history to foster a more equitable and just society.

The focus of my essay is to examine the impact of historic literacy tests on voting access, particularly after the Civil War when these tests were used to limit the participation of African-American voters. I want to explore the experiences and reactions of individuals who take the test and analyze whether there is any cultural bias embedded in its structure. By reflecting on the gathered data, I aim to shed light on the implications of these tests on voting rights. It’s an important topic that highlights the challenges faced by marginalized communities in exercising their democratic rights.

The reason I chose this topic is because it’s something that really caught my attention. Voting rights and access to the ballot box have always been crucial in maintaining a fair and inclusive democracy. I wanted to specifically explore the impact of historic literacy tests on voting access, especially after the Civil War when African-American voters faced significant barriers. It’s important to understand the historical context and the challenges faced by marginalized communities in exercising their democratic rights. By examining the experiences and reactions of individuals who took these tests. It’s a topic that holds immense significance in understanding our democratic journey.

For my research, I plan to distribute the historic literacy test to five of my family members and friends and have them complete it. I will then conduct interviews with each of the participants to gather their reactions and experiences. I want to understand if they felt if there was any cultural bias in the test’s structure. I will include participants from different backgrounds. Once I have all the data, I’ll analyze it to identify any patterns or common themes. This mixed-methods approach of combining the completion of the test with personal interviews will provide valuable insights into the impact of these tests on voting rights. 

Part 2

Interview Questions:

1. What were your initial thoughts and feelings when you first saw the literacy test questions?

2. Did you find any of the questions particularly difficult or confusing? If so, which ones and why?

3. How did you approach answering the questions? Did you feel confident in your answers?

4. Reflecting on the experience, what do you think the purpose of the literacy test was during that time?

5. Did attempting the literacy test give you any insights or a greater understanding of the challenges faced by African Americans during the Reconstruction period?

Keven Morel’s Response:

1. I thought that it wasn’t going to be easy and I had a really good feeling that it was going to mess with my head. Each question got me thinking outside the box and I worked long and hard on each question.

2. I found most of them a bit difficult only because they had me overthinking. The questions weren’t exactly clear with what they wanted so I had a lot of questions myself on why they were set up the way they are.

3.  I approached each question with an open mind and I had many different possibilities on what the answers were. I thought about them and did as best as I could from the information I was given.

4.  the purpose I think was to see where people stood at their educational level and many people I know struggled because it was not as easy as it looks.

5.  After completing this quiz I had no other thoughts about the  African  Americans. I know that if I had a hard time doing this quiz now then I am sure people way before were struggling as well.

Nancy’s Sonitis’ Response:

1. When I first saw the literary test I was confused. 

2. I found a couple of questions difficult to answer. Question number 22,23, 27, and 29. These questions just didn’t make sense in what to do.

3. I approach the literacy test by reading each question over multiple times so I can get a better 

understanding of each question. I felt confident with the questions I understood because I know, that I got it right, as far as the questions that were confusing, I knew I had the wrong answer.

4. I think the purpose of that literacy test at that time according to that specific test was to test a person’s knowledge since they couldn’t prove a fifth-grade education.  

5. Since the African Americans during the Reconstruction Period didn’t have the right teaching of Literacy, it just reminds the whole world how important is Literacy for us to have in our lives and learning from a young age.

Kiara Martinez’s Response:

1. When I first saw the literacy test questions, I felt a mix of curiosity and apprehension. I was curious to see what kind of questions were asked, but also a bit nervous because I knew these tests were used to restrict voting rights.

2. Yes, some of the questions were definitely difficult and confusing.

3. To approach the questions, I tried my best to carefully read and analyze each one. I took my time and used context clues to help me understand the meaning. However, I must admit that I didn’t feel completely confident in my answers, as some questions seemed designed to be intentionally misleading.

4. Reflecting on the experience, I believe the purpose of the literacy test was to determine what academic level a person was at.

5. Attempting the literacy test gave me a greater understanding of the immense challenges faced by African Americans during the Reconstruction period. It highlighted the deliberate and systematic efforts to deny them their basic rights, including the right to vote. It was a reminder of the discrimination and oppression they endured, and it emphasized the importance of fighting for equal rights and justice for all.

Anna Gregg’s Response:

1. When I first saw those literacy test questions, I was like, “Whoa, these are crazy!” It felt unfair and frustrating.

2. Some questions were really tough and confusing. 

3. I did my best to answer the questions, but I was unsure. Some questions were just designed to trip you up.

4. I don’t know the purpose of this test.

5. Trying the literacy test gave me a better understanding of the challenges African Americans faced during Reconstruction. It’s important to fight for equality and for everyone’s voice to be heard.

Frances Gregg’s Response:

1. My initial thought was “I don’t even know how to answer these questions”

2. I was not able to solve the first question as I was unsure as to what number or letter they were referring to.

3. I tried to approach each question as a” trick question: but that led me to overthink and not be confident in any of my answers.

4. Due to the number of trick questions, I believe these were made purposely with the intent of anyone to take those tests to fail and ultimately not be allowed to vote.

5. Yes, after taking the literacy test my eyes were definitely opened to the challenges African Americans faced to simply vote during the Reconstruction Period. I am a white woman and I have voted since I was 18. After I took the test and found out I  had 8 answers incorrect, I realized that if I had been an African American during Reconstruction I would have never been able to vote.

Part 3

In terms of the discourse, my project aligns more with the counternarrative perspective. The hegemonic discourse is the dominant narrative that often overlooks or downplays the challenges faced by African-American men during the Reconstruction era. The counternarrative discourse, on the other hand, aims to challenge and disrupt this narrative by offering alternative perspectives and shedding light on marginalized experiences. My project falls within the counternarrative discourse as it seeks to highlight the voting laws, literacy tests, and acts of terrorism that limited the voting access of African American men. It aims to provide a more comprehensive and accurate understanding of history.

Part 4

This topic is connected to our course material from Week 10:Black/ African-American Perspectives, both the article and the course material highlight how historical factors, such as systemic racism and limited access to education, have had a lasting impact on the educational opportunities and outcomes for African American students. It’s fascinating to see how history continues to shape the present, and it emphasizes the need for ongoing efforts to address these disparities and create a more equitable education system

Part 5

It’s important to care because voting rights are a fundamental aspect of democracy. Understanding the historical context and impact of literacy tests on African-American voters helps us recognize the struggles and barriers they faced in exercising their right to vote. By learning about these experiences, we can work towards creating a more inclusive and equitable society. Plus, it’s always valuable to study history and gain a deeper understanding of the world around us. So, caring about this topic can contribute to a more informed and empathetic perspective.