Civic Engagement – Voting in the Diaspora

Electoral and local politics have been central to the fight for equality in Africa and the diaspora. From National Colored Conventions to prominent figures in the movement for equality, this gallery highlights their important work. 

Youth voters in Africa

Youth voters in Africa

Infographic showing the growing majority of young people in Africa who are eligible to vote. June 28 2018. Source: Share America, https://share.america.gov/growing-power-of-young-people/

A "Dodge" that won't work

A “Dodge” that won’t work

Caricature of Black men refusing to vote for Horace Greeley. c. 1870s. Source: Schomburg Center, https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47df-3b78-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99

Convention People's Party logo

Convention People’s Party logo

Logo of Ghanaian political party based on the ideas of Kwame Nkrumah; motto reads “Forward Ever, Backward Never.” undated. Source: Wikimedia, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CPP_‒_Convention_People%27s_Party_logo.jpg

Vote Facepaint

Vote Facepaint

Photograph showing young men participating in march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, to fight for Black suffrage. 1965. Source: Magnum/LOC, https://www.loc.gov/item/2009631181/

Poster for Shirley Chisholm's 1972 presidential campaign

Poster for Shirley Chisholm’s 1972 presidential campaign

A political poster for United States presidential candidate Shirley Chisholm with slogan “Unbought and Unbossed.” 1972. Source: NMAAHC, https://collections.si.edu/search/record/ark:/65665/fd5f6329a619269433faba0a1253d08d798

"One Man, One Vote" bumper sticker

“One Man, One Vote” bumper sticker

SNCC bumper sticker reading “One Man X One Vote.” 1962-1965. Source: NMAAHC, https://collections.si.edu/search/record/ark:/65665/fd51a13b1388cbf430d86e4e1b2c4ba7d05

NCNW Voter Registration Flyer

NCNW Voter Registration Flyer

This flyer promotes the voter registration goals of the NCNW’s Citizenship Education Project. The slogan at the top of the flier reads, “A Voteless People Is a Hopeless People.” This document is part of a scrapbook that was compiled in 1956 and 1957 by Frances Albrier during her term as president of the San Francisco Chapter of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW). 1956. Source: NMAAHC, https://collections.si.edu/search/record/ark:/65665/fd5a05a3083da9d40e19dd1599219deddb3

National Colored Convention, New Orleans

National Colored Convention, New Orleans

Louisiana – National Convention of Colored Citizens, in the house of Representatives, at New Orleans, April 10th, 1872. Source: LOC, https://lccn.loc.gov/99613985

First Gold Coast Cabinet

First Gold Coast Cabinet

Image of Kwame Nkrumah’s Cabinet Left to Rght front row: Hon. A. Casely-Hayford, Hon. Kojo Botsio; The Prime Minister, Hon. Kwame Nkrumah; Hon. K.A. Gbedemah, Hon. E. O. Asafu-Adjaye. Left to right back row: Hon. J.H. Allassani, Hon. N.A. Welbeck, Hon. A. Ofori Atta, Hon. Ako Adjei, Hon. J.E. Jantuah, Hon. Imoru Egals. 1957. Source: National Archives UK/Flickr, https://www.flickr.com/photos/nationalarchives/5416466476/in/album-72157625975820108/

Freedmen Voting in New Orleans

Freedmen Voting in New Orleans

Illustration of freedmen voting in New Orleans Nov 30, 1867. Source: Schomburg Center, https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e1-3fd9-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99

The First Vote

The First Vote

Illustration shows a queue of African American men, the first, dressed as a laborer, casting his vote, the second is dressed as a businessman, the third is wearing a Union army uniform, and the fourth appears to be dressed as a farmer. Nov 16, 1867. Source: Harper’s Weekly/LOC, https://www.loc.gov/item/2011648984/

Fannie Lou Hamer

Fannie Lou Hamer

Fannie Lou Hamer, representing the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, at the 1964 Democratic National Convention. Aug 22, 1964. Source: Warren K. Leffler/Wikimedia, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fannie_Lou_Hamer_1964-08-22.jpg

