Thread by @blackfutureslab

1. In part 2 of our latest meme series, we’re taking a closer look at #gerrymandering’s effects on our communities. Let's get into it!

A thread...

2. #RacialGerrymandering is manipulating district lines in a way that dilutes the voting power of Black folk – a method of #VoterSuppression.

3. Let’s use the same ex. from Pt. 1 to look at gerrymandering tactics used to suppress Black votes. 'Cracking' is breaking a voting bloc into multiple districts to keep them from being a majority anywhere, ensuring they have little to no representation.

4. 'Packing' concentrates members of a voting bloc into few districts so they have fewer reps in office. These tactics can be seen in the 2018 election results for #NorthCarolina. In 2016, NC’s districts were redrawn to pack as many Dem. voters into as few districts as possible.

5. Cracking was used to spread the rest out across remaining districts. The result? 10 Repub. & 3 Dem. reps were elected, though Repubs. only got 50% of the vote. And #NCAT, an #HBCU in a district rep'd by a Dem. Black woman, was split into 2 districts rep'd by Repub. white men.

6. Gerrymandering prevents Black ppl from wielding our #politicalpower. Without proportional representation in our governments we have few, if any, voices speaking on our behalf, elevating our concerns, & ensuring they’re addressed.

7. So what can be done? In June 2019 the #SCOTUS ruled that fed. courts couldn’t limit gerrymandering of congressional districts- effectively allowing state legislatures to continue the practice. Yet, despite this, calls for reform continue.

8. Some suggestions: 1) put independent commissions in charge of drawing districts & 2) mandate drawing of districts that represent the voters in the state as accurately as possible.
*The gray colored states are at-large congressional districts. They each have 1 Rep in the House.

9. Another suggestion is minority-majority districts, which refers to the process of drawing districts in a way to ensure that certain communities of color make up the majority there and can maximize the number of representatives for those communities.

10. Gerrymandering affects all our lives. And no matter what side of the aisle you stand, we can all agree that we should be choosing the people that represent us, not the other way around.