James S. Bridgeforth: ‘We’re Not Going Back’…How Gerrymandering Is Disenfranchising Us

Last week, I found myself glued to the Democratic National Convention, feeling a stirring revival.& The vibrant array of faces, the empowering stories and the promises of an inclusive future filled me with hope and rekindled my spirit about America’s trajectory. It was a stark contrast to my viewing experience of the Republican National Convention, which left me with a bitter taste of dread. The RNC’s rhetoric was dark, filled with foreboding tales of national decline and fear-mongering about the “woke” culture.& For me, an educated African-American man who has beaten the odds to achieve success, the RNC felt like a grim revival of old fears—reminiscent of fire and brimstone sermons from the Old South. It was a parade of power cloaked in the guise of revivalism, aimed at a vision of America that seems intent on turning back the clock. This moment of disquiet led me to a haunting realization: the slogans of “Make America Great Again” and its ilk are not just political catchphrases—they are coded messages seeking to dismantle the progress made over decades. As a descendant of those who faced enormous barriers to voting and civil rights, I am acutely aware that today’s challenges are not...