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Title details for Give Us the Ballot by Ari Berman - Available

Give Us the Ballot

The Modern Struggle for Voting Rights in America

by Ari Berman
Tom Zingarelli
Audiobook
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1 of 1 copy available
The adoption of the landmark Voting Rights Act in 1965 enfranchised millions of Americans and is widely regarded as the crowning achievement of the civil rights movement. And yet fifty years later we are still fighting heated battles over race, representation, and political power—over the right to vote, the central pillar of our democracy.
A groundbreaking narrative history of voting rights since 1965, Give Us the Ballot tells the story of what happened after the act was passed. Through meticulous archival research, fresh interviews with the leading participants in the ongoing struggle, and incisive on-the-ground reporting, Ari Berman chronicles the transformative impact the act had on American democracy and investigates how the fight over the right to vote has continued in the decades since. From new strategies to keep minorities out of the voting booth, to cynical efforts to limit political representation by gerrymandering electoral districts, to the Supreme Court's recent stunning decision that declared a key part of the Voting Rights Act itself unconstitutional, Berman tells the dramatic story of the pitched contest over the very heart of our democracy. At this important historical moment, Give Us the Ballot brings new insight to one of the most vital political and civil rights issues of our time.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Awards

  • Release date

    August 4, 2015

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781494596125
      • File size: 347725 KB
      • Duration: 12:04:25

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      Starred review from May 4, 2015
      Berman (Herding Donkeys) does a superb job of making the history of the right to vote in America not only easily understandable, but riveting. After recounting the story of the civil rights movement’s success in getting President Johnson to push the Voting Rights Act in 1965, Berman traces the erosion of that legislation over the subsequent half-century. Early appearances in the narrative by John Roberts and Samuel Alito foreshadow their eventual posture when they were named to the Supreme Court. Lay readers are likely to be surprised at how much
      successful pushback has occurred against what should be the basic right of democracy. Berman also makes clear that the illegal purging of supposed felons from Florida’s voting lists for the 2000 presidential election is more likely than the “butterfly ballot” to have been responsible for George W. Bush’s victory. This is the best kind of popular history—literate, passionate, and persuasive, balancing detail with accessibility. B&w illus.

    • Publisher's Weekly

      October 26, 2015
      Berman provides the definitive history of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, from its inception to the present. He keenly traces the politically motivated reasons to weaken the VRA and racial overtones that remain in efforts to eliminate it. Reader Zingarelli proves a perfect choice for this production. With a deep, aged voice, his narration commands attention and keeps listeners apace throughout. He captures hints of Berman’s tone and emotion and skillfully adjusts timing, pace, and emphasis to draw out some of the more dramatic elements of the narrative. A Farrar, Straus and Giroux hardcover.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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