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Black women have long been central in defending voting rights and motivating their communities to vote. This three-part series showcases their contributions as they build political influence and demand representation.
In Atlanta, 26-year-old Mary-Pat Hector, leader of the nonpartisan group "Rise," recently checked in with organizers urging students at Clark Atlanta University to register to vote. By the end of the day, she had collected 263 voter pledges and seven registration forms, just one part of Rise's nationwide efforts to engage thousands of students.
“I always felt like this was something I needed to do,” said Hector, who was inspired by the urgency she felt during the 2016 election. She is part of a new generation of Black women working to register voters ahead of the upcoming election, but she follows in the footsteps of many before her.
Melanie Campbell, a 61-year-old national voting rights advocate, and Judy Richardson, an 80-year-old veteran of the Civil Rights Movement, have been fighting for voting rights for decades. Black women like them have played vital roles in both national and local politics, from the Civil Rights era to Black Lives Matter. Despite changes in tactics and voting barriers over the years, their mission has remained the same: to protect and expand democracy.
Campbell, president of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, emphasizes that democracy is still something that requires constant vigilance and effort. “I want to help our people, and I believe you can’t do that without having an impact through the political system,” she said.
Richardson, now 80, continues to share her experiences from the 1960s, when she worked to register Black Southerners. She tells younger activists that it's their responsibility to make the world better for future generations. Reflecting on her time with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), she remembers the determination to fight for change, despite the dangers posed by Jim Crow laws.
Richardson and others who worked in the Civil Rights Movement never stopped organizing, believing in the importance of making a difference for those who come after them. “I may never see the change that I’m working for, but if I do nothing, nothing changes,” she said.
Today, Black women continue to organize and mobilize their communities, while encouraging more Black women to run for office. Record numbers of Black women have campaigned for positions at the state and national levels, demonstrating the growing influence of their leadership. Civic engagement organizations led by Black women, such as those run by Campbell and Hector, have been key in mobilizing voters and pushing for political change.
Black women were instrumental in significant political victories, including the election of Doug Jones to the U.S. Senate in 2017 and Joe Biden’s presidential win in 2020. Their efforts also contributed to the appointment of Kamala Harris as the first Black and South Asian woman vice president and Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation as the first Black woman on the U.S. Supreme Court.
Campbell and others emphasize that each generation must continue the fight for voting rights. Drawing inspiration from civil rights legends like Dorothy Height, Campbell now leads the Black Women’s Roundtable, mentoring and training the next generation of Black women leaders.
Richardson also underscores the importance of passing on knowledge and skills, not by stepping aside but by working alongside younger activists. She continues to teach that lasting change requires personal connections and grassroots organizing—lessons she learned during her time with SNCC.
Hector, now pregnant and aware of how political decisions directly impact her life, continues to lead efforts to engage young voters through Rise. She believes the upcoming election is a matter of life and death for her and others, particularly in a state like Georgia, which has one of the highest maternal mortality rates.
As the CEO of Rise, Hector has expanded the organization's efforts, which focus on youth political power and advocating for debt-free college. She leads programs like "Black the Vote," training young Black students to be advocates and election workers, ensuring they stay engaged and informed about the issues that matter to them.
Through their ongoing efforts, Black women activists of all ages remain committed
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