Power of the Vote

After the Civil War and the passage of the 15th Amendment in 1870, Black men gained the right to vote. While this period of progress was soon undermined by the rise of Jim Crow laws and discriminatory practices J.F. (DOC) Harlow, representing Joplin, ran for State Treasurer in 1916 as part of the socialist party. 

The branch actively works to protect and expand voting rights, recognizing that the right to vote has been systematically diminished in Missouri through restrictive laws and barriers that disproportionately affect Black voters. Historically, Black Americans faced significant obstacles to voting, including poll taxes, literacy tests, and intimidation tactics, which effectively suppressed their participation until the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This landmark legislation outlawed discriminatory voting practices and marked a turning point in securing voting rights for Black citizens, although challenges to voting accessibility persist today.

Voting matters because it is a powerful way to shape our community and ensure that all voices are heard. In Joplin, this legacy of civic engagement dates back to the efforts of JF Doc Harlow who ran for Missouri State Treasurer in 1916. MW Dial, the principal of Lincoln School at the time of desegregation, was elected as the city’s first known African American city councilman in 1955. The first African American Joplin school board member was not elected until 1968 and served three terms. Joplin’s African American Community has not been represented on the school board since that time. 

Although Black voters represent a smaller portion of the community, their participation, along with allies, can have a significant impact, especially during off-cycle elections when voter turnout is typically lower.