Louisiana Representative Explains Why National Progress Is Not the Same as Progress for Black Folks
Black voters in Louisiana are still reeling from the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision weakening the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Among the loudest voices against the gutting of Section 2 is Rep. Cleo Fields, whose district will be directly impacted once state lawmakers draw a new map.
District 6 in Louisiana stretches from Baton Rouge, more than 200 miles to Shreveport. But while critics argued the country is past the need for a majority-Black district, Rep. Fields sat down with 60 Minutes to explain why progress hasn’t quite reached Southern states, especially Louisiana.
“There are people who in this state and others just will not vote for a Black person for anything,” he explained. “You tell me I have to jump a certain height, that’s the rule, I can work to do that. Run a certain speed, if that’s the rule, let me work at it, I can do that. But if you tell me in order to be elected to Congress you have to be White, there’s nothing I can do about that. I need help from my government.”
Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act acted as a check against efforts to manipulate the Black vote for political gain. After the court’s ruling, however, this is no longer the case.
“That’s one of the things people get confused with: when there’s a voting rights seat created it guarantees a Black an election. No. It doesn’t guarantee a Black anything,” Fields clarified. “It just gives a Black an opportunity to win an election. And that’s why they even passed the Voting Rights Act.”
Fields has long served Louisiana voters. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1992, making him the youngest congressman at the time. Throughout his career, threats of redistricting have long plagued Black voters. That’s why, although he’s concerned for the future of the Voting Rights Act, he’s familiar with this cycle more than most.
“Sometimes you get a setback to be set up. I mean, don’t underestimate the power of the vote. That’s what they are tryin’ to take away,” he continued. We previously told you that President Donald Trump’s redistricting scheme has found major success in Southern states like Texas and Louisiana.
As redistricting efforts continue nationwide, the Supreme Court’s ruling is predicted to axe dozens of districts once protected under Section 2, according to an NPR analysis. This would lead to fewer Black candidates and little Black representation in Congress.
Republicans, however, defend gerrymandering efforts, saying Black populations have made much progress in the country. And while Rep. Fields agreed, he explained that in the South, progress isn’t as linear.
“There is progress in the nation,” he added. “But there is not progress in the southern part of our country to the extent that you should do away with the Voting Rights Act. You tell those same folk to come here and run for office and get elected.”
