Reply #3: Racist schemes called for Voting Rights Act

[sonias]

Houston Chronicle 4/28/09
COMMENTARY: By RICK CASEY
Racist schemes called for Voting Rights Act

(snip)
Ruling opened door for Barbara Jordan

(snip)
Jordan had already benefited from a Supreme Court ruling that thwarted one of the stiffest barriers to minority representation.

Until 1965, state representatives in large urban counties in Texas all ran countywide for a “place” on the ballot.

That meant that the same white majority elected all 12 Harris County state representatives. Jordan ran twice and lost both times.

But a 1962 Supreme Court ruling outlawed this scheme, and additionally required Texas to draw state Senate districts roughly equal in population. This gave Harris County three senators and part of a fourth instead of just one.

Jordan promptly won one of the Senate seats.

:kick:

Sonia