The Fight to Vote, by Michael Waldman, dives into the quest of Americans fighting for the precious yet undervalued rights of citizenship. This non-fiction book outlines the history of voting rights in America and its fight for reform since the Founding Fathers. Waldman takes us through the intersections of race and gender and the impact it has had on American voting rights over the years. By interweaving the fight for women's suffrage, civil rights reforms, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Waldman paints a vivid picture of the struggles and successes of individuals who, despite the paralyzing weight of the Establishment, strove to uphold the promise of democracy.
Waldman starts by introducing the reader to the ever-advancing struggle of women and minorities in America to obtain universal suffrage. He reveals the barriers and struggles against suffrage and analyzes the various political machinations that took place between the 1860s and the 1920s, when women finally gained the right to vote. Waldman emphasizes the role of progressive activism and ideologues such as Susan B. Anthony, W.E.B. Du Bois and Alice Paul in paving the way for today’s equal voting rights.
Following this discussion of women's suffrage and other topics, Waldman moves on to chronicling the struggle of African Americans seeking to exercise their right to vote and in the United States. From Jim Crow laws to the Selma-to-Montgomery marches, Waldman examines in great detail the roles that grassroots activism and the civil rights movement had in furthering the right to universal suffrage. He also discusses the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and its role in ushering in a new era of voting rights for America’s minority populations.
Waldman closes by providing an account of the more recent struggles to keep voting rights intact and safe. He discusses the underlying ideology and partisan fights that have affected voting rights from the Bush v. Gore court case to current debates over whether identification needs to be shown at the polls, as well as voter fraud and gerrymandering.
An important read for all citizens, The Fight to Vote by Michael Waldman is a thought-provoking book that delves deep into American history and brings us through a vivid, sometimes inspiring, and sometimes infuriating timeline of voting rights. Waldman’s numerous, carefully-researched and remarkable stories will leave the reader with a better understanding of the profound historical and intellectual roots that formed this nation’s core democratic value. Therefore, the book is a suitable choice both for those wishing to learn more about the history of American voting rights and for others who strive to ensure that the right to vote is protected and remains available to all citizens.
