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Poll tax receipt for Lee Carr from Hardin County, Texas, 1955. Creator: Unknown
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Poll tax receipt for Lee Carr from Hardin County, Texas, 1955. Creator: Unknown
During the era of segregation in the United States, voting rights were denied to African Americans in the form of discriminatory taxation. Having to pay $1.50 - the equivalent of a days wages - made voting beyond the reach of the poor. The receipt is on white paper with black and red ink and has set fields including Age, State, Citizen, Sex, and Race. The information is filled out by hand. The receipt, issued in 1955, provides that the voter has paid the $1.50 poll tax in Hardin County, Texas. The receipt was produced by Maverick Clarke printers. In 1966, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Harper v. Virginia Board of Electors, that poll taxes for any level of election were unconstitutional
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Media ID 23861055
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1950s Black History Civil Rights Constitution Cultural Heritage Discrimination Election Elections Fifties Heritage Nmaahc Racial Segregation Receipt Rights Segregation Suffrage Taxation Voting Afro American Constitutional Poll Tax Receipts
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This powerful print captures a tangible reminder of the era of segregation in the United States. The poll tax receipt for Lee Carr from Hardin County, Texas, dated 1955, serves as a stark symbol of the discriminatory practices that denied African Americans their voting rights. In those times, voting was made inaccessible to the poor by imposing a fee of $1.50 - equivalent to an entire day's wages for many. The receipt itself is printed on white paper with black and red ink, featuring set fields such as Age, State, Citizen, Sex, and Race that were filled out by hand. Produced by Maverick Clarke printers during this tumultuous period in American history, it signifies how racial discrimination permeated even official documentation. However, progress eventually prevailed over injustice. In 1966, the U. S. Supreme Court ruled in Harper v. Virginia Board of Electors that poll taxes at any level of election were unconstitutional. This photograph serves as a poignant reminder not only of past struggles but also highlights the resilience and determination shown by African Americans fighting for their civil rights during this time. Preserved within the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), it stands as both a testament to our country's troubled history and an inspiration for future generations striving towards equality and justice for all.
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