theGrio Reflects: Signing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Twitter
• Share via Email
• Copy Link

  Link Copied

In light of today’s Supreme Court decision to exempt a district in Texas from the Voting Rights Act , theGrio.com reflects on the 1965 signing of the Voting Rights Act and its purpose.

Signed by President Lyndon Johnson in 1965 and witnessed by leaders such as Roy Wilkins and Martin Luther King, Jr., the Voter Registration Act gave a political voice to millions of African Americans.

Archival video provided by NBC Learn, the education arm of NBC News. For more historic video and classroom resources for teachers and students, visit nbclearn.com.