A video of an elderly Black woman discussing the painful history of voter suppression has gone viral, capturing the attention of thousands across social media.
Shared by user @kristoforwithak on Instagram, the video shows the woman wearing a piece of history—her original poll tax receipt from the 1960s printed on her black T-Shirt.
She vividly recounts the difficult choices Black families faced, forced to pay poll taxes or feed their families, as most jobs available to Black Americans paid just $2 a week.
The poll tax was among several oppressive tactics designed to disenfranchise Black voters, joined by literacy tests and threats of violence.
“This is when we had to pay poll tax,” the woman explains in the video, pointing to the print on her T-shirt. “You had to choose between feeding your family or voting. A lot of us didn’t vote because that was voter suppression. We decided to feed our family.”
Her story is a compelling call to action.
The caption alongside the video reads, “This is why we vote!!!” underscoring the urgency of voter participation as a tribute to the struggle of previous generations.
These memories aren’t as distant as they might seem—she reminds viewers that legal voter suppression practices only ended within the last 60 years, a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for civil rights.
One person commented:
“We disrespect our ancestors and elders when we do not do our civic duty.”
Another commented:
“This is why it upsets me when black people say they aren’t voting 😒”
As voter turnout remains a critical issue, especially within marginalized communities, the video’s message reinforces that voting is not just a right but a duty—a powerful legacy handed down by those who fought, sacrificed, and endured unimaginable hardships to secure the ballot.
The emotional story has resonated widely, inspiring Black Americans to protect these hard-earned rights by voting.