Charles Evers with JFK

Charles Evers with JFK

Charles Evers, brother of Medgar Evers and future mayor of Fayette MS, with President John F. Kennedy. June 1963. Source: JFK Library/Wikimedia, https://www.jfklibrary.org/asset-viewer/archives/JFKWHP/1963/Month%2006/Day%2021/JFKWHP-1963-06-21-C

What A Colored Man Should Do To Vote

What A Colored Man Should Do To Vote

Pamphlet titled “To the colored men of voting age in the southern states.” from Press of E. A. Wright in Cheyney, PA. early 1900s. Source: E. A Wright Press/LOC, https://lccn.loc.gov/92838850

Button supporting Channing Phillips' 1968 presidential campaign

Button supporting Channing Phillips’ 1968 presidential campaign

The button reads: [CHANNING / PHILLIPS / FOR / PRESIDENT]. Around the edge, printed in red text is: [END THE WAR — REMAKE THE CITIES — FREE D.C.]. 1968. Source: NMAAHC, https://collections.si.edu/search/record/ark:/65665/fd5eb085a23b3ec4812b90c5807924117ee

CBC women 2019

CBC women 2019

Women of the 2019 Congressional Black Caucus, including Kamala Harris, Lucy McBath, and Ilhan Omar. Jan 18 2019. Source: Wikimedia, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Congressional_Black_Caucus_women_2019.jpg

Three African American women at polling place in New York City or Newark, NJ

Three African American women at polling place in New York City or Newark, NJ

Three African American women at a polling place, one looking at a book of registered voters on November 5, 1957, in New York City or Newark, New Jersey. Nov 5, 1957. Source: LOC, https://www.loc.gov/item/2015651653/

Flyer for Madison County Movement 1966

Flyer for Madison County Movement 1966

The flier askes, “What can you do about the tear-gas raid?” and “(1) Black Out for Black Power / (2) Work Stop for Black Power / (3) Register to Vote for Black Power.” 1966. Source: NMAAHC, https://collections.si.edu/search/record/ark:/65665/fd59161b7e6e30049bf951154b9eb556f24

1972 Black National Political Convention button

1972 Black National Political Convention button

The black button has green and red text which reads [BLACK / NATIONAL / POLITICAL / CONVENTION / MAR. 10, 11, 12, 1972 / GARY, IND.] The word “NATIONAL” is in red, and the rest of the words are green. 1972. Source: NMAAHC, https://collections.si.edu/search/record/ark:/65665/fd567d7d852f23643538e11c4affb29da7d

Registration of voters under Reconstruction Acts, 1867

Registration of voters under Reconstruction Acts, 1867

Map of registered Alabama voters by race under Reconstruction Acts. 1867. Source: Schomburg Center, https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47dd-f3e2-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99

Paul Cuffee Petition

Paul Cuffee Petition

Petition signed by Paul Cuffee and John Cuffee regarding rights, taxation, and challenging their status as enslaved people. Dec 19, 1780. Source: NMAAHC, https://collections.si.edu/search/record/ark:/65665/fd5c5f70ab7b6704d4b9df8bce77c516305

Placard reading "Sanction South Africa Now"

Placard reading “Sanction South Africa Now”

Placard meant to be worn around neck calling for sanctioning South Africa; owned by Jan Bailey. late 20th c. Source: NMAAHC, https://collections.si.edu/search/record/ark:/65665/fd54bc6aad5ef36473e85e1c1701de9b160

National Colored Convention, DC

National Colored Convention, DC

Meeting in hall to discuss condition of black race in the United States. 1869. Source: Theodore R. Davis/LOC, https://lccn.loc.gov/90715756

Button supporting public housing in NYC

Button supporting public housing in NYC

The text appears in orange and reads: [Support / Public / Housing!] with the first letter of each word underlined. Below this reads: [(Before it’s too late!) / NYC HOUSING AUTHORITY INTERIM / COUNCIL OF PRESIDENTS]. late 20th c. Source: NMAAHC, https://collections.si.edu/search/record/ark:/65665/fd5589f4a4c76184e7bb1743a7862756f42

Black and white photograph of Charlotta Bass with Paul Robeson

Charlotta Bass with Paul Robeson