One Person, No Vote: Book Review

One Person, No Vote
By Carol Anderson
Complimentary copy
from Bloombury Publishing


One Person, No Vote is a must read if  you care about American democracy.  Most of us don't know what voting suppression, and gerrymandering is. Or didn't pay attention to it. Most likely, like me if you are White. You wouldn't pay attention. But, if you are a minority. You most likely know what it is. If you love this country, and care about democracy. You should read, and understand what is going on under our noses.

Before 1965 they used the excuse of literacy that you had to pass to vote. Which was ridiculous because many Whites didn't pass it either. The other was paying a toll tax to vote. Then  harassment, and scare tactics to prevent Blacks from voting.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was written by a democratic president, Johnson.The voting act allowed for Afro-Americans to finally have the right to vote.  Many Southern Democrats called, Dixiecrat didn't want to give blacks the right to vote.  The Southern Democrats flipped to Republicans. Hence the reason why the Southerners became Republican. They couldn't handle minorities having the right to vote.

 The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was rolled back from the Supreme Court in 2013. There has been voter suppression before 2013. After 2013, voter suppression, and gerrymandering became more extreme than before. For example, look at the 2016 election. Think about the the popular vote vs. Electorate. Doesn't make sense of the turnout.

You know the census that we did 10 years ago. That most of us didn't take seriously. Who cares about the census. Well that is how the GOP changed the district lines. I didn't realize, the GOP changed the district lines for their benefit. Then they also find ways to purge the rolls in several states.

 If your name, or address had a missing letter, or something easily fixable by notifying person, or a hyphen or, no hyphen. Or you didn't vote in the last election.

Does it make sense? It makes it easier to apply for a gun license than to register to vote. It's despicable! Making it harder to get to the polls. Many minorities don't have cars. Or there may only be one place to vote 100 miles away in your district. Or, some minorities can't afford to get a state ID.

While reading, One  Person, No Vote it made me sick reading this. Who would think this would happen in 2018. It opened my eyes in pure disgust. I couldn't believe this, United States of America. What has happened to our country??!  Never thought we are like Russia, Turkey, etc. We are a democracy? What has happened to our country? Where each of us has our voice heard by our vote. The Republicans have become outright cheaters.

The book is broken down to five chapters. The history of the Afro-American vote, Voter ID, Voter Roll Purge, Rigging the the Rules, and Resistance.

I am glad I read the book. But, sad, and angry that I didn't realize how serious this was. I am hoping very soon something can be done about this I have heard that President Obama, and his Attorney General Holder are trying to change the law. I hope so. Everyone has a right for their vote to count. The book is short, but it does get tedious, and at times does get bogged down. I still recommend reading.


I recommend One Person, No Vote if you care about democracy, and equality in our country. It is a short, and concise book. Thank you Bloomsbury for the review copy.